Practice question · Sort into groups
Sort each wave by the direction in which the medium oscillates relative to the direction of travel.
Groups: Transverse · Longitudinal
- A compression pulse sent along a slinky pushed end-on
- Light
- Sound in air
- A wave on a plucked guitar string
- A ripple travelling across a water surface
Hints
- Transverse means the oscillation is at right angles to the direction the wave travels.
- Sound is a sequence of compressions and rarefactions along the line of travel.
Show the answer
Transverse: Light, A wave on a plucked guitar string, A ripple travelling across a water surface
Longitudinal: Sound in air, A compression pulse sent along a slinky pushed end-on
Why
Light, string waves and surface ripples oscillate perpendicular to their travel; sound and a slinky compression oscillate along it. The distinction is physical, not cosmetic: only transverse waves can be polarised, which is one way we know light is transverse.
Practise Waves
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