Transverse and longitudinal waves and particle motion
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Question
Define a transverse wave.
Answer
A wave in which the particles vibrate **perpendicular** (at right angles) to the direction the wave travels. Example: light.
Question
Define a longitudinal wave.
Answer
A wave in which the particles vibrate **parallel** (back and forth along the same line) to the direction the wave travels. Example: sound.
Question
Give an example of a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
Answer
Transverse: **light** (and a wave on a rope). Longitudinal: **sound** (and a push-pull on a spring).
Question
What features does a transverse wave show?
Answer
**Crests** (highest points) and **troughs** (lowest points).
Question
What features does a longitudinal wave show?
Answer
**Compressions** (particles bunched together, high pressure) and **rarefactions** (particles spread apart, low pressure).
Question
Do the particles of a wave travel along with the wave?
Answer
**No** — the particles vibrate on the spot about their rest position; only the **energy** moves along.
Question
What do you read off a displacement–time graph of one particle?
Answer
The **amplitude** (peak displacement) and the **period T** (the repeat time). Then f = 1/T.
Question
What do you read off a displacement–distance (snapshot) graph?
Answer
The **amplitude** and the **wavelength λ** (one full repeat along the distance axis).
Question
Snapshot vs displacement–time graph — how do you tell them apart?
Answer
Check the **x-axis**: distance → snapshot → read the **wavelength**; time → one particle → read the **period**.
Question
How do you find which way a point on a transverse wave moves next?
Answer
The point copies the displacement of the point just **behind** it (the side the wave came from). Wave moving right → look just to the **left**.
Question
What is the wave equation, and is it given?
Answer
$v = f\lambda = \dfrac{\lambda}{T}$ — **given** in the data booklet.
Question
Roughly how far does a particle travel in one full cycle?
Answer
About **four amplitudes** (rest → top → rest → bottom → rest), so average particle speed ≈ 4 × amplitude ÷ T.
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