Exercises: Waves: Transverse and Longitudinal

Define a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave. Give one example of each.

Name the parts of a transverse wave called the crest and the trough. In a longitudinal wave, what are the regions called where the particles are squeezed together and spread apart?

Does a wave transfer energy, matter, or both from one place to another? Explain your answer using a rope shaken up and down as an example.

Liam shakes one end of a long rope up and down while the other end is tied to a post. A wave travels along the rope toward the post. (a) What direction does the rope move? (b) What direction does the wave energy travel? (c) What type of wave is this? Explain how you know.

A speaker plays a low note. Air particles near the speaker move back and forth, forming compressions and rarefactions that travel to Priya's ear. Explain why this is a longitudinal wave, state the direction the particles vibrate compared with the direction the energy travels, and explain what happens to the air particles after the wave passes.

A wave on a stretched spring has crests that are $0.40\ \text{m}$ apart. Ethan counts $3$ crests passing a point every second. (a) What is the wavelength? (b) What is the frequency in hertz? (c) Is a wave with a larger amplitude carrying more or less energy than one with a smaller amplitude, if the wavelength is the same?

A cork floats on the surface of a lake near Lake Michigan's shore. Waves pass by, and Mateo notices the cork bobs up and down but stays in about the same place. (a) Identify the wave type. (b) Explain what the cork's motion tells you about whether matter travels with the wave. (c) Describe how the wave's energy reaches the shore and what happens to the energy when the wave breaks on the beach.

Olivia pushes and pulls one end of a long coiled spring toy (a Slinky) along its length, and then, in a second trial, she shakes the end side to side. Compare the two trials. For each, draw or describe the motion of the coils, name the wave type, label the features (compressions and rarefactions, or crests and troughs), and state the direction of energy transfer. Explain one way the two waves are similar.