Compression waves (as opposed to transverse waves).
Longitudinal Wave
A longitudinal wave, like sound.
a compressional wave
Longitudinal wave.
As the sound wave travels through the air, the air particles vibrate back and forth in the direction of the wave, transferring the sound energy.
All particles vibrate in some manner.
When sound travels through air, the particles in the air vibrate back and forth in the same direction as the sound wave. These vibrations create changes in air pressure that propagate through the air as sound waves.
A longitudinal wave, like sound.
Compression waves (as opposed to transverse waves).
Longitudinal wave. (as opposed to Transverse waves, where the vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of movement.)
When sound travels through air, the particles vibrate back and forth in the direction that the sound wave is traveling. This vibration creates areas of high pressure and low pressure, which our ears perceive as sound. The closer the particles are together, the higher the pressure and the louder the sound.
Transverse waves are waves in which the particles move back and forth perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles move back and forth parallel to the direction of the wave. Sound waves are an example of longitudinal waves, where air particles vibrate in the same direction as the wave travels.