Download Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

Name:
Class Period:
Date:
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
Physics 4b. Students know how to identify transverse and longitudinal waves in mechanical media, such
as springs and ropes, and on the earth (seismic waves).
Slinky Demonstrations
Transverse Waves
To create a transverse wave, stretch the slinky, then pull one end of the slinky perpendicular to
the line the slinky creates. Draw what you would see if you took a picture of the slinky:
Repeat your slinky demonstration and watch very closely. Draw an arrow to show which
direction the wave is traveling. Label that arrow energy because waves carry energy as they travel. Now
draw an arrow to show which direction the slinky (the individual loops of the slinky) is moving. Label
that arrow medium because the slinky is the medium that the wave is traveling through.
Using your observations, fill in the blanks below:
In the wave above, the energy travels _________________________ while the medium travels
___________________. That shows that in a transverse wave, the energy travels and the medium travel
_________________________ to one another. Most transverse waves are mechanical waves (need to
travel through _______________). However, all electromagnetic waves are transverse, but can travel
through a ______________________. Light is an example of a transverse wave that can travel through a
vacuum.
Longitudinal Waves
To create a longitudinal wave, stretch the slinky, then squish the slinky towards one end. Draw
what you would see if you took a picture of the slinky:
Repeat your slinky demonstration and watch very closely. Draw an arrow to show which
direction the wave is traveling. Label that arrow energy because waves carry energy as they travel. Now
draw an arrow to show which direction the slinky (the individual loops of the slinky) is moving. Label
that arrow medium because the slinky is the medium that the wave is traveling through.
Using your observations, fill in the blanks below:
In the wave above, the energy travels _________________________ and the medium travels
___________________. That shows that in a longitudinal wave, the energy travels and the medium
travel _________________________ to one another. All longitudinal waves are mechanical waves (need
to travel through _______________). Sound is a longitudinal wave.
Name:
Class Period:
Date:
Transverse v. Longitudinal
Transverse Waves:
In a transverse wave, the medium moves ______________________ to the energy. A transverse
wave, like all waves, has frequency, amplitude and wavelength.
Frequency:
Amplitude:
Wavelength:
In all transverse waves, there is a high point and a low point. The highest point is called the
___________ and the lowest point is called the ____________.
Label the amplitude, wavelength, crest, and trough in the wave below:
Longitudinal Waves:
In a longitudinal wave, the medium moves ______________________ to the energy. A
longitudinal wave, like all waves, also has frequency, amplitude and wavelength.
In all longitudinal waves, there is a region where all the particles are close together. This is called
a ____________________. There is also a region where all the particles are far apart. This is called a
______________________.
Both of the waves below are longitudinal waves. Label the wavelength, compression, and
rarefaction in both:
Compare: Tranverse vs Longtidudinal:
Similarities: What is the same about transverse and longitudinal waves? List at least 2 similarities.
1.
2.
Differences: What is different between a transverse and longitudinal wave? List at least 3 differences.
Put a star next to the most important.
1.
2.
3.