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Traveling waves #2

Learning objectives

To distinguish longitudinal from transverse waves.
To know that the velocity at which a wave travels depends upon the medium.
To show that the particles simply oscillate about their individual equilibrium positions.

Sinusoidal transverse wave: Particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Sinusoidal longitudinal wave: Particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

The particles simply oscillate about their equilibrium position. There is energy but no matter is transported. The oscillation of each particle is a sinusoidal movement. Thus a travelling sine wave.