Definition:
A wave is an oscillation accompanied by a transfer of energy that travels through a medium (space or mass). A wave consists of crests and troughs or compressions and rarefactions.
There are mainly two types of waves.
There are mainly two types of waves.
a). Longitudinal waves
b). Transverse waves
a). Longitudinal waves:
b). Transverse waves:
Difference between Longitudinal and Transverse waves:
Longitudinal wave |
Transverse wave |
| Particles in the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of the propagation of the wave | The particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction propagation of the wave. |
| The wave travels in the form of condensations and rarefactions. | The wave travels in the form of crests and troughs. |
| One condensation and a rarefaction constitute one wave. | One crest and one trough constitute one wave. |
| This wave cannot be polarized. | This wave can be polarized. |