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Waves

Longitudinal and transverse waves

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 3

Overview

The difference between the two, and why only transverse waves can be polarised.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Which waves are transverse, and how do they oscillate relative to energy transfer?

Key term

Why can only transverse waves be polarised?

Process

What happens to signal reception if a receiving aerial is not aligned with the plane of polarisation of the transmitted wave?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is a longitudinal wave?

    Model answer

    A wave in which the displacement of particles is parallel to the direction of energy propagation.

  2. 2

    What is a transverse wave?

    Model answer

    A wave in which the displacement of particles or fields is perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation.

  3. 3

    Give an example of a longitudinal wave.

    Model answer

    Sound.

  4. 4

    What type of wave is sound classified as?

    Model answer

    A longitudinal wave.

  5. 5

    Give an example of a transverse wave from the electromagnetic spectrum.

    Model answer

    Electromagnetic waves (e.g. light, radio waves, microwaves).

  6. 6

    What type of wave are electromagnetic waves classified as?

    Model answer

    Transverse waves.

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