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Waves

Longitudinal Waves.

When a longitudinal wave moves through a material,
the particles of the material move backwards and forwards
along the direction in which the wave is travelling.
Below is a picture of a longitudinal wave travelling along a spring.

Rarefaction (pronounced rair - ree - fac - shun)
is the name given to the region
where the coils of the spring are pulled apart.
Compression is the name given to the region
where the coils of the spring are pushed together.
The wavelength can be measured
as the distance between the centre of two compressions.

Examples of longitudinal waves are
1.  Sound.
2.  P waves from earthquakes.

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Copyright © 2007 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.