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Chapter 14: Problem 5

Must a wave be either transverse or longitudinal? Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
No, a wave does not have to be strictly transverse or longitudinal. There are waves that exhibit both transverse and longitudinal properties, such as surface waves.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Transverse Waves

Transverse waves are waves in which the motion of the medium's particles (the medium being the substance or material that carries the wave) is perpendicular to the direction of the energy transport. Light waves, water waves, and the waves seen on a guitar string are examples of transverse waves.
02

Understand Longitudinal Waves

Longitudinal waves are waves in which the motion of the medium's particles is parallel (or along the direction of) to the direction of the energy transport. Sound waves within an elastic solid are examples of longitudinal waves.
03

Correlation Between Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

It can be deduced that a wave does not need to strictly be either a transverse wave or a longitudinal wave. There are waves which have both longitudinal and transverse motion. As this type of wave moves through a medium, the particles of the medium are displaced both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of energy transport. These waves are referred to as surface waves - a type of wave that travels along the surface separating two media, such as water waves.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A car horn emits \(380-\mathrm{Hz}\) sound. If the car moves at \(17 \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}\) with its horn blasting, what frequency will a person standing in front of the car hear?

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