Longitudinal Waves
Ms. K
What are longitudinal waves?
Longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles vibrate back and forth in compressional pulses.
Real World Example!
Sound waves are one type of longitudinal waves. Speakers will make sounds that then travel in longitudinal waves through either the medium of water, air, or a solid.
Fun Fact
Longitudinal waves are classified as mechanical waves. This means that they need a medium in order to travel. In space waves travel in vacuums since there are no mediums so longitudinal waves can't travel in space unless a medium is brought there. Due to this you will never hear sound in space!
Regions in a sound wave where particles are farthest apart are called what?
a. compressions
b. depression
c. condensations
d. rarefactions
A wave that needs a medium to travel is called what?
a. electromagnetic waves
b. transverse waves
c. mechanical waves
d. sound waves
If there were an explosion in space could someone in a nearby space ship hear it?
a. True
b. False