1. Transverse Waves
* Classification: The displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
* Example: Imagine shaking a rope up and down. The rope moves vertically (displacement), but the wave travels horizontally.
* Other examples: Light waves, electromagnetic waves, waves on a stretched string.
2. Longitudinal Waves
* Classification: The displacement of the medium is parallel to the direction the wave travels.
* Example: Imagine compressing a spring. The coils of the spring move back and forth in the same direction as the wave travels.
* Other examples: Sound waves, seismic P-waves (pressure waves in earthquakes).
Key Takeaway:
The fundamental difference between transverse and longitudinal waves lies in the direction of the medium's displacement relative to the wave's motion.
