* Compression: The areas where the particles of the medium are closely packed together represent a high amplitude.
* Rarefaction: The areas where the particles of the medium are spread further apart represent a low amplitude.
Visual Representation:
Imagine a slinky. When you push a longitudinal wave through the slinky, the coils will bunch up in some areas (compression) and spread out in others (rarefaction).
* The distance between the center of a compression and the center of a rarefaction is directly proportional to the amplitude of the wave.
* A larger distance means a higher amplitude, while a smaller distance means a lower amplitude.
Diagram Example:
A typical diagram of a longitudinal wave might look like this:
```
C R C R C R
| | | | | |
--- --- --- --- --- ---
↑ ↑ ↑
Compression Compression
↓ ↓ ↓
Rarefaction Rarefaction
```
Where:
* C represents a compression
* R represents a rarefaction
* The space between C and R is the distance that represents the amplitude.
Remember: In longitudinal waves, the particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave's propagation. This is different from transverse waves, where the particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
