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Physics vocabulary · Waves, Oscillations and Sound

Longitudinal wave

Meaning in physics, with examples

nounCommon term

In physics, longitudinal wave means: A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth along the direction the wave travels, forming compressions and rarefactions. Sound is the main example.

In Turkish: boyuna dalga

How it is used

Contrasted with transverse waves, where the vibrations are at right angles to the direction of travel, as in light and waves on a string. Longitudinal waves need a medium to travel through. Seismic P-waves are longitudinal, while S-waves are transverse.

Example sentences

  1. Push and pull the end of the slinky to make a longitudinal wave.

  2. Sound is a longitudinal wave made of compressions and rarefactions in the air.

Common collocations

  • compression and rarefaction
  • transverse wave
  • longitudinal vibration
  • P-waves
  • waveA disturbance that travels through a medium or through space and carries energy from one place to another without carrying matter with it.
  • wavelengthThe distance between two neighbouring points on a wave that are at the same stage of their cycle, such as two crests. It is shown by the Greek letter lambda (λ).
  • frequencyThe number of complete waves or oscillations that pass a point, or happen, each second. It is measured in hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz means one cycle per second.
  • amplitudeThe maximum distance that a point on a wave or an oscillating object moves away from its rest position. A larger amplitude means the wave carries more energy.

More terms: Waves, Oscillations and Sound

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