Practice Page

Transverse and Longitudinal waves in a Slinky:

A transverse wave looks like moving crests and troughs.

A longitudinal wave looks like a moving compression.

1. Is wave (a) a transverse or a longitudinal wave?
2. Is wave (b) a transverse or a longitudinal wave?

Making Waves

To make a transverse slinky wave, move the slinky side-to-side OR up-and-down.

To make a longitudinal slinky wave, move the slinky in-and-out OR pluck the slinky.

1. I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and shake it left to right. What kind of wave do I make?
2. I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and pluck it. What kind of wave do I make?
3. I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and move it quickly in and out. What kind of wave do I make?
4. I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and shake up and down. What kind of wave do I make?
5. How can you make a transverse wave with a slinky?
6. How can you make a longitudinal wave with a slinky?

More Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

Rules:

• All electromagnetic waves are transverse. This includes light waves.
• Mechanical waves can be either transverse or longitudinal.
• Sound waves (which are a type of mechanical wave) are always longitudinal.

For each wave, state if it is transverse or longitudinal.

1. A sound wave.
2. A light wave.
3. Any electromagnetic wave.
4. An ultrasonic wave (a sound wave with a frequency higher than humans can hear)
5. An ultraviolet wave.

Answers: