Transverse and Longitudinal waves in a Slinky:
A transverse wave looks like moving crests and troughs.
A longitudinal wave looks like a moving compression.
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Is wave (a) a transverse or a longitudinal wave?
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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.
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I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and shake it left to right. What kind of wave do I make?
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I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and pluck it. What kind of wave do I make?
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I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and move it quickly in and out. What kind of wave do I make?
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I stretch a slinky out in the hallway, and shake up and down. What kind of wave do I make?
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How can you make a transverse wave with a slinky?
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How can you make a longitudinal wave with a slinky?
More Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
Rules:
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All electromagnetic waves are transverse. This includes light waves.
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Mechanical waves can be either transverse or longitudinal.
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Sound waves (which are a type of mechanical wave) are always longitudinal.
For each wave, state if it is transverse or longitudinal.
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A sound wave.
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A light wave.
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Any electromagnetic wave.
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An ultrasonic wave (a sound wave with a frequency higher than humans can hear)
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An ultraviolet wave.
Answers: