Question

what is the difference between longitudinal waves and transversnal waves?

Answer 1

Transverse waves travel well in solids, but not in fluids like liquid or gas. Longitudinal waves include sound waves and seismic Pwaves. They travel through all states of matter because their medium particles move parallel to the direction of the wave.

Answer 2

Longitudinal waves:
                              A wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate to and fro in the same direction in which the wave is moving ,is called a longitudinal wave.
                                                            (or)
                              A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate to and fro parallel to the direction of wave is called a longitudinal wave.

Transverse waves: 
                               A wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate up and down ,i.e.,perpendicular to the direction in which the wave is moving is called a transverse wave.
                                                       (or)
                                If the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the propagation of the wave,then the wave is called a transverse wave.
                                                    (or) 
                          When the particles of a medium oscillate at right angles to the direction of propagation of a wave,then the wave so produced is called a transverse wave.