Why sound is called longitudinal waves
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because it is not transverse
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Waves are categorized as either longitudinal or transverse. The most common type of wave that we are visually familiar with is transverse. Transverse waves (such as water waves, vibrating strings, electromagnetic waves, etc…) are distinguished by displacement perpendicular to the direction the wave travels. For example, waves in water cause the surface of the water to go up and down, but the wave travels horizontally.
Sound waves, however, are called longitudinal because the displacements are in the same direction that the wave is travelling. Longitudinal waves are a little harder to visualize. If you take a slinky and stretch it out on the floor, you can create a longitudinal wave by quickly moving one end of the spring toward and away from the other end of the slinky (parallel to the slinky). You will see that the coils of the slinky will move in the same direction as the wave that’s traveling down the slinky. Note, that you can also create transverse waves by moving the slinky back and forth perpendicular to the stretched out slinky.
Sound waves, however, are called longitudinal because the displacements are in the same direction that the wave is travelling. Longitudinal waves are a little harder to visualize. If you take a slinky and stretch it out on the floor, you can create a longitudinal wave by quickly moving one end of the spring toward and away from the other end of the slinky (parallel to the slinky). You will see that the coils of the slinky will move in the same direction as the wave that’s traveling down the slinky. Note, that you can also create transverse waves by moving the slinky back and forth perpendicular to the stretched out slinky.
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