Question

What is the difference between three types of mechanical waves?

Answer 1

In longitudinal waves, particles travel in the direction parallel to that of the wave motion where as in transverse waves, particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave motion and in surface waves, particles in the medium move in a circular motion.A good example of longitudinal waves is sound waves. Vibrating a string on the ground can serve as an example of transverse wave.For surface waves, the ocean waves travelling on the surface can illustrate the cicular movement of particles in the water.

Answer 2

There are three kinds of mechanical waves depending upon the direction in which they travel or propagate through the medium.

(i) Longitudinal waves

(ii) Transverse waves

(iii) Surface waves

In transverse waves, the particles tend to move in a direction at right angles to the waves whereas in longitudinal waves, they move in parallel direction to each other. When it comes to surface waves they lie in circular motion.