The Nature of Waves
Waves transfer energy while moving through different mediums. They come in many types including sound waves (allowing us to hear), radio waves (carrying information between devices), seismic waves (causing earthquakes), x-rays (passing through objects), and light waves (enabling sight).
There are two main wave types: transverse waves and longitudinal waves. In transverse waves, the vibration occurs perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction of travel - imagine a wave moving forward while the particles move up and down. Electromagnetic waves like x-rays and microwaves are transverse waves.
Longitudinal waves work differently - the particles move parallel to the direction of travel, creating areas of compression (where particles bunch together) and rarefaction (where they spread apart). Sound waves are a common example of longitudinal waves.
Remember this: Transverse waves move side-to-side (perpendicular), while longitudinal waves move back-and-forth (parallel) to the direction the wave is traveling.
