- #1
CAF123
Gold Member
- 2,948
- 88
I was doing some questions on waves and I noticed that some particular questions didn't state whether a transverse or longitudinal disturbance was been driven through the medium. Such questions started like 'A sinusoidal wave moves along a string...' Do the equations that apply to transverse oscillations also apply to longitudinal waves or is there a difference somewhere?
Also, I take it that the superposition principle also works for longitudinal waves, but this time the resultant amplitude will be parallel to direction of travel. I can't seem to envisage what a resultant amplitude would look like. It is easy for transverse since it stretches up / down by some factor - does this mean for longitudinal, it stretches left/ right ?
Thanks
Also, I take it that the superposition principle also works for longitudinal waves, but this time the resultant amplitude will be parallel to direction of travel. I can't seem to envisage what a resultant amplitude would look like. It is easy for transverse since it stretches up / down by some factor - does this mean for longitudinal, it stretches left/ right ?
Thanks