longitudinal waves
What longitudinal waves means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of longitudinal waves
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Reference: OCR
Waves such as sound in air, where air particles vibrate back and forth along the direction the sound travels, forming compressions and rarefactions.
Waves in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer, giving compressions and rarefactions.
Waves in which the particles oscillate backwards and forwards along the same line that the wave travels.
Waves in which the vibration is along the same line as the direction of travel.
Topics that use longitudinal waves
- Transverse and longitudinal waves (AQA GCSE)
- Wave behaviour (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- amplitude
- compressions and rarefactions
- transverse waves
- wavelength
- absorption
- ageing
- audible range
- Calculations with powers of ten
Using longitudinal waves in the exam
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