Longitudinal and Transverse waves

[miringains]

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So I have read that longitudinal waves move through gas + fluid, whereas transverse waves move through solids...



I to this day thought that light = transverse and sound = longitudinal.... lol

Are they both? Whats going on? What type of wave would exist in a metal rod?

 

[illinichief89]

Sound = Longitudinal
Light = Transverse

I think a metal rod would carry a transverse wave

 

[chillaxbro]

Metal rod can do both

 

[ebasappa]

Yep, metal rod can have both. A sound wave, however, cannot travel in a vacuum because it needs a medium, while light in a vacuum is still possible.

 

[sciencebooks]

Yep, metal rod can have both. A sound wave, however, cannot travel in a vacuum because it needs a medium, while light in a vacuum is still possible.

👍 Yep, sound is a mechanical wave and mechanical waves require a medium.

 

[sciencebooks]

So I have read that longitudinal waves move through gas + fluid, whereas transverse waves move through solids...



I to this day thought that light = transverse and sound = longitudinal.... lol

Are they both? Whats going on? What type of wave would exist in a metal rod?

*On the MCAT, a gas is a fluid, btw. Be careful with that. It sounds like a silly thing to worry about, I know, but fluid rules apply to liquids and gases so it's good to keep in mind.

 

[stevenz]

There is no distinction between what kind of waves can travel through what kind of medium.

For example, transverse waves travel through water - they are called waves (like at a beach).
Longitudinal waves can travel through water too (sound travels through water).

Similarly, longitudinal waves can travel through solid (you can hear sound through a table if you place your ear on it) and so can transverse waves.

The only distinction is that longitudinal waves travel oscillate to the direction of propagation and transverse waves oscillate orthogonal to that direction That's all.