Question

What is a longitudinal wave? In which medium: solid, liquid or gas, can it be produced?

Answer 1

Hint: Waves are oscillations of particles that transfer energy from one point to another through a medium without carrying matter. If waves transfer particles in direction of wave propagation then it forms a longitudinal wave. If a wave transfer particle perpendicular to direction of wave propagation it forms a transverse wave..

Complete step by step solution:
Longitudinal waves or compression particles transfer parallel to the direction of propagation of wave and energy. Transfer of particles occur in a striped manner with some points forming dark bands of waves (compression) while at other points they form light bands of waves (called rarefaction). These waves are present where it is needed to transfer energy. E.g. of longitudinal waves are Sound Waves, Tsunami waves, Earthquake vibrations and vibration in spring.
 This wave can travel through every medium i.e. air, water and gases. Longitudinal waves travel by initiating oscillation or disturbance in molecules of the medium from the source point. These oscillating particles then disturb the adjacent molecules which further transfer this energy to the next adjacent set of silent molecules and so on. As the energy keeps on transferring from one set to another, the previous set of molecules becomes silent. As the wave just required any medium molecule for transfer so these molecules can be achieved in any phase and medium hence longitudinal waves can travel through all phases – solid, liquid and gases.

Note:
 In longitudinal wave particles move or vibration occur in to and fro manner while in transverse wave it occurs in up-down manner about their mean position. Transverse waves can only pass through solid media. Besides the differences, both waves can be compared with each other and understand the manner in which common values and terms can be understood between each type of wave.