Wave Motions

Wave Motion: 

Wave motion is the disturbance, set up in the medium, due to the repeated periodic motion of the particles of the medium and travels from the particle to particle, the particles themselves keep vibrating about their mean positions.

Wave Equation:

d²y/dt² = v² (d²y/dx²)

Transverse wave motion:

It is the type of wave motion in which the particles of the medium are vibrating in a direction at right angles to the direction of propagation of wave.

Velocity of transverse wave, V_t = √T/m = √T/πr²ρ

Vibrations of the particles of medium are normal to the direction of wave propagation. 

Longitudinal wave motion:

It is the type of wave motion in which the particles of the medium vibrate in the direction of propagation of wave.

(a) Velocity of longitudinal wave, V_l = √E/ρ

(b) Vibrations of the particles are parallel to the direction of wave propagation.