Tipos de ondas en un muelle
A single slinky can carry both kinds of wave depending on how you shake it. This simulation runs transverse and longitudinal waves along the same spring so the difference in particle motion is directly comparable.
Cómo usar esta simulación
- Switch between transverse and longitudinal excitation
- Change the frequency and amplitude
- Track a marked coil through its motion
Qué observar
- Transverse particles move at right angles to the wave direction
- Longitudinal particles move along it, forming compressions
- In both cases the marked coil returns to its starting position each cycle
La física detrás
In a transverse wave the particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of travel; in a longitudinal wave they oscillate parallel to it. Both transfer energy without net movement of matter, and both obey v = fλ. Only transverse waves can be polarised, because only they have a meaningful oscillation direction to restrict.