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Types of Waves (GCSE Physics)

Types of Waves

There are 2 types of waves. The two types of waves that you need to know for exams are called transverse waves and longitudinal waves. These two types of waves are slightly different in the way that they move.
Direction of oscillations are different. Both the transverse and longitudinal waves have different directions of oscillations. Transverse waves will have oscillations perpendicular to the direction of travel. Longitudinal waves will have oscillations parallel to the direction of travel, as shown in the diagram.

Use letters to remember oscillations. In order to remember these oscillations, use the letters ’t’ and ‘l’. If a wave is transverse, remember the letter ’t’, since the direction of the wave is perpendicular to the oscillation. If a wave is longitudinal, remember the letter ‘l’, since the direction of the wave is parallel to the oscillation. Let’s look at the following diagram.

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Types of Waves (GCSE Physics)

Types of Waves

Types of Waves

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CIE IGCSE - 1 Motion, forces & energy

Types of Waves (GCSE Physics)

CIE IGCSE - 2 Thermal Physics

CIE IGCSE - 3 Waves

CIE IGCSE - 4 Electricity & magnetism

CIE IGCSE - 5 Nuclear Physics

CIE IGCSE - 6 Space Physics

Edexcel 1 Key Concepts of Physics

Edexcel 10 Static electricity

Edexcel 11 Magnetism and the motor effect

Edexcel 12 Particle model

Edexcel 2 Motion and Forces

Edexcel 3 Conservation of Energy

Edexcel 4 Waves

Edexcel 5 Light & the electromagnetic spectrum

Edexcel 6 Radioactivity

Edexcel 7 Astronomy