Longitudinal waves move parallel to the direction of motion and transmit energy through a medium. Non-electromagnetic waves include pressure and sound waves, while electromagnetic waves can transmit energy through a vacuum. P-waves are the fastest seismic waves and are recorded by seismometers. Sound waves require a medium to travel and travel faster in solid media. Plasma waves are generated by electrical or magnetic sources and can exist in an ionized state.
A longitudinal wave is an oscillation or vibration that travels within a medium parallel to the direction of motion. When a vibrating particle is disturbed, it transmits the disturbance to the next particle, carrying the energy of the wave. As the energy is transported, the particles of the medium are moved in a left and right motion. For example, if a longitudinal wave travels east through a medium, the disturbance will vibrate in parallel in an alternating left-to-right direction instead of the up-and-down motion of a transverse wave.
Longitudinal waves can be divided into two categories, non-electromagnetic and electromagnetic. The main difference between the two is that electromagnetic waves can transmit energy through a vacuum, while non-electromagnetic waves cannot. Non-electromagnetic waves include pressure and sound waves. Plasma waves are considered electromagnetic longitudinal waves.
P waves, or pressure waves, are a type of compressive or elastic wave that can travel through various mediums such as gases, solids, and liquids. During a seismic event, pressure waves are generated as a result of alternating compression and decompression. For example, the rocking produced by an earthquake causes vibrations to travel through land and water. Of all the types of seismic waves, pressure waves are considered the fastest, allowing them to travel great distances. The pressure waves are recorded by an instrument called a seismometer which measures the movements of the ground.
Earthquakes can also produce sound waves. Like pressure waves, sound waves are compressive in nature, meaning that the waves expand and compress matter as they move through it. Sound waves, just like p-waves, require a means to carry energy from one area to another. The speed at which sound travels depends on the medium it travels through. Sound waves generally travel faster in solid media than in non-solid media, such as air.
The use of a tuning fork is a good example of how sound is produced and transmitted through an air medium. Fork movements produce vibrations that disturb air particles, producing a series of compression and decompression actions. These actions generate a pure musical note as a result.
Unlike pressure and sound waves, plasma waves cannot be produced directly by an earthquake. Instead, plasma waves must be generated by an electrical or magnetic source. A laser is an example of a device that produces plasma waves when it interacts with ionizing gases. This type of longitudinal wave can exist in an ionized or charged state. An electromagnetic wave can also take the form of a transverse wave, while a pressure wave will always be a longitudinal wave.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
