What Is a Transverse Wave?

Shear waves and P-waves are two types of waves. Waves are the propagation of vibrations, which propagate through the medium. Shear waves are also called "concave-convex waves". Shear waves are vibrations of particles that are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the vibration direction of a particle is parallel to the wave propagation direction.

S-wave and P-wave

Waves are the propagation of vibrations through the medium. In the same homogeneous medium, the propagation of vibration is

When vibration propagates in the medium, there are two forms, one is called P wave, and it is also called longitudinal wave. The characteristic of this wave is that when propagating in the medium, the wave's propagation direction is consistent with the particle vibration direction.

The other is called S-wave and S-wave. The characteristic of this wave is that when propagating in the medium, the direction of wave propagation is perpendicular to the direction of particle vibration.

Solids have shear elasticity, so they can propagate shear waves in solids, and longitudinal waves can propagate in solids, liquids, and gases. Both the longitudinal and transverse wave propagation speeds vary with the nature of the material passing through. Water waves formed on the liquid surface are formed by the action of gravity and surface tension. The direction of each particle's vibration on the surface is not perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Strictly speaking, water waves on the water surface do not belong to the category of transverse waves because water waves Both seismic waves and complex waves are complex types of mechanical waves.