Longitudinal wave

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A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the displacement of the medium is parallel to the direction of propagation. The disturbance travels through alternating regions of compression and rarefaction.

Sound waves in gases and liquids are usually longitudinal. Individual particles oscillate back and forth around equilibrium while energy and information travel through the medium.

Longitudinal waves can also occur in solids, where they are often called compressional or P-waves. Their speed depends on density and the material's resistance to compression and deformation.

Pressure, density, and particle displacement vary periodically along the wave. Longitudinal modes are important in acoustics, seismology, ultrasound, material testing, and the study of plasmas and elastic media.

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• Source / publisher: Wikipedia
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Wikipedia
• URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitudinal_wave