Q.Distinguish between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.

[!TLDR] Transverse: particle vibration perpendicular to travel, crests/troughs, needs shape-elasticity, can be polarised. Longitudinal: parallel vibration, compressions/rarefactions, needs volume-elasticity, cannot be polarised. [!ANSWER] Perpendicular vs parallel vib …

Vibration direction: transverse -- perpendicular to propagation; longitudinal -- parallel to propagation. Medium division: transverse -- alternating crests (positive displacement) and troughs (negative displacement); longitudinal -- alternating compressions (crowded, high pressure) and rarefactions (spread out, low pressure). Elasticity needed: transverse -- elasticity of SHAPE; longitudinal -- elasticity of VOLUME. Media it can travel through: transverse -- solids and liquid surfaces only (not through liquid bulk or gases, except EM waves); longitudinal -- solids, liquids AND gases (never vacuum). Pressure/density variation: transverse -- none, as the wave advances (only shape changes); longitudinal -- periodic variation in both pressure and density, in space and time. Polarisation: transverse waves CAN be polarised (vibration confinable to one plane); longitudinal waves can NEVER be polarised (vibration direction already coincides with travel direction, leaving no other p …

Build a point-by-point comparison across vibration direction, medium-division pattern, elasticity requirement, which media each can travel through, pressure/density behaviour, an …

Listing only the crest/trough vs compression/rarefaction distinction and stopping there, missing the equally exam-relevant differences in which media each t …