Reading assignment: 16.1-16.2
In a long line of people waiting to buy tickets, the first person
leaves and a pulse of motion occurs as people step forward to fill the
gap. As each person steps forward, the gap moves through the line. Is
the propagation of the gap longitudinal or transverse? Explain.
Longitudinal. And the pulse travels *backwards* through the line even though the people are moving forward.
Think about "the wave" at a BYU football game. People stand up and
raise their arms as the wave arrives at their location and the
resultant pulse moves around the stadium. Is this wave transverse or longitudinal?
.
Transverse
Do transverse waves occur in air? Explain why or why not.
They don't. There is no restoring force to bring a "sheared" volume of air back to its starting point.