Differentiate between longitudinal and transverse waves. Provide examples of natural phenomena and artificial systems that exhibit each type of wave motion.

Longitudinal and transverse waves are two fundamental types of wave motion.

1. Longitudinal Waves: In longitudinal waves, the displacement of the medium is in the same direction as, or the opposite direction to, the direction of propagation of the wave. In other words, particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the direction that the wave moves. A common example of this is sound waves in air, where air particles move back and forth in the same direction of the wave, creating areas of compression and rarefaction. Another example is primary waves (P-waves) in an earthquake, which are also longitudinal.

2. Transverse Waves: In transverse waves, the displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. This means that the particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the wave moves. A common example of this is waves on a string or a rope where the displacement of the string is perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Another example is light waves, which are transverse, as are secondary waves in an earthquake (S-waves).

Artificial systems that exhibit each type of wave motion include:

• Longitudinal Waves: Ultrasound technology uses longitudinal waves. These waves are sent into the body, and the reflected waves are used to create images of the internal structures of the body.

• Transverse Waves: Television and radio broadcasts use electromagnetic waves to transmit signals, which are transverse waves.

In summary, the main difference between longitudinal and transverse waves is the direction of the displacement in relation to the direction of propagation of the wave.