Year 9 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 2

Transverse and Longitudinal Waves

Foundation Worksheet

Name

Date

Class

Learning Goals

Define transverse and longitudinal waves and explain the direction of particle vibration in each.
Identify crests, troughs, compressions, and rarefactions in wave diagrams.
Classify common waves as transverse or longitudinal using examples.

Warm Up

Match each term to its definition

Draw a line connecting each term on the left to its correct definition on the right. Or write the matching letter next to each term.

Term	Your answer	Definition
Transverse wave		A. A region in a longitudinal wave where particles are spread far apart.
Longitudinal wave		B. The highest point of a transverse wave, above the rest position.
Crest		C. A wave in which particle vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel.
Trough		D. A wave in which particle vibration is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
Compression		E. The lowest point of a transverse wave, below the rest position.
Rarefaction		F. A region in a longitudinal wave where particles are pushed close together.

Your Turn

Sort it!

Write each wave example from the pool into the correct category box below.

Light Sound in air Seismic S-waves Water surface ripple Seismic P-waves Radio waves Sound in water X-rays Slinky pushed end-to-end Guitar string vibration

Transverse waves

Longitudinal waves

Show What You Know

1. When you flick the end of a rope up and down, a wave travels along the rope. Describe the direction the rope moves compared to the direction the wave travels. What type of wave is this?

Recall 2 marks

2. A sound wave travels through air. In which direction do the air molecules move relative to the wave's direction of travel? Do the molecules travel with the wave? Explain.

Recall 2 marks

Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?