Types of Waves

In general, there are two kinds of waves:

• Waves may be transverse.
• Waves may be longitudinal.

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  For transverse waves, the individual disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of the wave motion as a whole.
  

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  For longitudinal waves, the individual disturbance is along the same direction as the wave motion as a whole.
  

  

  Wave Motion			Superposition
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  (c) 2002, Doug Davis; all rights reserved