Traveling Waves

• A traveling wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium at $v$
• $v$ depends on the medium
• Particles in the medium osciallate but do not translate; traveling waves will carry energy and momentum but not mass

Transverse vs Longitudinal

A transverse wave has particles in the medium moving perpendicular to the direction the wave propagates. Think of a guitar string plucked where the wave propagates side to side (along the string) while the actual mass of the string moves up and down.

A longitudinal wave has particles in the medium moving in the same direction of propagation. Think of sound particles moving in the same direction sound is transmitted.

Ideal Wave

An ideal wave has constant speed and will not change shape.

An ideal wave has the follow properties:

1. Nondispersive — velocity is the same for all wave shapes and sizes.
2. Linear — the equation to describe motion in the medium is linear.
3. Undamped — energy is not being lost or added.