Transverse and Longitudinal Wave Demonstrator

Move your mouse up and down to generate a Transverse Wave;

see if you can see the crests and troughs,

and observe how the particles don't move from side-to-side

 - they move at right-angles to the direction of the wave's movement (propagation).

Move your mouse left to right to generate a Longitudinal Wave;

observe compressions and rarefactions,

and how the particles move (oscillate) in the same direction as the direction (of propagation) of the wave

Slower version of this page

JavaScripts from
http://www.draac.com/trailer.html