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Longitudinal Wave and Transverse Wave

　Depending on the oscillation direction, the wave is determined as a longitudinal wave or a transverse wave. Waves oscillating perpendicularly to its propagation direction are called the transverse wave, and waves that oscillate parallel to the propagation direction are called the longitudinal wave as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Longitudinal Wave and Transverse Wave

Longitudinal waves make rough and dense parts in the medium. A typical wave of the longitudinal wave is sound. Sound makes rough and density part in the air.
　Transverse waves are waves which are oscillating perpendicularly to the propagation direction. For example, waves that can be generated on the water surface are the transverse wave because they oscillate perpendicularly to the propagation direction. Also the light oscillates the electric field and magnetic filed perpendicularly to the propagation direction so that the light is the transverse wave.

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