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Transverse waves and longitudinal waves
A car aerial receives radio waves from a radio transmitter. Radio waves are transverse waves. Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
Describe the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
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Marking points
- 1 State that in a longitudinal wave the oscillations or vibrations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer or wave travel.
- 2 State that in a transverse wave the oscillations or vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer or wave travel.
Full-mark answer
In a transverse wave the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer. In a longitudinal wave the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
Why this answer loses marks
Transverse waves are faster than longitudinal waves.
The mark scheme credits the direction of vibrations relative to energy transfer, not speed.