The general oscillatory motion on the ocean surface is a synthesis of several distinct types of waves. All of these waves are essentially categorized based on the mechanisms that generate and restore oscillations throughout a wide range of periods and related wavelengths.
Transverse waves and longitudinal waves can move through a solid material. However, waves move through the bulk of a fluid. Hence, the ocean waves are longitudinal. These waves are a unique phenomenon since they share characteristics of both longitudinal and surface waves.
What Are Longitudinal Waves?
In a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium travel in a direction parallel to the wave’s movement. Such waves are distinguished by particle motion that is parallel to wave motion.
Think of a sound wave flowing through the air. As the wave travels, particles of air vibrate back and forth in the same and opposite directions of energy transmission.
Each particle pulls on its neighboring particle to propel it onward. The back and forth motion of particles in the direction of energy transmission produces parts inside the medium where particles are squeezed together and other regions where particles are spaced apart.
The existence of such zones may always be used to easily identify longitudinal waves. This process continues throughout the particle chain until the sound wave reaches the listener’s ear.
This sliding action is unique to liquids and gases. It keeps one particle from displacing its neighbor in a direction perpendicular to the energy transmission. As a result, only longitudinal waves can be seen traveling through the bulk of liquids such as our oceans.
While waves that move inside the depths of the water are known as longitudinal waves, waves that travel over the ocean’s top are known as surface waves.
What Are Transverse Waves?
A transverse wave is one in which the particles of the medium travel perpendicular to the direction of the wave. Transverse waves are differentiated on account of particle motion that is perpendicular to wave motion.
For this example, let’s take a slinky spring that is stretched horizontally across a room. By shaking the left end of the spring in an up and down motion, a pulse is inserted. Energy will start to flow through the spring from left to right.
You could see the individual coils of the medium get shifted above and downwards as the energy is carried from left to right. In this situation, the medium particles travel perpendicular to the direction of the pulse.
Transverse waves must transport their energy through a somewhat stiff medium. When one particle starts moving, it must be able to pull on its nearest neighbor. If the medium is not stiff, as fluids are, the particles will move past one other.
The Verdict?
In longitudinal and transverse waves, all particles in the medium travel in parallel and perpendicular directions to the direction of energy transmission, respectively.
Ocean waves are generally considered longitudinal waves. Since transverse waves only work in a solid medium, fluids like water bodies are characterized by longitudinal waves.
