Pupils could use a 'slinky spring' to reinforce the explanation of transverse and longitudinal waves, with a coloured marker attached so that they can see that each link in the spring does not ...

These types of waves are called longitudinal waves. In the diagram above the rope moves up and down but the energy is transferred along the rope from left to right, at 90° to the oscillation.

Mechanical and electromagnetic waves, transverse and longitudinal waves, pulses and continuous waves are compared. Frequency, wavelength, period, and amplitude of waves are studied. In the lab ...