There are several different areas in which there can be qualitatively different types of waves. The table below lists most of these Areas, and lists the choices available in those areas.
The "Others?" column indicates whether there are more choices than the examples listed here; this will say "Continuum" if the choices describe the extremes with a continuum of choices in between.
| Area |
Choices |
Others? |
Links |
| Wave motion |
- Traveling Waves: waves crests move, transporting energy
- Standing Waves: wave crests remain stationary
|
Continuum |
Standing as combination of traveling
|
| Medium motion |
- Longitudunal (AKA Compression): medium pieces move parallel to wave motion or to extent of wave.
- Transverse: medium pieces move perpendicular to wave motion.
- Circular Transverse: medium pieces move in circles around wave motion direction.
- Circular Longitudinal: medium pieces move in circles with the motion direction in the plane of the circles. This is what water waves are.
- Torsional: medium pieces oscillate in arcs around wave motion direction.
|
Yes |
Animations |
| Spatial Extent of Wave |
- Continuous (AKA Wave Train): no beginning or end. Obviously, real life can only approximate this.
- Pulse (AKA Shock Wave): Only a single wave crest.
- Packet: A limited number of wave crests with an amplitude that is biggest in the center and approaches zero away from the center.
|
Continuum |
|
| Extent of Medium |
- One Dimensional: Positions of wave features in the medium can be specified by using only a single number. This DOES NOT mean that pieces of the medium may only move in one dimension.
- Two Dimentional: Positions of wave features in the medium can be specified by using only two numbers. (Example: Water waves are in this category, even though a 3D volume of water moves when a wave passes by.)
- Three Dimensional: Positions of wave featuers in the medium may require three numbers. Wave propagation can occur in any direction.
|
No |
|