Sound Waves in Solids: What Type of Waves Do They Propagate?

AI Thread Summary
Sound waves propagate in solids as both longitudinal (p-waves) and transverse (s-waves) waves. P-waves, which are compressional, have particle motion parallel to the direction of wave travel and travel faster than s-waves. S-waves, or shear waves, involve particle motion that is perpendicular to the wave direction. The distinction between these wave types is crucial in understanding their behavior in different media. Overall, sound can effectively propagate through solids in these two forms, each with unique characteristics.
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[SOLVED] Sound waves in solids?

Hello!
As far as i have learned sound waves are longitudinal! They propagate in gases liquids and plasmas. Does sound waves propagate through solids too? If so, what type of waves? Longitudinal or transversal?

Thanks
Note:If you consider this homework, sorry for that!
 
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Sound propagates both as compressional "p-waves" (which are longitudinal - because particle motion is parallel to the ray) and shear "s-waves" (transverse - because particle motion is perpendicular to the ray) in solids. They travel at different velocities, p-waves are always faster than s-waves. Incidentally, if I remember my quantitative seismology correctly, from continuum mechanics the p-wave is the disturbance in a medium associated with "divergence" i.e. volume change of the medium, and the s-wave is associated with the rotation or "curl" i.e. the shape change or the "shear" of the medium.
 

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