Why is a solid substance able to transport both longitu - dinal waves and transverse waves, but a homogeneous fluid is able to transport only longitudinal waves?

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Alivia

Chemistry

30 May, 08:27

Why is a solid substance able to transport both longitu - dinal waves and transverse waves, but a homogeneous fluid is able to transport only longitudinal waves?

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Barclay · Answer 1

The motion of particles in a wave can be either perpendicular to the wave direction (transverse) or parallel to it (longitudinal) waves.

Only longitudinal waves can propagate through a fluid (in the transverse direction).

This is because in the transverse direction, the fluid doesnt have a restoring force.