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waves
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why is the speed of propagation of a surface wave considerably different to that of a sound wave in the same medium?
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Yea, I'd say that NiceCupOfTea is right.
It's the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Sound is a longitudinal wave, and as such, the particles are physically displaced across the medium (left to right, let's say). Transverse waves take one particle at a time, moving that particle up and down, followed by the next (like a Mexican wave), but the particles do not actually move across the medium (not left and right).
A surface wave is a mix of the above two, and so the speed of propogation is slowed down with the "transverse" component of the wave.
It's the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves. Sound is a longitudinal wave, and as such, the particles are physically displaced across the medium (left to right, let's say). Transverse waves take one particle at a time, moving that particle up and down, followed by the next (like a Mexican wave), but the particles do not actually move across the medium (not left and right).
A surface wave is a mix of the above two, and so the speed of propogation is slowed down with the "transverse" component of the wave.
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