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Longitudinal waves velocity (compressional waves)

Description

Longitudinal waves, are waves in which the displacement of the medium is in the same direction as, or the opposite direction to, the direction of travel of the wave. Mechanical longitudinal waves are also called compressional waves or compression waves, because they produce compression and rarefaction when traveling through a medium. The P wave caused by the reaction of the material to the change of its volume. During transmission of waves the oscillations of the molecules of the material is parallel to the direction of the wave propagation.

Related formulas

Variables

vpVelocity (m/sec)
EYoung's modulus (kg/m*s2)
ρDensity (kg/m3)
vPoisson's ratio (dimensionless)