A vertical rod is hit at one end. What kind of wave propagates in the rod if A the hit is made vertically B the hit is made horizontally?

Question

Philoid · Accepted Answer

A The vertical hit will set the particles at that end to vibrate longitudinally; This longitudinal disturbance propagates as a longitudinal wave in the rod.

B The horizontal hit will set the particles at the end to vibrate along the perpendicular to the axis of the rod. So the disturbance will propagate as a transverse wave in the rod.