Physics Visualizer

Longitudinal Wave Lab

A piston on the left pushes into a row of particles. That push travels through the medium as a compression front, so you can see how a longitudinal disturbance moves without the particles themselves riding across the whole screen.

Wave Speed 1.20 m/s

Controls how fast the compression front moves from left to right.

Piston Push 36 px

The left boundary moves into the medium by this amount when you press Push.

Front Position 0.00 m

Shows where the compression front currently sits inside the row of particles.

Interactive Medium

Particle View

Piston Compression Particle

Press Push to drive the piston inward and launch a compression front.

Wave propagation is left to right. Particle motion is horizontal.