A student secures one end of a long slinky to a wall. She first flicks the free end side-to-side and then, in a separate trial, pushes and pulls the end directly along the slinky’s length. Which classification best describes the waves produced in the two trials?
(a) Both motions produce transverse waves because in each case the coils move side-to-side while the disturbance travels along the slinky.
(b) The side-to-side flick produces a longitudinal (compressional) wave, while the push-pull produces a transverse wave.
(c) The side-to-side flick produces a transverse wave, and the push-pull produces a longitudinal (compressional) wave.
(d) Both motions produce longitudinal waves because the medium is alternately compressed and extended in either case.