Which type of wave travels faster in solids, longitudinal or transverse?

Longitudinal waves travel faster in solids compared to transverse waves due to the nature of particle motion and the medium's composition. In longitudinal waves, particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of wave propagation, which allows for efficient energy transfer as particles push and pull on adjacent particles. This efficient transfer originates from how tightly packed and incompressible solids are, facilitating quicker propagation of compressions and rarefactions.

Transverse waves, on the other hand, require a medium that can support shear stress, which is typically not as efficient as the compressional forces present in longitudinal waves. In solids, transverse waves do propagate, but their speed is generally less than that of longitudinal waves because the shear modulus (which is relevant for transverse wave propagation) is lower than the bulk modulus (which governs longitudinal wave speed). Therefore, the significant difference in wave speeds in solids confirms that longitudinal waves are inherently faster due to the physics of how they transmit energy through the medium.