(Ã´r'dn-Ä­t) The distance of a point from the x-axis on a graph in the Cartesian coordinate system. It is measured parallel to the y-axis. For example, a point having coordinates (2,3) has 3 as its ordinate. Compare abscissa.
How well s waves travel depends on the medium's shear modulus, or rigidity. Liquids and gases have no rigidity so they do not allow s waves to propagate(travel). P waves depenâ¦d on the medium's bulk modulus, or compressibility, so they propagate in liquids and gases, as well as solids, since they are both compressible. 6 people found this useful.
Surface wave. In physics, a surface wave is a mechanical wave that propagates along the interface between differing media. A common example is gravity waves along the surface of liquids, such as ocean waves. Gravity waves can also occur within liquids, at the interface between two fluids with different densities. Elastic surface waves can travel along the surface of solids, such as Rayleigh or Love waves. Electromagnetic waves can also propagate as surface waves in that they can be guided along a refractive