What is a Transverse wave?
Transverse waves transfer energy in a direction perpendicular to the direction of
the disturbance in the medium. A vibrating string is an example of a transverse
wave. Although all points on the string itself are constrained to move only up and
down, wave pulses move perpendicularly along the length of the string.
A transverse wave may consist of more than one pulse. Transverse waves
consisting of many pulses result when the wave source oscillates about some
equilibrium position for long periods of time. Under such conditions an initial
pulse is followed immediately by another pulse of opposite displacement.
If the oscillations are steady the resulting waveform is periodic. If the oscillations
are harmonic in the series of pulses is known as a harmonic wave train. All of the
electromagnetic spectrum, including light, consists of transverse waves that
result from harmonic oscillations in molecular, atomic or nuclear structures.
the disturbance in the medium. A vibrating string is an example of a transverse
wave. Although all points on the string itself are constrained to move only up and
down, wave pulses move perpendicularly along the length of the string.
A transverse wave may consist of more than one pulse. Transverse waves
consisting of many pulses result when the wave source oscillates about some
equilibrium position for long periods of time. Under such conditions an initial
pulse is followed immediately by another pulse of opposite displacement.
If the oscillations are steady the resulting waveform is periodic. If the oscillations
are harmonic in the series of pulses is known as a harmonic wave train. All of the
electromagnetic spectrum, including light, consists of transverse waves that
result from harmonic oscillations in molecular, atomic or nuclear structures.