transverse wave

Examples of transverse wave in the following topics:

• Transverse Waves

  • Light is an example of a transverse wave.
  • A ripple on a pond and a wave on a string are easily visualized transverse waves.
  • Transverse waves are waves that are oscillating perpendicularly to the direction of propagation.
  • Transverse waves have their applications in many areas of physics.
  • Therefore an electromagnetic wave consists of two transverse waves, visible light being an example of an electromagnetic wave.

• Longitudinal and Transverse Waves

  • Most kinds of waves are transverse waves.
  • In a transverse wave, as the wave is moving in one direction, it is creating a disturbance in a different direction.
  • But sound waves are not transverse.
  • This is very difficult to show clearly in a diagram, so most diagrams, even diagrams of sound waves, show transverse waves.
  • In water waves and other transverse waves, the ups and downs are in a different direction from the forward movement of the wave.

• Reflections

  • The wave that occurs due to this motion is called a transverse wave.
  • Transverse waves have what are called peaks and troughs.
  • When a transverse wave meets a fixed end, the wave is reflected, but inverted.
  • Diagram of a transverse wave.
  • A transverse wave that is fixed at the end point.

• Standing Waves on a String

  • A transverse wave will move along the string until it reaches the other end.
  • When a transverse wave meets a fixed end, the wave is reflected, but inverted.
  • The wave is reflected, but unlike a transverse wave with a fixed end, it is not inverted.
  • When a transverse wave meets a fixed end, the wave is reflected, but inverted.
  • The wave is reflected, but unlike a transverse wave with a fixed end, it is not inverted.

• Longitudinal Waves

  • An example of a longitudinal wave is a sound wave.
  • Some longitudinal waves are also called compressional waves or compression waves.
  • Like transverse waves, longitudinal waves do not displace mass.
  • The most common pressure wave is the sound wave.
  • By doing so, they create transverse waves.

• The Speed of a Wave on a String

  • When studying waves, it is helpful to use a string to observe the physical properties of waves visually.
  • The wave that occurs due to this motion is called a transverse wave.
  • A transverse wave is defined as a wave where the movement of the particles of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of the propagation of the wave.
  • Transverse waves have what are called peaks and troughs.
  • In transverse waves, the media the wave is traveling in moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

• Waves

  • A sea wave is an example of a wave in which water molecules are moving up and down as waves propagate towards the shore.
  • A wave can be transverse or longitudinal depending on the direction of its oscillation.
  • Transverse waves occur when a disturbance causes oscillations perpendicular (at right angles) to the propagation (the direction of energy transfer).
  • While mechanical waves can be both transverse and longitudinal, all electromagnetic waves are transverse.
  • In this chapter we will closely examine the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves along with some of the properties they possess.

• Water Waves

  • Water waves can be commonly observed in daily life, and comprise both transverse and longitudinal wave motion.
  • The uniqueness of water waves is found in the observation that they comprise both transverse and longitudinal wave motion.
  • In the case of monochromatic linear plane waves in deep water, particles near the surface move in circular paths, creating a combination of longitudinal (back and forth) and transverse (up and down) wave motions.
  • Although larger waves are more powerful, wave power is also determined by wave speed, wavelength, and water density.
  • This is a result of the wave having both transverse and longitudinal properties.

• The Production of Electromagnetic Waves

  • Electromagnetic waves are the combination of electric and magnetic field waves produced by moving charges.
  • These waves oscillate perpendicularly to and in phase with one another.
  • The creation of all electromagnetic waves begins with a charged particle.
  • Electromagnetic waves are a self-propagating transverse wave of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.
  • Notice that the electric and magnetic field waves are in phase.

• Harmonic Wave Functions

  • When vibrations in the string are simple harmonic motion, waves are described by harmonic wave functions.
  • In this Atom we shall consider wave motion resulting from harmonic vibrations and discuss harmonic transverse wave in the context of a string.
  • The important point here is to realize that oscillatory attributes (like time period, angular and linear frequency) of wave motion is same as that of vibration of a particle in transverse direction.
  • Thus, speed of wave is given by :
  • The wavelength is equal to linear distance between repetitions of transverse disturbance or phase.