transverse wave
(noun)
Any wave in which the direction of disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of travel.
Examples of transverse wave in the following topics:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Energy Transportation
- The force you feel from a wave hitting you at the beach is an example of work being done and, thus, energy being transfered by a wave in the direction of the wave's propagation.
- Energy transportion is essential to waves.
- It is a common misconception that waves move mass.
- Electromagnetic waves can be imagined as a self-propagating transverse oscillating wave of electric and magnetic fields .
- Electromagnetic waves can be imagined as a self-propagating transverse oscillating wave of electric and magnetic fields.