TRANSVERSE WAVES

There are two ways of propagating a wave: LONGITUDINAL and TRANSVERSE.

In TRANSVERSE waves, the individual particles of the medium supporting the wave move perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the wave.

This means that if the MEDIUM is water, then the individual drops of water move up and down when the wave moves from left to right. A particle of dust or a water bug floating on the surface of the water moves perpendicular to the direction of movement of the wave.

Light travels this way, as do all other waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.

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Copyright Ellen Stoner, 1997