A wave is a disturbance which occurs as a result of continuous production of pulses

Whats the difference between waves and impulse?

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<h2 class="title">What is a <em>transverse wave</em>?</h2>
<p><strong>Waves in a pool</strong></p>
<img alt="" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/0700d89f-ec5e-44d0-a8dd-d3b3c6a93448"/>
<p>We have studied pulses in the previous lessons, and know that a pulse is a single disturbance that travels through a medium. A <em>wave</em> is a periodic, continuous disturbance that consists of a <em>train</em> or <em>succession</em> of pulses.</p>
<p>An enlarged version of the ripple tank can be seen in a real life example of a Kreepy Krauly® making waves in a pool because of the regular vibrations. The Kreepy Krauly® was invented in South Africa by Ferdinand Chauvier and his son Daniel.</p>
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<h3>Definition: Wave</h3>
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<p>A <em>wave</em> is a periodic, continuous disturbance that consists of a <em>train</em> of pulses.</p>
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<h3>Definition: Transverse wave</h3>
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<p>A <em>transverse wave</em> is a wave where the movement of the particles of the medium is perpendicular (at a right angle) to the direction of propagation of the wave.</p>
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<h2>Optional Activity: Transverse Waves</h2>
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<p>Take a rope or slinky spring. Have two people hold the rope or spring stretched out horizontally. Flick the one end of the rope up and down continuously to create a <em>train of pulses</em>.</p>
<img alt="98635e491d6ecca04b92dd05cf34a3e5.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/cb368840-d7bf-4b00-ac7b-45c9fbfa20d6"/>
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<p>Describe what happens to the rope.</p>
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<p>Draw a diagram of what the rope looks like while the pulses travel along it.</p>
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<p>In which direction do the pulses travel?</p>
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<p>Tie a ribbon to the middle of the rope. This indicates a particle in the rope.</p>
<img alt="8306cc226ff911ed2bccd4bdffa30272.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/661d6f7a-fad8-4cee-9379-3b3974c75a8f"/></li>
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<p>Flick the rope continuously. Watch the ribbon carefully as the pulses travel through the rope. What happens to the ribbon?</p>
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<p>Draw a picture to show the motion of the ribbon. Draw the ribbon as a dot and use arrows to indicate how it moves.</p>
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<p>In the activity, you created waves. The medium through which these waves propagated was the rope, which is obviously made up of a very large number of particles (atoms). From the activity, you would have noticed that the wave travelled from one side to the other, but the particles (the ribbon) moved only up and down.</p>
<img alt="baca42704d80df6165d676bb9dbaacd3.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/c2178778-70a9-46ab-9949-af02f24d79da"/>
<p>A transverse wave, showing the direction of motion of the wave perpendicular to the direction in which the particles move.</p>
<p>When the particles of a medium move at right angles to the direction of propagation of a wave, the wave is called <em>transverse</em>. For waves, there is no net displacement of the particles of the medium (they return to their equilibrium position), but there is a net displacement of the wave. There are thus two different motions: the motion of the particles of the medium and the motion of the wave.</p>
<p>The following simulation will help you understand more about waves. Select the oscillate option and then observe what happens.</p>
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What is a Transverse Wave?

Physics is a science discipline concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. Physics topics include mechanics, heat, light and radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, the structure of atoms, and so on.

Physics

Learn about the characteristics, properties, and behaviors of mechanical waves and sound, including transverse and longitudinal pulses, waves, and their superposition, as well as the speed, wavelength, amplitude, and frequency of sound waves, Doppler effect, and more in this tutorial.


What is a Transverse Wave?

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