3.1.2

Transverse Wave

Test yourself

Transverse Waves

Here are some examples of transverse waves:

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Moving springs

  • Waving/moving the coils of a spring will make the coils move up and down as the wave passes.
  • They then return to their original position after the wave has passed.
  • This shows that a wave moves without transferring matter because the spring coils do not travel along with the wave.
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Mexican wave

  • A “Mexican wave” at a sports event is an example of a transverse wave.
  • The wave spreads around the stadium as the people stand up and sit down one after the other (at right angles to the direction of the people’s motion).
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Corks bobbing

  • A cork bobbing on the water shows how a transverse wave works.

Jump to other topics

1Motion, Forces & Energy

1.1Physical Quantities & Measurement Techniques

1.2Motion

1.3Mass & Weight

1.4Density

1.5Forces: Effects of Forces

1.6Forces: Turning Effects of Forces

1.7Forces: Centre of Gravity

1.8Momentum

1.9Energy, Work, & Power: Energy

1.10Energy, Work & Power: Work

1.11Energy, Work & Power: Energy Resources

1.12Energy, Work & Power: Power

1.13Pressure

2Thermal Physics

3Waves

4Electricity & Magnetism

4.1Simple Phenomena of Magnetism

4.2Electrical Quantities: Electric Charge

4.3Electrical Quantities: Electric Current

4.4Electromotive Force & Potential Difference

4.5Electrical Quantities: Resistance

4.6Electrical Energy & Electrical Power

4.7Electric Circuits: Circuit Diagrams & Components

4.8Electric Circuits: Series & Parallel Circuits

4.9Electric Circuits: Action & Use

4.10Electrical Safety

4.11Electromagnetic Effects: Electromagnetic Induction

4.12Electromagnetic Effects: The A.C. Generator

4.13Magnetic Effect of a Current

4.14Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

4.15Electromagnetic Effects: The D.C. Motor

4.16Electromagnetic Effects: The Transformer

5Nuclear Physics

6Space Physics

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