Transverse Wave
Dear students here we are going to discuss the most essential part from lesson sound. Here we are going to learn about transverse wave. Just go through the following activity to understand transverse wave in detail.
Take a thin rope and tie its one end tightly to window.
Hold the other end in your hand and stretch it tightly so that the tension is developed in the rope. As shown in fig above.
Now move the rope in your hand up and down continuously for some instant.
Observe the rope carefully and note down your observation.
You will observe that the vibrations in rope form the wave known as transverse wave. Transverse wave is defined as the wave in which the direction of propagation of wave is perpendicular to the direction of vibration of particle.
Longitudinal wave is defined as ‘the wave in which the particles of medium vibrate in a direction parallel to direction of propagation’. Eg. Sound wave produced with the help of tuning fork.
During formation of transverse wave the medium is divided into crest and trough. The upper half cycle of wave is termed as crest whereas the lower half part is termed as trough.
One crest and a trough complete one set of transverse wave. The distance between two successive crest / trough OR the distance between the adjacent crest and trough is known as wavelength of wave.
Time required to complete one set of transverse wave is known as period of transverse wave.
Transverse wave transfers energy in the medium.
Transverse waves can travel through solids only.