In a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction of travel.

In a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction of travel.

• A. Parallel
• B. Perpendicular
• C. At an angle
• D. Same as the wave

Answer: (B)

In a transverse wave, the medium moves up and down (or side to side) while the wave itself travels forward. That means the vibration direction is perpendicular to the direction of travel. This perpendicular relationship is what distinguishes transverse waves from longitudinal waves, where the motion is along the direction the wave moves (as with sound in air). Saying the vibration is parallel or the same as the travel would describe a longitudinal wave, not a transverse one. An angled orientation isn’t how a pure transverse wave is described, since the defining feature is a right-angle relationship between the oscillation and the propagation direction.

In a transverse wave, the medium moves up and down (or side to side) while the wave itself travels forward. That means the vibration direction is perpendicular to the direction of travel. This perpendicular relationship is what distinguishes transverse waves from longitudinal waves, where the motion is along the direction the wave moves (as with sound in air). Saying the vibration is parallel or the same as the travel would describe a longitudinal wave, not a transverse one. An angled orientation isn’t how a pure transverse wave is described, since the defining feature is a right-angle relationship between the oscillation and the propagation direction.