Transverse waves

• Transverse waves are waves that oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
• The speed of transverse waves depends on the medium through which they travel, with faster speeds occurring when the particles have greater mass or are more tightly packed together.
• The particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
• Transverse waves require a medium such as a solid, liquid, or gas to travel through.
• Waves can also occur as electromagnetic radiation without any material medium involved.
• Examples of transverse waves include light waves, sound waves, seismic waves, electromagnetic radiation, and water waves.
• Sound waves can be heard by humans because our ears detect vibrations caused by changes in air pressure.
• In gases, the molecules are far apart and do not interact strongly enough to create significant pressure differences, so only transverse waves occur.
• Particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave motion.
• Examples of transverse waves include light waves, sound waves, seismic waves, water waves, and radio waves.
• Light waves carry energy from one place to another without carrying matter.
• Light travels fastest through air and slowest through glass.