What are the properties of a transverse wave?

Transverse waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

Transverse waves are characterized by their oscillation perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer. This means that the particles in the medium move up and down or side to side, while the wave propagates forward. Examples of transverse waves include electromagnetic waves, such as light, and waves on a string.

One important property of transverse waves is their polarization. This refers to the orientation of the oscillation relative to a reference axis. For example, light waves can be polarized vertically or horizontally, or at any angle in between. Polarization can be important in applications such as 3D movie technology and polarized sunglasses.

Another property of transverse waves is their amplitude, which is the maximum displacement of the particles from their equilibrium position. This is related to the wave's energy, with larger amplitudes corresponding to more energy. The wavelength of a transverse wave is the distance between two adjacent peaks or troughs, and the frequency is the number of oscillations per second.

Finally, transverse waves can undergo reflection, refraction, and interference, just like other types of waves. These phenomena can be used to create optical devices such as mirrors and lenses, or to cancel out unwanted signals in communication systems.