Transverse wave
What Transverse wave means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Transverse wave
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Reference: OCR
A wave in which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy travel, for example a wave on a string or an electromagnetic wave.
A wave in which the displacement of the oscillating particles or fields is perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation.
A wave in which particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of travel, so crests and troughs form.
Topics that use Transverse wave
- Longitudinal and transverse waves (AQA A-Level)
- Wave motion (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Compressions and rarefactions
- Longitudinal wave
- Polarisation
- Amplitude
- Classification of waves
- Diffraction and gap-to-wavelength ratio
- Displacement
- Displacement–distance graph
Using Transverse wave in the exam
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