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Transverse Waves

Waves carry energy from one place to another - either via the movement of particles (mechanical waves) or by electromagnetic means.

There are two types of wave: transverse and longitudinal - see here for information on longitudinal waves.

The vibrations in a transverse wave are perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction in which the energy is travelling. Eg. light.

In the illustration above the vibration causing the energy to travel along the rope is applied at right angles to the rope - along which the energy travels.

'Do not say the energy goes from 'left to right' whereas the vibration is 'up and down' - the same illustration could be used if the rope was lying on the floor and the hand moved parallel to the floor!'

You need to describe the vibration as being perpendicular (at right angles ) to the direction the energy is carried by the wave.

All of the electromagnetic spectrum of energies are carried by transverse waves.

Nothing 'physical' vibrates when pur electromagnetic enery is transferred - the vibrations are transverse variations in electric and magnetic fields - that is why they are called electromagnetic waves.

Those variations in the fields are perpendicular to each other - as shown in the diagram.

It is not until A Level that you need to know much detail about electromagnetic waves - but I think it helps to know at GCSE that the electromagnetic spectrum of energy transfer is so called because electric and magnetic fields are varying - in the form of a transverse wave pattern... and you do have to know that electromagnetic waves are transverse!

 

Transverse waves can be polarised - vibrations in all but one orientation can be absorbed by a filter.