Question

A transverse wave is traveling from north to south. Which statement could be true for the motion of the wave particles in the medium? Their direction of motion is east and west. Their direction of motion is north and east. Their direction of motion is south and north. Their direction of motion is north and west. Their direction of motion is south and east.

Answer 1

Answer : The correct option is, Their direction of motion is east and west.

Explanation :

There are two types of waves :

Longitudinal waves : It is defined as the waves in which the particles of the medium move in the direction of the wave.

Transverse wave : It is defined as the waves in which the particles of the medium travel perpendicularly to the direction of the wave.

When a transverse wave is traveling from north to south then the direction of  motion of the wave particle will be perpendicular to north-south direction which is east-west direction.

Hence, the correct option is, Their direction of motion is east and west.

Answer 2

Transverse waves travel on a direction that is perpendicular to the motion of the particles (or whatever medium is waving)  So the particles must be moving east to west, which is transverse to the north-south motion of the wave