How are transverse waves formed?
1 Answer
By particles moving up and down (i.e vibrations). The particles move perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
Transverse waves are created when a motion perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave is induced in the molecules that make up that medium.
http://en.docsity.com/news/physics/physics-sound-visual-representation-gifs
As you can see in the above gif, vibrating the molecules perpendicular to the direction of the wave will produce an up-and-down movement that will create alternating high points, or crests, and low points, or troughs.
http://physicsscience.wikispaces.com/