Question

In a transverse wave that travels through a medium, the molecules of the medium vibrate

A. at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels.
B. at twice the velocity of the molecules in a longitudinal wave.
C. with smaller amplitudes than the molecules in a longitudinal wave.
D. in the direction in which the wave travels

Answer 1

In a transverse wave, the molecules of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction of the wave's propagation.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a transverse wave that travels through a medium, the molecules of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels. This means that if the wave is moving horizontally to the right, the particles of the medium would be moving up and down vertically.

This type of oscillation is characteristic of transverse waves, as opposed to longitudinal waves, where the particles vibrate in the same direction as the wave travels. In summary, the correct answer to the question is A. at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels.

Answer 2

So we wan't to know how the molecules of the medium vibrate when a transverse wave propagates trough that medium. A transverse wave is a wave whos oscilations are perpendicular to the direction of it's propagation. So the molecules in a medium will vibrate perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. So if the wave is moving in the x-direction, the molecules will vibrate in the y-z plane. The correct answer is A. at right angles to the direction in which the wave propagates.