Question

Refer to the following illustration to answer this question. A pattern showing rows of dots filling a rectangular space. Three dots are highlighted in the first, middle, and the last row vertically in one column. Which type of wave does the illustration depicting?

1. Surface wave
2. Transverse wave
3. Longitudinal wave
4. No wave is depicted; it's a pattern of dots.

Answer 1

The illustration depicts a transverse wave where the disturbance of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The illustration depicting rows of dots filling a rectangular space and highlighting three dots in each row vertically represents a transverse wave.

In a transverse wave, the disturbance of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. This can be seen in the illustration where the dots are disturbed in the vertical direction while the wave propagates in the horizontal direction.

Examples of transverse waves include waves on the strings of musical instruments and electromagnetic waves like visible light.