Final answer:
The statement that waves moving in an up/down perpendicular motion (transverse waves) only travel through solids is false. Transverse waves can propagate through various mediums, and the motion of particles is perpendicular to the wave's direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transverse Waves in Solids
When waves that move in an up/down perpendicular motion are described, they are referred to as transverse waves. In a transverse wave, particles of the medium move perpendicularly to the direction of the wave motion. Now, addressing the specific characteristics mentioned in the question: transverse waves do indeed cause particles to move up and down; however, they can travel through both solids and, under some conditions, liquids and gases, not exclusively through solids. Therefore, the notion that transverse waves only travel through solids is incorrect.
Understanding Motion of Particles in Transverse Waves
Transverse waves involve the perpendicular motion of particles relative to the wave's direction of propagation, often visualized as the particles moving up and down or side to side depending on the wave's orientation. For instance, if a transverse wave is propagating from left to right, the particles within the medium are disturbed up and down. This mechanism of wave motion is fundamentally different from that of longitudinal waves, where particles move back and forth in the same direction as the wave's propagation, as seen in sound waves traveling through air. The critical takeaway is that transverse waves can move through solids but can also propagate in other mediums under certain conditions, unlike the motion in a vacuum, which does not involve particles.