Final answer:
When a string is under tension with transverse interaction, it forms a transverse wave that moves in the positive x-direction. The tension in the string provides the restoring force for the oscillations of the small mass elements on the string. The wave on the string is sinusoidal and translates in the positive x-direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a string is under tension and experiences transverse interaction, it forms a transverse wave that moves in the positive x-direction. The wave motion causes small mass elements on the string to oscillate perpendicular to the wave motion due to the restoring force provided by the string. The tension in the string is approximately constant and acts in both the positive and negative x-directions.
The behavior of the string can be explained using the concept of tension, which is the force along the length of the string. Tension can only pull or exert a force parallel to its length. In the case of a flexible connector like a string, tension acts in opposite directions at the two ends. The tension is responsible for providing the restoring force that allows the string to oscillate.
When considering the behavior of a string under tension, it is important to note that each point on the string oscillates between two extremes in simple harmonic motion, with a period. The wave on the string is sinusoidal and translates in the positive x-direction as time progresses.