A ripple tank produces water surface waves in which the water elements move up and…
PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Waves · Waves
Problem
A ripple tank produces water surface waves in which the water elements move up and down while the wave fronts advance horizontally across the tank. How should these waves be classified with respect to the direction of particle motion and energy transport?
(a) Longitudinal waves, because particle motion is parallel to wave propagation.
(b) Stationary waves, because the particles merely oscillate about fixed positions.
(c) Transverse waves, because particle motion is perpendicular to wave propagation.
(d) Surface waves are a mixed longitudinal–transverse type, so they cannot be called transverse waves.