What characterizes a transverse wave?

A transverse wave is characterized by the motion of particles being perpendicular to the direction in which the wave propagates. This means that if the wave is moving horizontally, the particles of the medium through which it travels are displaced vertically. A common example of a transverse wave is a wave on a string or electromagnetic waves, like light, where the electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

In contrast to this behavior, in longitudinal waves, particles move parallel to the direction of wave propagation, resulting in compressions and rarefactions. Circular motion of particles is not typical for standard wave types; this behavior occurs in specific conditions like surface waves. The notion that particles do not move at all contradicts the very nature of wave propagation, where energy and information are transmitted through particle oscillation. Therefore, the essence of a transverse wave lies in the perpendicular movement of particles to the wave's direction.