00:10
00:09
00:08
00:07
00:06
00:05
00:04
00:03
00:02
00:01
| the property of matter by which it retains its state of rest or its velocity along a straight line so long as it is not acted upon by an external force |
| the time required for one half the atoms of a given amount of a radioactive substance to disintegrate |
| transverse wave | |
| —n | |
| Compare longitudinal wave a wave, such as an electromagnetic wave, that is propagated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the transmitting field or medium | |
| Main Entry: | transverse wave |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | any wave that oscillates across the two-dimensional plane through which it travels; any wave that causes a crosswise disturbance of the medium through which it travels |
| Example: | Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves. |
| transverse wave
A wave that oscillates perpendicular to the axis along which the wave travels. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves, since the electric and magnetic fields oscillate at a right angle to the direction of motion. Waves in bodies of water are also transverse waves, since the molecules of water oscillate up and down perpendicular to the direction of the wave's motion. Compare longitudinal wave. See more at wave. |
transverse wave
motion in which all points on a wave oscillate along paths at right angles to the direction of the wave's advance. Surface ripples on water, seismic S (secondary) waves, and electromagnetic (e.g., radio and light) waves are examples of transverse waves
Learn more about transverse wave with a free trial on Britannica.com.