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All waves are the result of some energy input such as a sudden atmospheric pressure drop producing air movement (wind) that could affect the surface of an ocean. The wind hits the water surface lowering its height (= a sudden change in potential energy), the depth of the height reduction depends on the amount of influenced energy and this surface lowering will produce an opposite reaction further away from the starting point making the surface raise the same amount as it sunk from the beginning. The distance between the minimum point in the valley and the maximum point oh the "hill" is called the wave length. Now if you could watch the waves from the side it would appear as if the water actually was moving in one direction. However, the water molecules stays at its original position i.e. the water itself is not travelling, it is merely acting as the media for the (energy) wave to travel within.

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12y ago
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5mo ago

Waves move up and down because of the oscillation of water particles caused by the transfer of energy through the water. This vertical motion is due to gravity pulling the water back down after it has been lifted by the energy passing through. Waves do move forward, but the overall motion is a combination of vertical and horizontal movement as the energy is transmitted through the water.

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Q: Why does the waves move up and down and not in front?
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Waves that move up and down are called?

Waves that move up and down are called transverse waves. In a transverse wave, the particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Examples of transverse waves include light waves and waves on a guitar string.


What pattern do waves move in?

Waves move in a repeating pattern of oscillation, where they transport energy without moving matter. This oscillation can be seen in various types of waves, such as water waves, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves. The wave pattern is characterized by crests (peaks) and troughs (valleys) as the wave travels through a medium.


What directions do waves move in?

Waves can move in any direction - back and forth, up and down, or side to side. The direction of wave motion depends on the type of wave and the medium it is traveling through.


What are seismic waves that move rocks up and down like a wave in a rope?

Seismic waves that move rocks up and down like a wave in a rope are called vertical or P-waves. These waves cause particles to vibrate in the direction of wave propagation, creating compression and expansion as the wave passes through the material. P-waves are the fastest seismic waves and can travel through both solids and liquids.


Why do water waves travelling under a raft do not move the raft horizontally?

The water waves passing under a raft may cause it to bob up and down, but they do not move the raft horizontally because the waves transfer energy vertically rather than horizontally. Additionally, the raft's weight and buoyancy keep it in place despite the wave motion underneath.

Related questions

What kind of waves move up and down or perpendicular to the direction that the wave moves?

Transverse waves move up and down or perpendicular to the direction of the wave's movement. Examples include light waves, water waves, and electromagnetic waves.


Waves that move up and down are called?

Waves that move up and down are called transverse waves. In a transverse wave, the particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Examples of transverse waves include light waves and waves on a guitar string.


What moves in waves?

The particles of the medium move up and down as the wave passes. The crests and troughs of the waves move with the wave.


What s waves move at angles to the direction of movement?

side and up/down


What happens to the wavelength of waves on a rope if you move your hand up and down less often?

If you move your hand up and down less often, the wavelength of the waves on the rope will increase. This is because the frequency of the waves is determined by how often you move your hand, and since speed is constant, a decrease in frequency leads to an increase in wavelength.


What pattern do waves move in?

Waves move in a repeating pattern of oscillation, where they transport energy without moving matter. This oscillation can be seen in various types of waves, such as water waves, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves. The wave pattern is characterized by crests (peaks) and troughs (valleys) as the wave travels through a medium.


What are wave called when moving up and down?

Waves that move up and down are called transverse waves. In transverse waves, the wave energy travels perpendicular to the direction of the particle displacement. Examples include light waves and water waves.


What are waves that move from side to side?

Transverse waves move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's motion. As the wave travels, the particles in the medium oscillate up and down or side to side. Examples of transverse waves include light waves, water waves, and seismic S-waves.


What directions do waves move in?

Waves can move in any direction - back and forth, up and down, or side to side. The direction of wave motion depends on the type of wave and the medium it is traveling through.


When sound waves interfere to create standing waves the points on the medium the move up and down with the largest amplitudes are called?

false antinodes


When sound waves interfere to create standing waves the points on the medium that move up and down with the largest amplitudes are called nodes.?

False


What is a wave in which particles move up and down?

A wave that causes particles to move up and down is called a transverse wave. In this type of wave, the motion of the particles is perpendicular to the direction of the wave itself. Examples include light waves and water waves.