The official definition of the word transverse is "situated or extending across something."
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"Transverse" refers to something that is positioned or oriented across or perpendicular to something else. It can also refer to a type of wave motion where the vibration is perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
Light is transverse in nature, meaning its waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of its propagation.
Water waves are transverse in nature, meaning that the particles of water move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Water waves are transverse in nature, meaning that the particles of water move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Sonic waves are longitudinal waves, meaning the particles in the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave propagation. This is in contrast to transverse waves where particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Shock waves are a type of longitudinal waves, meaning the particles of the medium vibrate in the same direction as the wave is moving. This is in contrast to transverse waves, where the particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.