Which of the following describes the particles in a transverse wave?

In a transverse wave, the defining characteristic is that the particles of the medium move at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels. This means that if the wave is moving horizontally, the particles vibrate up and down or side to side, creating a perpendicular motion to the wave's propagation.

This is seen in examples such as waves on a string, where the peaks and troughs represent the displacement of the string away from its rest position, while the wave itself continues to move forward horizontally. Understanding this motion is crucial as it differentiates transverse waves from other types of waves, such as longitudinal waves, where the particle movement occurs in the same direction as the wave. This knowledge is foundational in physics, particularly in the study of wave behavior and properties.