If wave ripples move across a pond from left to right, in which direction are the water molecules moving?

right to left

up and down

left to right

up and left

Question

If wave ripples move across a pond from left to right, in which direction are the water molecules moving?

right to left

up and down

left to right

up and left

anonymous · Answer

Up and down! A transverse wave has no net displacement, it just moves the particles perpendicular to the plane of motion! So if the waves are traveling left and right, or right to left, the particles just vibrate up and down as the wave passes by!