Question

Particle motion in surface waves is what type of motion?

A. A combination of longitudinal and transverse,
B. Only longitudinal
C. Only transverse
D. Neither longitudinal nor transverse

Answer 1

hmmmm. I'd say that it was A ... but I can see an argument for D. If the wave particle displacements can be resolved into bits WITH the surface and bits AT RIGHT ANGLES to the surface, then I'd say A. Problem is in the word "if" ...
And there's the small matter of shear waves ... which would tend to make it D ...
sorry.

Answer 2

Transverse all the way!

In the most simple case, **oscillation** up and down, but **motion** left to right.

so, no left to right/then right to left **oscillation**, ie no longitudinal oscillation

and so a surface wave is a travelling wave transverse wave. like the idealised wave travelling the sea

the simplest, and ubiquitous, expression of this is : \(y = A \sin (kx - \omega t)\). simple yes, but paints a thousand words

:)