Question

A stone is dropped on the surface of the water in a pond. Name the type of waves produced.

Answer 1

The water waves (or ripples) formed on the surface of the water in a pond are also transverse waves because the molecules of water move up and down in the vertical direction when the wave travels in a horizontal direction along the water surface. Since the water molecules vibrate up and down at the same place, therefore, a cork or leaf placed on the surface of the water moves up and down at the same place as water moves across the surface of the pond. The shape of the transverse water waves produced on the surface of the water is just like those formed on a slinky.

Thus, when a stone is dropped in a pond of water, transverse water waves are produced on the surface of the water.

When a transverse wave travels horizontally in a medium, the particles of the medium vibrate up and down in the vertical direction. When the particles move above the line of zero disturbance, they form an 'elevation' or 'hump' and when the vibrating particles move downward, below the line of zero disturbance they form a 'depression' or 'hollow'.

The 'elevation' or 'hump' in a transverse wave is called a crest. The 'depression' or 'hollow' in a transverse wave is called trough.