Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

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Study for the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam. Dive into questions with detailed explanations and hints to enhance your understanding. Prepare strategically for a successful exam experience!

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Transverse waves can be identified by which of the following characteristics?

Particles moving parallel to the wave
Particles moving in circles
Particles moving perpendicular to the wave direction
Particles remaining stationary

The correct answer is: Particles moving perpendicular to the wave direction

Transverse waves are characterized by the motion of particles that move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. This means that as the wave travels, the particles of the medium are displaced up and down or side to side, while the energy of the wave moves forward. Examples of transverse waves include vibrations on a string and electromagnetic waves, where the electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. Understanding this concept is crucial because it distinguishes transverse waves from longitudinal waves, where the particles move parallel to the direction of wave travel. Recognizing the specific particle motion associated with different types of waves is important in fields such as physics and engineering, where these principles apply to sound, light, and mechanical waves.