Transverse wave

How does the exhibit work?

Turn the wheel. Waves are created.

What is the science behind it?

Dive bomb! When you jump into a swimming pool, you create lots of waves. These start from you and then move away from you. Just like with this giant slinky.

As you move the handle from left to right, a wave departs from you and runs away from you. It's a 'running wave'.

You can see that the rings move from left to right. The wave, on the other hand, moves straight ahead. So they do not move in the same direction, but perpendicular to each other. This type of running wave is called a transverse wave. When you jump into the swimming pool, you also make this kind of wave. The water particles then move up and down, while the wave travels forward.

Transverse waves in light

Rays of light from the sun or from a lamp travel through the air as transverse waves.