Transverse Waves in a Toy Spring
Directions
This simulation shows a transverse wave — a wave where particles move perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
Adjust the frequency and amplitude to observe how the wave changes.
Move the “Frequency” slider to change how many waves pass each second.
Higher frequency = waves are closer together.
Measured in Hertz (Hz).
Move the “Amplitude” slider to change how far the particles move perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
Bigger amplitude = particles move farther from their resting position.
This means more energy is in the wave.
In this simulation, amplitude is measured in centimeters (cm).
Use the “Pause” button to freeze the wave and examine it more closely.
Vocabulary
Transverse Wave – A wave where particles move perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
Examples: light waves, and waves through a stretched toy spring moving side to side.
Amplitude – The maximum distance particles in the medium move from their rest position.
In a transverse wave, it shows how far the particles move up and down or side to side as the wave passes.
Greater amplitude means more energy in the wave.
Frequency – The number of waves that pass a point in one second.
Higher frequency = waves are closer together and occur more often.
Units: Hertz (Hz) – 1 Hz = 1 wave per second.
Wavelength – The distance between one crest and the next, or one trough and the next.
Units: centimeters (cm), meters (m), or other distance units.
Crest – The highest point of a transverse wave.
Trough – The lowest point of a transverse wave.
The speed of the wave in the toy spring is 100 cm/s.