# A student investigates waves on a stretched rope. The student moves one end of the rope up and down repeatedly to produce a transverse wave. Describe the key features of a transverse wave and explain how the rope moves as the wave travels along it.

> WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales) — 2.5 Wave properties · Describe · 5 marks

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. A transverse wave is one where the vibrations (oscillations) are perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction of wave travel (energy transfer)
2. The rope moves up and down (vertically) while the wave travels horizontally along the rope
3. The wave has crests (peaks) and troughs
4. The amplitude is the maximum displacement of the rope from its rest (equilibrium) position
5. The wavelength is the distance between two successive points that are in phase (e.g. crest to crest or trough to trough)

## Key terms

- [transverse wave](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/transverse-wave)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-investigates-waves-on-a-e4b72368) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.