In a transverse wave, energy is transferred from one particle to the next through a series of interactions between neighboring particles. Let's consider the example of a wave propagating along a string, where the particles of the string move up and down perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
As a wave passes through the medium, such as the string, each individual particle undergoes oscillatory motion around its equilibrium position. The motion of each particle is driven by the forces exerted on it by its neighboring particles. When a particle is displaced from its equilibrium position, it experiences a restoring force that tries to bring it back to its original position.
When the wave initially reaches a particle, it imparts energy to that particle. The particle moves away from its equilibrium position and gains kinetic energy. As the particle moves, it exerts forces on its neighboring particles, transferring some of its energy to them. This transfer of energy occurs through the intermolecular forces or interatomic interactions between the particles.
The neighboring particles, in turn, experience the same process. They are displaced from their equilibrium positions, gain kinetic energy, and transfer some of that energy to their neighboring particles. This energy transfer continues along the medium as the wave propagates.
It's important to note that in a transverse wave, the particles themselves do not travel along with the wave. Instead, the wave propagates through the medium, causing successive particles to oscillate about their equilibrium positions. Energy is continuously transferred from one particle to the next, allowing the wave to propagate through the medium while individual particles oscillate up and down.
The transfer of energy in a transverse wave is similar to the concept of a relay race, where energy is transferred from one runner to the next through a series of handoffs. Each runner gains energy as they run and then passes that energy to the next runner in line, allowing the overall energy to propagate through the team. Similarly, in a transverse wave, energy is transferred from particle to particle, enabling the wave to propagate through the medium.