A transverse wave is transporting energy from east to west. The particles of the medium will move in which direction? A. east to west only B. east to west and west to east C. north to south only D. north to south and south to north

Wave propagation refers to the movement of waves through a medium. In the case of transverse waves, like those discussed in the exercise, the energy travels in a specific direction. For example, if we say that the wave is transporting energy from east to west, it means the wave's energy is moving horizontally.
Transverse waves are characterized by having their particle displacement perpendicular to the direction of wave travel. Hence, while the energy of the wave moves east to west, the particles themselves do not travel east to west directly; instead, they oscillate in a direction that is perpendicular to this horizontal path.

Particle displacement in transverse waves is a core concept to grasp. This term refers to how the particles of the medium move as the wave passes through. In contrast to longitudinal waves where particles move parallel to the direction of wave motion, in transverse waves, particles move perpendicularly.
Consider the exercise again where the energy is moving from east to west. For a transverse wave, the particles of the medium will oscillate up and down, or in our particular case, north to south and south to north. This up and down motion allows energy to be transferred across the medium without the particles themselves traveling the entire distance.

Understanding energy transport in waves helps in comprehending the wave's behavior. In transverse waves, the energy is carried through the medium by the oscillation of particles. Even though these particles only move a small distance, the energy can be carried over long distances.
Referring back to the initial exercise, with energy moving from east to west, it highlights how the wave carries energy in a specific direction. The particle movement (north to south and south to north) effectively facilitates this energy transport. Therefore, while the medium's particles only oscillate in place, their collaborative motion allows the wave's energy to travel from its origin to its destination.