What type of wave is characterized by the oscillation of particles perpendicular to the wave's direction?

A transverse wave is characterized by the oscillation of particles perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. In this type of wave, if the wave is moving horizontally, the particles of the medium move up and down. Examples of transverse waves include waves on a string or electromagnetic waves, such as light. The key feature here is that the particle motion is at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels.

Longitudinal waves, on the other hand, involve oscillations of particles in the same direction as the wave's motion, which is not the case here. Surface waves involve a combination of both transverse and longitudinal motions, typically seen in water waves. Electromagnetic waves, while they can be transverse as well, fall under a broader category and do not specifically describe the general behavior of particles in a medium like traditional mechanical waves do.

Thus, identifying transverse waves involves recognizing that their defining characteristic is the perpendicular oscillation of particles to the wave's direction.