Which of the following best describes a transverse wave pulse traveling along a stretched string?
a) A single, localized disturbance that permanently displaces each string segment in the direction the pulse travels.
b) A single, localized disturbance that transfers energy along the string while each string segment returns to its original position after the pulse passes.
c) A localized region of alternating compressions and rarefactions that moves along the string, causing the segments to oscillate along the string's length.
d) A continuous train of evenly spaced crests that transfers both matter and energy along the string.