Direction of Travelling Waves

Particle at x = 5.3 m (paited red) has a displacement of 0.45m. Observe how that disturbance travels (direction) when you start the time by pressing the button or if you want to follow frame by frame (in steps of 0.02 s) press the button. The particle that subsequently has the same displacement as the original red particle is painted pink instantaneously.

Motion of the wave can be ascertained by observing the motion of the propogation of any particular disturbance as time progresses.