Which of the following best describes how sound travels through air?
The air particles vibrate back and forth parallel to the direction of the wave
Sound is a mechanical, longitudinal wave.
In a longitudinal wave:
- The medium particles vibrate back and forth parallel to the direction of wave travel.
- This creates alternating regions of compression (high pressure) and rarefaction (low pressure).
In contrast, transverse waves (like light, water surface waves) have particles vibrating perpendicular to the wave direction.
Air particles do NOT move in circular paths, remain stationary, or vibrate up and down — they oscillate parallel to the sound wave's direction of travel.
Similar Questions
A construction worker needs to lift a heavy metal beam using a lever but has a limited length of plank. Which adjustment would allow the worker to lift the beam with the least effort if the position of the fulcrum can be changed but the plank length remains constant?
A student pushes a heavy box that is already moving across a rough floor. If the force applied by the student is exactly equal to the frictional force opposing the motion, what will happen to the box?
Which of the following best describes the velocity-time graph for an object moving with uniform velocity?
A factory plans to install a powerful electromagnet for lifting metal scraps. To maximize the magnetic field strength around the coil, which of the following combinations would be most effective?
Which experimental discovery contradicted Thomson's model of the atom and led to its rejection?
Which of the following statements best describes the behavior of magnetic field lines around a straight current-carrying conductor?
A construction worker needs to lift a heavy metal beam using a lever but has a limited length of plank. Which adjustment would allow the worker to lift the beam with the least effort if the position of the fulcrum can be changed but the plank length remains constant?
A student pushes a heavy box that is already moving across a rough floor. If the force applied by the student is exactly equal to the frictional force opposing the motion, what will happen to the box?
Which of the following best describes the velocity-time graph for an object moving with uniform velocity?
Which of the following best describes how sound travels through air?
Important Questions from Physics
On the basis of which principle does soap clean surfaces?
Which one of the following devices is used to measure atmospheric pressure?
Which one of the following energy is stored in the links between the atoms?
Who among the following has explained the phenomenon of photoelectric effect?
Ozone at the higher level of the atmosphere is a product of ______ acting on oxygen molecules.
