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AQA A-Level Physics
3. Waves
3.2 Longitudinal and transverse waves
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What is the direction of particle displacement in longitudinal waves relative to wave propagation?
Parallel
Compressions in longitudinal waves occur in regions of high
density
.
True
Order the following types of longitudinal waves based on their medium of propagation:
1️⃣ Sound Waves (air)
2️⃣ Sound Waves (water)
3️⃣ Sound Waves (solid)
4️⃣ Seismic P-waves (Earth)
In transverse waves, particles move up and down to create crests and troughs.
True
Match the type of wave with its direction of propagation:
Longitudinal ↔️ Parallel to particle movement
Transverse ↔️ Perpendicular to particle movement
In a longitudinal wave, particles move back and forth in the same direction as the wave
travels
In longitudinal waves, particle movement is parallel to the direction of
wave propagation
.
True
What are the regions of high and low pressure called in sound waves?
Compression and rarefaction
Match the wave type with its particle movement:
Transverse waves ↔️ Perpendicular
Longitudinal waves ↔️ Parallel
In transverse waves, the direction of particle oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of wave
propagation
What type of wave are light waves?
Transverse
Arrange the following wave features based on whether they relate to longitudinal or transverse waves:
1️⃣ Parallel particle motion
2️⃣ Compression and rarefaction
3️⃣ Perpendicular particle motion
4️⃣ Crests and troughs
In longitudinal waves, the direction of particle oscillation is parallel to the direction of wave
propagation
Longitudinal waves create alternating regions of high and low
density
What is the defining characteristic of longitudinal waves?
Parallel particle oscillation
In sound waves, compression refers to regions of high
pressure
In transverse waves, particles oscillate parallel to wave propagation.
False
Order the following characteristics of waves based on type:
1️⃣ Transverse waves: Perpendicular particle movement
2️⃣ Longitudinal waves: Parallel particle movement
Transverse waves can travel through gases.
False
Match the wave type with its defining properties:
Longitudinal Waves ↔️ Parallel particle movement
Transverse Waves ↔️ Perpendicular particle movement
Sound waves traveling through air are an example of a
longitudinal wave
.
True
What oscillates perpendicularly to the direction of propagation in light waves?
Electric and magnetic fields
In longitudinal waves, the direction of particle oscillation is parallel to the direction of wave
propagation
Match the type of wave with its particle movement:
Longitudinal ↔️ Parallel
Transverse ↔️ Perpendicular
What is the direction of particle displacement in transverse waves relative to wave propagation?
Perpendicular
What is an example of a longitudinal wave that involves pressure variations in air?
Sound waves
How does particle movement in longitudinal waves compare to transverse waves?
Parallel vs. perpendicular
Longitudinal waves are characterized by particles oscillating parallel to the wave's direction of
propagation
Seismic P-waves are an example of longitudinal waves.
True
What is an example of a transverse wave in nature?
Water waves
Crests and troughs are characteristic of
transverse waves
.
True
Light waves are electromagnetic radiation traveling in a transverse wave
pattern
Longitudinal waves propagate through compressions and rarefactions.
True
What are the regions of high and low density called in a longitudinal wave?
Compression and rarefaction
Sound waves are an example of
longitudinal waves
.
True
Match the type of longitudinal wave with its description:
Sound Waves ↔️ Pressure variations in a medium
Seismic P-waves ↔️ Compression and expansion in Earth
What is the primary difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?
Direction of particle vibration
Transverse waves propagate energy without transferring
matter
In transverse waves, particles move up and down, forming
crests
and troughs.
True
What are the two main types of wave structure in waves?
Compressions/rarefactions and crests/troughs
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