How is a sound wave defined?

How is a sound wave defined?

• A. A longitudinal wave caused by vibrations and carried through a substance.
• B. A transverse wave in a vacuum.
• C. A circular wave on a water surface.
• D. An electromagnetic wave.

Answer: (A)

Sound is a mechanical wave that arises from vibrating objects and travels through matter as a longitudinal wave, where the particle motion is parallel to the direction of travel, producing compressions and rarefactions. It requires a medium to propagate, so it won’t travel in a vacuum. The other descriptions refer to waves that aren’t sound waves: a transverse wave in a vacuum has particle motion perpendicular to travel and a medium is still required, a circular water-surface wave is a surface wave with different motion, and an electromagnetic wave does not need a medium.

Sound is a mechanical wave that arises from vibrating objects and travels through matter as a longitudinal wave, where the particle motion is parallel to the direction of travel, producing compressions and rarefactions. It requires a medium to propagate, so it won’t travel in a vacuum. The other descriptions refer to waves that aren’t sound waves: a transverse wave in a vacuum has particle motion perpendicular to travel and a medium is still required, a circular water-surface wave is a surface wave with different motion, and an electromagnetic wave does not need a medium.