A longitudinal wave has ___________sections, where the waves are compact, and __________ sections, where the waves are spread out.
a
compressed, rarefaction
b
rarefaction, compressed
c
rarefaction, rarefaction
d
compressed, compressed
a) compressed, rarefaction
A longitudinal wave has compressed sections, where the waves are compact, and rarefaction sections, where the waves are spread out.
So the correct answer is:
a) compressed, rarefaction
The correct answer is option a: compressed, rarefaction.
In a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth in the same direction as the direction of energy transfer. This creates alternating areas of compression and rarefaction.
To understand why the correct answer is option a, let's explore the two terms:
- Compressed sections: In a compression, the particles of the medium are close together. These sections occur where the particles are pushed closer, resulting in high density and increased pressure.
- Rarefaction sections: In a rarefaction, the particles of the medium are spread apart. These sections occur where the particles are pulled apart, resulting in low density and decreased pressure.
Therefore, in a longitudinal wave, you will find sections where the particles are compacted (compressed), and other sections where the particles are spread out (rarefaction).