Which of these is TRUE about sound waves?
They have a sideways S shape.
They exhibit similar characteristics to the wave made by moving a parachute up and down.
They have areas of compression and rarefaction.
They are transverse waves.
The true statement about sound waves is that they have areas of compression and rarefaction.
The correct answer is: "They have areas of compression and rarefaction."
To determine the correct answer, you can analyze the characteristics of sound waves. Sound waves are longitudinal waves, meaning that the vibrations occur parallel to the direction of wave propagation. This makes them different from transverse waves that have vibrations occurring perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Therefore, the statement "They are transverse waves" is false.
Sound waves are created by the vibration of particles in a medium, such as air, water, or solids. As a sound wave travels through a medium, it creates regions of compression and rarefaction. In the compressed regions, the particles are closer together, while in the rarefied regions, the particles are more spread out. This movement of particles leads to alternate areas of compression and rarefaction along the wave. So, the statement "They have areas of compression and rarefaction" is true.
The other two options, "They have a sideways S shape" and "They exhibit similar characteristics to the wave made by moving a parachute up and down" are not accurate descriptions of sound waves. The shape of a sound wave is usually represented as a sine wave, not an S shape. Additionally, the mention of a parachute moving up and down does not relate to the characteristics of sound waves.
The TRUE statement about sound waves from the options provided is:
"They have areas of compression and rarefaction."
Sound waves are mechanical longitudinal waves, which means that the particles of the medium through which the sound travels vibrate parallel to the direction of propagation. These waves consist of alternating regions of compression and rarefaction.