Physics Review Question

Unit: Waves
Year: 1994 Question#: 38
Question: As a longitudinal wave pass through a medium, the particles of the medium move:

(1 ) in circles
(2 ) in ellipses
(3 ) parallel to the direction of wave travel
(4 ) perpendicular to the direction of wave travel

What is this question really asking?




Explanation by: Yoshi A

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Answer 1
In circles

INCORRECT

Longitudinal waves causes the medium it travels through to move parallel to the direction of wave travel. Please refer to your transverse and longitudinal waves notes to further understand this. return to top























Answer 2
In ellipses

Incorrect. A longitudinal waves doesn't cause particles of a medium to move in ellipses. Please refer back to your wave notes. return to top



























Answer 3
Parallel to the direction of wave travel

CORRECT - Longitudinal waves are "waves in which the motion of the vibratory disturbance is parallel to the direction of the wave travel through the medium." So basically the medium particles in which a wave travels through will be parallel to the actual wave travel.

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Answer 4
Perpendicular to the direction of wave travel

INCORRECT

This answer is incorrect. If the particles of the medium travel perpendicularto the direction of wave travel, then the wave is a transverse wave. return to top


























What's this question really asking?

If a longitudinal wave passes through a certain "material" in what direction or shape will the "material" start moving in? return to top

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