Physics Waves KU 2024
PMDC Verified Question 11 of 125
For longitudinal waves ____.
A
The particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the wave's propagation
B
The particles of the medium remain stationary as the waves passes through
C
The particles of the medium oscillate along the direction of the waves propagation
D
their velocity is enhanced when they travel through vacuum
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option C: The particles of the medium oscillate along the direction of the waves propagation
Concept:

Waves are fundamentally classified by the geometric relationship between the disturbance and the energy flow.

Solution:

  • The prefix "long-" relates to length. In a longitudinal wave, the physical particles of the medium undergo compression and rarefaction by moving back and forth.


  • This back-and-forth movement is exactly parallel to (or along) the direction the wave energy is propagating.


Why other options are incorrect:

Option A precisely describes transverse waves. Option B is impossible (waves require medium disturbance). Option D is false, as mechanical longitudinal waves cannot exist in a pure vacuum because there are no particles to oscillate.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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