Okay so i have this question for homework and i dont really understand it?
Could someone please either explain it or talk me through the steps for answering it?
"Sound waves are often represented by a transverse wave. How are the compressions and rarefactions of the sound wave indicated using a transverse wave?"
Thanks in advance :)
Could someone please either explain it or talk me through the steps for answering it?
"Sound waves are often represented by a transverse wave. How are the compressions and rarefactions of the sound wave indicated using a transverse wave?"
Thanks in advance :)
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The question is very badly worded. So it is difficult to know exactly what is expected. I would say the question should be:
"Sound waves are often represented by graphs which look the same as those for a transverse wave. How are the compressions and rarefactions of a sound wave indicated using this sort of graph?"
A reasonable answer would then be as follows.
A graph of pressure against distance at a particular moment in time shows the pattern of pressure variation along the wave,
Compressions correspond to the high pressure regions (peaks) and rarefactions correspond to the low pressure regions (troughs). Although the graph superficially 'looks' like a transverse wave, it show the pressure variation along a sound wave (longitudinal).
Include a diagram such as the one in the link and label the peaks 'compressions' and the troughs 'rarefactions'.
"Sound waves are often represented by graphs which look the same as those for a transverse wave. How are the compressions and rarefactions of a sound wave indicated using this sort of graph?"
A reasonable answer would then be as follows.
A graph of pressure against distance at a particular moment in time shows the pattern of pressure variation along the wave,
Compressions correspond to the high pressure regions (peaks) and rarefactions correspond to the low pressure regions (troughs). Although the graph superficially 'looks' like a transverse wave, it show the pressure variation along a sound wave (longitudinal).
Include a diagram such as the one in the link and label the peaks 'compressions' and the troughs 'rarefactions'.
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Hello kayla dear, really an important and useful query you have made. Congrats.
For transverse diagram can be easily drawn just by curves. But for longitudinal the diagram with small vertical lines closer and lines farther will be very difficult. So even for longitudinal we stick on to the transverse pattern. This is so clear in case of organ pipes both open and closed.
Now let me come to your question. Crest stands for compression and trough stands for rarefaction. See how intelligent we are to tackle the difficulty of drawings
For transverse diagram can be easily drawn just by curves. But for longitudinal the diagram with small vertical lines closer and lines farther will be very difficult. So even for longitudinal we stick on to the transverse pattern. This is so clear in case of organ pipes both open and closed.
Now let me come to your question. Crest stands for compression and trough stands for rarefaction. See how intelligent we are to tackle the difficulty of drawings
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If you wave your hand side to side, that is a transverse wave. A loudspeaker diaphragm moves forward and back, causing a longitudinal wave. Longitudinal = along the direction of travel. Transverse = across the direction of travel. Speed is much lower for a transverse wave.