Exam-style question
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What is a key characteristic of longitudinal waves?.
- A.Particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
- B.Particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel.
- C.Waves can be polarized.
- D.Waves have a fixed amplitude.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel.
Explanation
Why this works
Longitudinal waves are defined by particle motion that is parallel to the direction of wave propagation, unlike transverse waves where particle motion is perpendicular. This distinction is crucial when analyzing sound waves, which are longitudinal, versus light waves, which are transverse.
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