Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What type of wave are sound waves classified as?

1. Transverse wave

2. Longitudinal wave

3. Electromagnetic wave

4. Standing wave

The correct answer is: Longitudinal wave

Sound waves are classified as longitudinal waves because they involve the oscillation of particles in the medium through which the sound is traveling, moving parallel to the direction of the wave propagation. In a longitudinal wave, compressions and rarefactions occur, where particles of the medium are pushed closer together in the compressions and allowed to spread apart in the rarefactions. This motion represents how sound energy travels through gases, liquids, and solids. In contrast, transverse waves, such as those seen with electromagnetic waves or waves on a string, involve particle motion that is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Electromagnetic waves, like light, do not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum, which distinguishes them from sound waves. Standing waves represent a specific condition often resulting from interference between two waves traveling in opposite directions, but they are not a category that describes sound waves themselves. Understanding these characteristics helps clarify the classification of sound waves as longitudinal.