Which one of the following statements is true ?
- Both light and sound waves in air are transverse
- The sound waves in air are longitudinal while the light waves are transverse
- Both light and sound waves in air are longitudinal
- Both light and sound waves can travel in vacuum
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Light waves in the air are transverse, but sound waves are longitudinal.
Transverse waves are waves in which the direction of the wave propagation is opposite to the direction of the particle vibration in the medium. All electromagnetic waves, including light waves, are transverse waves.
Longitudinal waves are waves that propagate in a direction parallel to the direction in which particles in a medium vibrate. Lengthwise waves are what sound waves are.
Therefore, the correct option is (B): The sound waves in air are longitudinal while the light waves are transverse
Top Questions on Waves
- In an open organ pipe \( \nu_3 \) and \( \nu_6 \) are 3rd and 6th harmonic frequencies, respectively. If \( \nu_6 - \nu_3 = 2200\ \text{Hz} \), then the length of the pipe is _________ mm. (Take velocity of sound in air as \(330\ \text{m s}^{-1}\).)
- The terminal velocity of a metallic ball of radius 6 mm in a viscous fluid is 20 cm/s. The terminal velocity of another ball of same material and having radius 3 mm in the same fluid will be _________ cm/s.
- The fifth harmonic of a closed organ pipe is found to be in unison with the first harmonic of an open pipe. The ratio of lengths of closed pipe to that of the open pipe is \( \frac{5}{x} \). The value of \( x \) is ________.
Two loudspeakers (\(L_1\) and \(L_2\)) are placed with a separation of \(10 \, \text{m}\), as shown in the figure. Both speakers are fed with an audio input signal of the same frequency with constant volume. A voice recorder, initially at point \(A\), at equidistance to both loudspeakers, is moved by \(25 \, \text{m}\) along the line \(AB\) while monitoring the audio signal. The measured signal was found to undergo \(10\) cycles of minima and maxima during the movement. The frequency of the input signal is _____________ Hz.
(Speed of sound in air is \(324 \, \text{m/s}\) and \( \sqrt{5} = 2.23 \))
- 5th harmonic of a closed organ pipe matches with 1st harmonic of an open organ pipe. Find ratio of their lengths.
Questions Asked in NEET exam
- Two cities X and Y are connected by a regular bus service with a bus leaving in either direction every T min. A girl is driving scooty with a speed of 60 km/h in the direction X to Y. She notices that a bus goes past her every 30 minutes in the direction of her motion, and every 10 minutes in the opposite direction. Choose the correct option for the period T of the bus service and the speed (assumed constant) of the buses.
- NEET (UG) - 2025
- Relative Velocity
- A physical quantity P is related to four observations a, b, c, and d as follows: P = a3 b2 (c / √d) The percentage errors of measurement in a, b, c, and d are 1%, 3%, 2%, and 4% respectively. The percentage error in the quantity P is:
- NEET (UG) - 2025
- Dimensional analysis and its applications
What is Microalbuminuria ?
- NEET (UG) - 2025
- Human physiology
The output (Y) of the given logic implementation is similar to the output of an/a …………. gate.
- NEET (UG) - 2025
- Logic gates
- An oxygen cylinder of volume 30 litre has 18.20 moles of oxygen. After some oxygen is withdrawn from the cylinder, its gauge pressure drops to 11 atmospheric pressure at temperature \(27^\circ\)C. The mass of the oxygen withdrawn from the cylinder is nearly equal to: [Given, \(R = \frac{100}{12} \text{ J mol}^{-1} \text{K}^{-1}\), and molecular mass of \(O_2 = 32 \text{ g/mol}\), 1 atm pressure = \(1.01 \times 10^5 \text{ N/m}^2\)]
- NEET (UG) - 2025
- Ideal-gas equation and absolute temperature
Concepts Used:
Waves
Waves are a disturbance through which the energy travels from one point to another. Most acquainted are surface waves that tour on the water, but sound, mild, and the movement of subatomic particles all exhibit wavelike properties. inside the most effective waves, the disturbance oscillates periodically (see periodic movement) with a set frequency and wavelength.
Types of Waves:
Transverse Waves -
Waves in which the medium moves at right angles to the direction of the wave.
Examples of transverse waves:
- Water waves (ripples of gravity waves, not sound through water)
- Light waves
- S-wave earthquake waves
- Stringed instruments
- Torsion wave
The high point of a transverse wave is a crest. The low part is a trough.
Longitudinal Wave -
A longitudinal wave has the movement of the particles in the medium in the same dimension as the direction of movement of the wave.
Examples of longitudinal waves:
- Sound waves
- P-type earthquake waves
- Compression wave