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A slinky toy is oscillating so pulses of lengthwise compression and rarefaction

ID: 1523188 • Letter: A

Question

A slinky toy is oscillating so pulses of lengthwise compression and rarefaction (stretched areas) alternate regularly and are seen to travel along the length of the toy. (a) Briefly describe the main characteristic of this kind of wave motion. Name the type of wave. (b) In contrast, in a vibrating string, troughs and crests are seen to travel along the length of the string. What kind of wave is this? What is its main characteristic? (c) Give one additional example of each of the kinds of waves in (a) and (b). (d) What kind(s) of wave(s) are characteristic of propagating sounds?

Explanation / Answer

A) Main char. are-this wave in which particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the direction that the wave moves. Suppose that a slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction across the classroom and that a pulse is introduced into the slinky on the left end by vibrating the first coil left and right. Energy will begin to be transported through the slinky from left to right. As the energy is transported from left to right, the individual coils of the medium will be displaced leftwards and rightwards. In this case, the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction that the pulse moves. This type of wave is a longitudinal wave. Longitudinal waves are always characterized by particle motion being parallel to wave motion.This is called longitudinal wave. B) Main char.-this wave in which particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the wave moves. Suppose that a slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction across the classroom and that a pulse is introduced into the slinky on the left end by vibrating the first coil up and down. Energy will begin to be transported through the slinky from left to right. As the energy is transported from left to right, the individual coils of the medium will be displaced upwards and downwards. In this case, the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction that the pulse moves. This type of wave is a transverse wave. Transverse waves are always characterized by particle motion being perpendicular to wave motion.this is called transverse wave. C) example of a-sound wave & b-light wave. D)for propagating sound it's longitudinal in nature.