A student is completing an investigation of waves traveling on a long spring. The student takes a digital picture of the spring while the wave is traveling, and makes observations about a magnified image of the spring. The student’s notes describe the coils of the spring as bunched together in some areas and spread out in other areas. The student further notes that these bunched together areas and spread out areas alternate in regular intervals along the length of the spring. What type of wave is the student studying?

A. Sound wave
Incorrect. This is a longitudinal wave, but not a sound wave.

B. Longitudinal wave
Correct! The student is describing a pattern of compressions and rarefactions that occur in a longitudinal wave.

C. Transverse wave
Incorrect. The student is describing a pattern of compressions and rarefactions that occur in a longitudinal wave.

D. Surface wave
Incorrect. The student is describing a pattern of compressions and rarefactions that occur in a longitudinal wave.

What are the names of the maximum displacement of the medium on a transverse wave?

A. Crests and rarefactions
Incorrect. Crests are on transverse waves, but rarefactions occur on longitudinal waves.

B. Compressions and troughs
Incorrect. Troughs are on transverse waves, but compressions occur on longitudinal waves.

C. Crests and troughs
Correct! Crests and troughs both appear on transverse waves.

D. Compressions and rarefactions
Incorrect. Compressions and rarefactions occur on longitudinal waves.

What type of wave is shown in the following image?

wave with the medium displaced perpendicular to the direction of motion

A. Transverse wave
Correct! This is a transverse wave.

B. Longitudinal wave
Incorrect. This is a transverse wave.

C. Surface wave
Incorrect. This is a transverse wave.

D. Sound wave
Incorrect. This is a transverse wave.

What type of wave is shown in the following image?

wave with the medium displaced parallel to the motion of the energy

A. Transverse wave
Incorrect. This is a longitudinal wave.

B. Longitudinal wave
Correct! This is a longitudinal wave.

C. Surface wave
Incorrect. This is a longitudinal wave.

D. Sound wave
Correct! This is a longitudinal wave on a spring.