A Level Physics Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the A Level Physics Exam. Our quiz features flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Which of the following is an example of a transverse wave?

Sound wave
Rope wave
Pressure wave
Longitudinal wave

The correct answer is: Rope wave

A transverse wave is characterized by the motion of the medium being perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. In the case of a rope wave, when a wave travels along the length of a rope, the particles of the rope move up and down while the wave itself moves horizontally. This up-and-down motion is perpendicular to the direction in which the wave is traveling, which clearly defines it as a transverse wave. In contrast, sound waves and pressure waves are examples of longitudinal waves, where the movement of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave. In these wave types, the oscillations occur in compressions and rarefactions along the same direction as the wave travels. Therefore, the unique perpendicular motion in a rope wave distinguishes it as the example of a transverse wave among the given options.