Which of the following is NOT a property of sound waves?

The correct answer is Sound waves are transverse mechanical waves..

Key Points

• Sound waves are longitudinal mechanical waves, meaning their particle vibration occurs parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
• They require a medium (such as solids, liquids, or gases) to travel and cannot propagate through a vacuum.
• Sound waves exhibit phenomena like reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, and transmission, which are characteristic properties of waves.
• In terms of speed, sound travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases due to the density and elastic properties of the medium.
• Sound waves are not transverse waves, as transverse waves involve particle vibration perpendicular to wave propagation, which is not the case for sound waves.

Additional Information

• Longitudinal Waves:
  • In longitudinal waves, the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the wave's direction of travel.
  • Examples include sound waves in air and pressure waves in a slinky.
• Transverse Waves:
  • In transverse waves, the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel.
  • Examples include light waves, water waves, and waves on a string.
• Speed of Sound:
  • The speed of sound depends on the medium's density and elasticity.
  • For instance, sound travels at approximately 343 m/s in air, 1,480 m/s in water, and 5,960 m/s in steel.
• Vacuum and Sound:
  • Sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum because there are no particles to transmit vibrations.
  • This is why space is silent, as it lacks a medium for sound propagation.
• Wave Phenomena:
  • Reflection: Sound bouncing back from surfaces (e.g., echoes).
  • Refraction: Change in sound speed and direction when it passes between different media.
  • Diffraction: Bending of sound around obstacles or through openings.