Which statement is best supported by the table?
| Wave | Observations |
|---|---|
| W | Its motion is perpendicular to wave motion. |
| X | Its particles move up and down. |
| Y | Its particles only move small amounts. |
| Z | Its motion is parallel to wave motion. |
A. Waves W and Y are transverse waves, Wave X could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave $Z$ is a longitudinal wave.
B. Waves W and Y are longitudinal waves, Wave X could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave $Z$ is a transverse wave.
C. Waves W and X are longitudinal waves, Wave Y could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave $Z$ is a transverse wave.
D. Waves W and X are transverse waves, Wave Y could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave $Z$ is a longitudinal wave.
Answer (2)
Wave W has motion perpendicular to wave motion, so it is a transverse wave.
Wave X has particles moving up and down, so it could be either a longitudinal or transverse wave.
Wave Y has particles moving small amounts, so it could be either a longitudinal or transverse wave.
Wave Z has motion parallel to wave motion, so it is a longitudinal wave. Therefore, the best supported statement is: Waves W and X are transverse waves, Wave Y could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave Z is a longitudinal wave. Wa v es Wan d X a re t r an s v erse w a v es , Wa v e Y co u l d b e a l o n g i t u d ina l or t r an s v erse w a v e , an d Wa v e Z i s a l o n g i t u d ina lw a v e .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table describing the motion of four different waves (W, X, Y, and Z) and asked to determine which statement about their classification as transverse or longitudinal waves is best supported by the table.
Definitions of Wave Types Let's recall the definitions of transverse and longitudinal waves:
Transverse waves: The particle motion is perpendicular to the wave motion.
Longitudinal waves: The particle motion is parallel to the wave motion.
Analyzing Each Wave Now, let's analyze each wave based on the given observations:
Wave W: Its motion is perpendicular to the wave motion. This matches the definition of a transverse wave.
Wave X: Its particles move up and down. Without knowing the direction of the wave motion, we cannot definitively classify it as transverse or longitudinal. If the wave motion is horizontal, it's transverse. If the wave motion is vertical, it's longitudinal. So, it could be either.
Wave Y: Its particles only move small amounts. This observation alone doesn't tell us whether it's transverse or longitudinal. It could be either, depending on the direction of wave motion relative to the small particle movements. This wave is harder to classify.
Wave Z: Its motion is parallel to the wave motion. This matches the definition of a longitudinal wave.
Evaluating the Statements Now, let's evaluate the given statements:
Statement 1: Waves W and Y are transverse waves, Wave X could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave Z is a longitudinal wave. Wave W is transverse, Wave X is either, Wave Z is longitudinal. Wave Y is not necessarily transverse.
Statement 2: Waves W and Y are longitudinal waves, Wave X could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave Z is a transverse wave. Wave W is not longitudinal, Wave Z is not transverse.
Statement 3: Waves W and X are longitudinal waves, Wave Y could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave Z is a transverse wave. Wave W is not longitudinal, Wave Z is not transverse.
Statement 4: Waves W and X are transverse waves, Wave Y could be a longitudinal or transverse wave, and Wave Z is a longitudinal wave. Wave W is transverse, Wave X is either, Wave Z is longitudinal. Wave Y could be either.
Conclusion Based on our analysis, Wave W is transverse, Wave X could be either transverse or longitudinal, Wave Y could be either transverse or longitudinal, and Wave Z is longitudinal. Statement 4 best matches this analysis.
Examples
Understanding the nature of waves is crucial in many real-world applications. For example, in seismology, identifying whether seismic waves are transverse (S-waves) or longitudinal (P-waves) helps scientists understand the Earth's structure and locate earthquake epicenters. Similarly, in telecommunications, understanding the properties of electromagnetic waves (which are transverse) is essential for designing efficient antennas and transmission systems. In medical imaging, ultrasound waves (which are longitudinal) are used to create images of internal organs. Knowing the characteristics of different types of waves allows us to develop technologies that improve our understanding of the world and enhance our daily lives.
Wave W is a transverse wave, Wave X could be either transverse or longitudinal, Wave Y could also fit into either category, and Wave Z is a longitudinal wave. The best-supported choice is option D. The answer indicates that Waves W and X are transverse, while Wave Y remains ambiguous, and Wave Z is confirmed as longitudinal.
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