Question

mission wm1: nature and categories of waves
the diagrams below depict various wave patterns in a slinky. the arrows represent potential direction of hand movements for the creation of such patterns. which diagram - a, b, c, or d - represents the appropriate hand movements and patterns for a longitudinal wave?
diagram a
diagram b
diagram c
diagram d

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Longitudinal Wave Definition

A longitudinal wave has particle motion (and hand motion for slinky) parallel to wave propagation. So hand moves back - forth (along slinky's length), creating compressions/rarefactions.

Step2: Analyze Each Diagram

• Diagram A: Hand moves up - down (perpendicular), transverse wave pattern (like sine wave).
• Diagram B: Hand moves up - down, but slinky is compressed? No, up - down is perpendicular, so not longitudinal.
• Diagram C: Hand moves left - right (parallel to slinky length), creating compressions/rarefactions (slinky has dense and less dense regions), matching longitudinal wave.
• Diagram D: Hand motion is cross - directional, not parallel, so not longitudinal.

Answer:

C. Diagram C