Question

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of longitudinal waves?
A) Wavelength
B) Amplitude
C) Velocity
D) None

Answer 1

Hint: Longitudinal waves are the type of waves that move back and forth in the same direction in a particular medium. One of the examples of longitudinal waves is sound waves. Characteristics of longitudinal waves are the properties that are useful in defining a longitudinal wave.

Complete step by step solution:
The wavelength in a longitudinal wave is the distance between two consecutive points that are in the same phase i.e. between two consecutive compressions or two consecutive rarefactions and is one of the characteristics of the longitudinal waves. The amplitude of a longitudinal wave is the measure of the maximum distance of the molecules from the normal rest position. Amplitude also helps to give details about a longitudinal wave. And the velocity of a longitudinal wave is the rate of propagation of the wave in a particular time and the parallel or antiparallel direction to the direction of motion of particles. The velocity of a wave is different in different mediums i.e. in solids, liquids, and gases. Therefore, all of the three are the characteristics of longitudinal waves as they describe the properties of the wave.
Therefore, none of the options are incorrect and all these properties are the characteristics of a longitudinal wave.

The correct answer is option (D) none.

Note: The characteristics of longitudinal waves are the things that help us describe the features of the wave that include the velocity, wavelength, amplitude, and frequency or the time period of the wave. These properties help to differentiate one wave from the other.