Which of the following are transverse waves? I. Ripples on water II. Sound waves in air III. Light waves from the sun
Answer Details
Ripples on water and light waves from the sun are transverse waves. Transverse waves are characterized by their perpendicular motion to the direction of wave propagation. Ripples on water move up and down perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Similarly, light waves consist of electric and magnetic fields that oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Sound waves in air, on the other hand, are longitudinal waves. In longitudinal waves, the particles of the medium oscillate in the same direction as the wave propagation. In the case of sound waves in air, air particles vibrate back and forth in the same direction that the sound wave is traveling.
Therefore, the answer is (B) I and II only.