Which best describes the motion of air particles when a sound wave passes through them?

A.
The particles move together and apart perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

B.
Air particles move parallel to the sound waves

C.
The particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

D.
The particles move both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of the wave.

Question

Which best describes the motion of air particles when a sound wave passes through them?
 
 A.
The particles move together and apart perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
 
 B.
Air particles move parallel to the sound waves
 
 C.
The particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
 
 D.
The particles move both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of the wave.

irishboy123 · Answer

you wanna have a go first?

fretje · Answer

sound waves in air are longitudinal waves as opposed to transversal waves like light in vacuum or air.

fretje · Answer

that is how they taught us at least, don't know how true that is, and in which cases it does not apply.