Question

Which one of the following statements is true ?

• A. Both light and sound waves in air are transverse
• B. The sound waves in air are longitudinal while the light waves are transverse
• C. Both light and sound waves in air are longitudinal
• D. Both light and sound waves can travel in vacuum

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The sound waves in air are longitudinal while the light waves are transverse

Answer 2

Light waves in the air are transverse, but sound waves are longitudinal.
Transverse waves are waves in which the direction of the wave propagation is opposite to the direction of the particle vibration in the medium. All electromagnetic waves, including light waves, are transverse waves.
Longitudinal waves are waves that propagate in a direction parallel to the direction in which particles in a medium vibrate. Lengthwise waves are what sound waves are.

Therefore, the correct option is (B): The sound waves in air are longitudinal while the light waves are transverse