AFOQT Practice Test

What are mechanical waves?

1. Waves that travel through a medium

2. Waves that do not require a medium

3. Waves that only occur in a vacuum

4. Waves that can travel through solids only

The correct answer is: Waves that travel through a medium

Mechanical waves are defined as waves that require a medium to travel through. This means they can propagate through solids, liquids, and gases. Examples of mechanical waves include sound waves, water waves, and seismic waves, all of which depend on the medium’s properties to transmit their energy. The other choices describe characteristics that do not apply to mechanical waves. Waves that do not require a medium, such as electromagnetic waves, can travel through a vacuum, which is not the case for mechanical waves. Additionally, it is inaccurate to state that mechanical waves can only travel through solids, as they can also move through liquids and gases. Thus, identifying mechanical waves as those that travel through a medium correctly captures their essential nature.