AFOQT Practice Test

Which type of wave moves the medium perpendicular to the direction of wave travel?

1. Longitudinal wave

2. Transverse wave

3. Mechanical wave

4. Standing wave

The correct answer is: Transverse wave

The correct answer is the transverse wave. In transverse waves, the particles of the medium move in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. A common example of a transverse wave is a wave on a string; as the string is displaced up and down, the wave travels horizontally along the string. Longitudinal waves, on the other hand, involve particle motion that is parallel to the direction of wave travel, as seen in sound waves where compressions and rarefactions move through the medium. Mechanical waves require a medium to travel through, and while transverse waves can be mechanical, longitudinal waves also fit this category. Standing waves represent a fixed pattern created by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions, but they do not specifically describe the particle movement in relation to wave travel direction.