5
QuizMultiple Choice

Introduction to Waves — Quiz

Question 5 • Physical Science

Which is a characteristic of all waves?

Answer
A
All waves move through matter, from particle to particle.
B
All waves carry energy.
C
All waves move through space.
D
All waves transfer energy perpendicular to the direction of wave motion.

Explanation

All waves carry energy from one place to another, even though the material in a mechanical wave generally only oscillates rather than traveling along with the wave. Not all waves transfer energy perpendicular to their motion: longitudinal waves vibrate parallel to the direction of travel. Also, some waves, such as light, can travel through a vacuum, so they do not all need matter or move through matter.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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