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  4. A sound wave is generated by the howl of a wolf in the night. How would we describe the motion of a particular air molecule near the ground, a mile away from the wolf, on average (i.e. ignoring the random wandering of gas molecules)?

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Q. A sound wave is generated by the howl of a wolf in the night. How would we describe the motion of a particular air molecule near the ground, a mile away from the wolf, on average (i.e. ignoring the random wandering of gas molecules)?

UPSEEUPSEE 2016

Solution:

Sound wave is a longitudinal wave. In this type of wave motion, the particles of the medium oscillate about their mean or equilibrium position along the direction of propagation of the wave motion itself. Longitudinal wave travels in the form of compressions and rarefaction. Longitudinal wave motion is possible in a medium possessing elasticity of volume i.e. in solid, liquid and gases.