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)?

Question

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)? (A) It moves up and down in an oscillating fashion (B) It moves away from the wolf at the speed of sound (C) It moves back and forth (oscillating) towards the wolf (D) It moves in the horizontal circle

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

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.

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)?

It moves up and down in an oscillating fashion

It moves away from the wolf at the speed of sound

It moves back and forth (oscillating) towards the wolf

It moves in the horizontal circle