Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2025 – Comprehensive Prep

Question: 1 / 2700

What type of wave behavior is exhibited by sound waves in a medium?

Refraction

Diffraction

Longitudinal compression and rarefaction

Sound waves exhibit longitudinal compression and rarefaction because they travel as a series of compressions (areas where particles are close together) followed by rarefactions (areas where particles are spread apart). This unique behavior occurs as sound waves propagate through a medium, such as air, water, or solids.

In more detail, as sound waves move through a medium, they create fluctuations in air pressure. The regions of compression correspond to the areas where the molecules of the medium are pushed closer together due to the force of the sound wave. Conversely, during rarefaction, the molecules are pulled apart, resulting in a decrease in pressure. This alternating pattern of compression and rarefaction is the fundamental characteristic of longitudinal waves, distinguishing them from other types of wave behavior observed in different contexts.

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