Explain whether sound waves are transverse or longitudinal, and what this means.

Sound waves are longitudinal waves, not transverse waves.

To understand what this means, we first need to define both types of waves:

1. Transverse Waves: In these waves, the direction of the vibration or oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. An example of a transverse wave is a wave in a pond; the ripples move across the surface of the water (wave propagation), while the water itself moves up and down (vibration).

2. Longitudinal Waves: In these waves, the direction of the vibration is the same as the direction of wave propagation. This means the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth along the path that the wave moves.

Sound waves fall into the second category. When a sound wave propagates, it causes the particles of the medium (for example, air molecules) to vibrate back and forth in the same direction of the wave propagation. This vibration then causes the neighboring particles to vibrate, and this process continues, allowing the sound wave to travel through the medium. This is why sound waves are considered longitudinal waves.