<u>Question:</u>
Which statement is true of a wave that’s propagating along the pavement and girders of a suspension bridge?
A. The wave is mechanical, with particles vibrating in a direction that is parallel to that of the wave, forming compressions and rarefactions.
B. The wave is electromagnetic, with particles vibrating in a direction that is parallel to that of the wave, forming compressions and rarefactions.
C. The wave is mechanical, with particles vibrating in a direction that is perpendicular to that of the wave, forming crests and troughs.
D. The wave is electromagnetic, with particles vibrating in a direction that is perpendicular to that of the wave, forming crests and troughs.
E. The wave is mechanical, with particles vibrating in a direction that is perpendicular to that of the wave, forming compressions and rarefactions.
Answer:
The statement “The wave is mechanical, with particles vibrating in a direction that is perpendicular to that of the wave forming compressions and rarefactions” is true of a wave that’s propagating along the pavement and girders of a suspension bridge.
<u>Explanation:
</u>
As it is stated about the wave propagates in the given question, the first thing to confirm is the wave should be a mechanical wave as electromagnetic wave will not penetrate the suspension bridge.
Then as both the pavements and girders are rigid structures present in suspension bridge, the wave can propagate in them which are forming compressions and rarefactions.
The transverse waves cannot pass through them because of the polarization property of transverse waves. Also as they propagate in compression and rarefactions mode, the particles will tend to vibrate only in perpendicular direction to that of the wave propagation. So, the last statement is only true.
