Lesson 5.1.2

5.1.2 Longitudinal and transverse waves Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 5.1.2, Longitudinal and transverse waves: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 5: Waves and Particle Nature of Light, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is a longitudinal wave?

    • A wave that is stationary and transfers no energy
    • A wave in which particles travel with the wave
    • A wave in which particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
    • A wave in which particles oscillate parallel to the direction of energy transfer

  2. What is a transverse wave?

    • A wave in which particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
    • A wave in which particles oscillate parallel to the direction of energy transfer
    • A wave that cannot be reflected at a boundary
    • A wave in which the particles are compressed together and spread apart

  3. In a longitudinal sound wave, what are the regions of high pressure called?

    • Antinodes
    • Compressions
    • Rarefactions
    • Nodes

  4. Which type of wave can be plane polarised?

    • Longitudinal sound waves only
    • Transverse waves only
    • Both transverse and longitudinal waves
    • Neither transverse nor longitudinal waves

  5. What type of wave is an electromagnetic wave?

    • Longitudinal only in a vacuum
    • Transverse
    • Both transverse and longitudinal
    • Longitudinal

  6. Which statement describes the motion of molecules in a sound wave travelling through air?

    • They remain fixed, and only the pressure at each point oscillates across the wave
    • They oscillate back and forth along the direction the wave travels, forming compressions and rarefactions
    • They oscillate at right angles to the direction the wave travels, forming crests and troughs
    • They travel along with the wave from the source to the detector

  7. Which wave type cannot travel through a vacuum and is longitudinal?

    • X-rays
    • Radio waves
    • Sound
    • Light

  8. In a sound wave of frequency 1000 Hz travelling at 340 m/s, what is the distance between adjacent compressions?

    • 0.0029 m
    • 3.4 m
    • 0.68 m
    • 0.34 m

  9. A transverse wave has amplitude 4.0 cm. What is the vertical distance between a crest and an adjacent trough?

    • 16 cm
    • 4.0 cm
    • 8.0 cm
    • 2.0 cm

  10. In a sound wave the pressure at a compression is 1.02 x 10^5 Pa and at a rarefaction is 0.98 x 10^5 Pa. What is the pressure amplitude?

    • 2.0 x 10^3 Pa
    • 4.0 x 10^3 Pa
    • 1.0 x 10^5 Pa
    • 1.0 x 10^2 Pa

  11. A rope tied at one end is shaken up and down at the other end to send a wave along its length. What type of wave is this?

    • Transverse
    • Compressional
    • Longitudinal
    • Stationary

  12. A slinky is pushed and pulled along its length so that bunches and spreads of coils travel along it. What type of wave is this?

    • Longitudinal, because the coils oscillate parallel to the direction of energy transfer
    • Transverse, because the coils rise and fall
    • Neither, because the coils do not return to their original positions
    • Transverse, because the coils oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

  13. A longitudinal wave in a steel rod has frequency 5000 Hz and wavelength 1.2 m. What is the speed of the wave?

    • 4.2 m/s
    • 600 m/s
    • 6000 m/s
    • 4200 m/s

  14. Which feature of a wave shows that it must be transverse rather than longitudinal?

    • Its speed depends on the temperature of the medium
    • It has compressions and rarefactions
    • It needs a material medium to travel
    • Its oscillations can be plane polarised by a polarising filter

  15. In a longitudinal wave of frequency 250 Hz, how many compressions pass a fixed point in 4.0 s?

    • 1000
    • 4000
    • 250
    • 62.5

  16. A student says that all waves that transfer energy must be transverse. Which evaluation is correct?

    • Correct, because only transverse waves carry energy
    • Incorrect, because no waves transfer energy without a material medium
    • Correct, because longitudinal waves do not transfer energy
    • Incorrect, because sound waves in air are longitudinal and still transfer energy

  17. Why do longitudinal waves such as sound not show polarisation?

    • Their speed is too high for a polariser to detect them
    • They travel only in a vacuum, where polarisation is impossible
    • Their oscillations are along the direction of travel, so there is no preferred plane perpendicular to it
    • Their amplitude is always too small to measure

  18. A transverse wave on a rope has a crest to adjacent trough distance of 0.60 m along the rope and a frequency of 2.0 Hz. What is the wave speed?

    • 0.60 m/s
    • 4.8 m/s
    • 2.4 m/s
    • 1.2 m/s

  19. Compressions in a longitudinal wave are 0.40 m apart. What is the distance from a compression to the nearest rarefaction?

    • 0.20 m
    • 0.80 m
    • 0.40 m
    • 0.10 m

  20. A student states that electromagnetic waves are longitudinal because they can travel through a vacuum. Which evaluation is correct?

    • Incorrect, because electromagnetic waves are transverse, with fields oscillating perpendicular to the direction of travel
    • Correct, because transverse waves always need a material medium
    • Incorrect, because electromagnetic waves are neither transverse nor longitudinal
    • Correct, because only longitudinal waves can travel through a vacuum

All Pearson Edexcel Physics quizzes