Question
What type of question could a student ask to discern whether a wave is a mechanical wave or an electromagnetic wave among the following options?
(1 point)
Responses
Does the wave transfer energy?
Does the wave transfer energy?
Does the wave travel at different speeds in different materials?
Does the wave travel at different speeds in different materials?
Does the wave exhibit compressions and rarefactions?
Does the wave exhibit compressions and rarefactions?
Is there a frequency associated with the wave?
(1 point)
Responses
Does the wave transfer energy?
Does the wave transfer energy?
Does the wave travel at different speeds in different materials?
Does the wave travel at different speeds in different materials?
Does the wave exhibit compressions and rarefactions?
Does the wave exhibit compressions and rarefactions?
Is there a frequency associated with the wave?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To discern whether a wave is a mechanical wave or an electromagnetic wave, the most relevant question among the provided options would be:
**Does the wave exhibit compressions and rarefactions?**
Mechanical waves, such as sound waves, require a medium to travel through and can exhibit compressions and rarefactions. In contrast, electromagnetic waves (like light) do not require a medium and do not exhibit compressions and rarefactions. Thus, this question effectively helps to distinguish between the two types of waves.
**Does the wave exhibit compressions and rarefactions?**
Mechanical waves, such as sound waves, require a medium to travel through and can exhibit compressions and rarefactions. In contrast, electromagnetic waves (like light) do not require a medium and do not exhibit compressions and rarefactions. Thus, this question effectively helps to distinguish between the two types of waves.