What is one way to compare longitudinal waves to transverse waves?

Question

The compressions are comparable to the crests.
The crests are comparable to the troughs.
The rarefactions are comparable to the crests.
The compressions are comparable to the troughs.

Answer 1

The compressions are comparable to the crests would be the correct answer. In longitudinal waves, the particles of the medium move in the same direction as the wave travels, resulting in compressions (regions of high pressure) and rarefactions (regions of low pressure). In contrast, transverse waves involve particle motion perpendicular to the direction of the wave, resulting in crests (peaks) and troughs (valleys) in the wave shape. Therefore, the compressions in longitudinal waves can be compared to the crests in transverse waves as they both correspond to regions of maximum disturbance from the equilibrium state.