National League for Nursing (NLN) Science Practice Exam

A transverse wave does not have:

1. a compression.

2. an amplitude.

3. a frequency.

4. a wavelength.

The correct answer is: a compression.

A transverse wave is characterized by the movement of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the wave's propagation. This type of wave is commonly exemplified by waves on a string or electromagnetic waves. In the context of wave properties, a transverse wave does not exhibit compression, which is a feature typically associated with longitudinal waves. Longitudinal waves, such as sound waves, consist of areas of compression and rarefaction, where the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of wave travel. In contrast, transverse waves have amplitude, frequency, and wavelength. Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of the wave from its rest position, frequency indicates how many cycles occur in a given time frame, and wavelength is the distance between successive peaks or troughs of the wave. Thus, it's accurate to assert that the absence of compression is a defining characteristic of transverse waves, as their mechanics involve perpendicular motion rather than the parallel motion that produces compressions in longitudinal waves.