Lesson 4.6.1.1

4.6.1.1 Transverse and longitudinal waves Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.6.1.1, Transverse and longitudinal waves: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Unit 6: Waves, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Ripples on the surface of water are an example of which type of wave?

    • Transverse
    • Stationary
    • Longitudinal
    • Compressional

  2. Which two features are characteristic of longitudinal waves?

    • Compression and rarefaction
    • Peak and amplitude
    • Node and antinode
    • Crest and trough

  3. Sound waves travelling through air are which type of wave?

    • Longitudinal
    • Transverse
    • Standing
    • Electromagnetic

  4. What evidence shows that wave motion transfers energy without moving the medium itself?

    • Mass is transported
    • Particles oscillate locally
    • Particles travel forward
    • Medium flows outward

  5. In a transverse wave, how do particle oscillations relate to energy transfer direction?

    • Parallel
    • Perpendicular
    • Antiparallel
    • Circular

  6. In a longitudinal wave, what describes the regions known as compressions?

    • Stationary particles
    • Maximum displacement
    • Particles far apart
    • Particles close together

  7. How do sound waves actually transfer energy through the air?

    • Local particle vibration
    • Wind current motion
    • Air molecules flowing
    • Vacuum transport

  8. Shaking one end of a rope up and down produces which type of wave?

    • Transverse
    • Sound
    • Compression
    • Longitudinal

  9. Which feature is unique to longitudinal waves and absent in transverse waves?

    • Wavelength
    • Frequency
    • Compressions
    • Amplitude

  10. A coiled spring is pushed so that bunched coils move along it. What type of wave is this?

    • Electromagnetic
    • Transverse
    • Surface
    • Longitudinal

  11. What happens to air molecules ahead when a sound wave compression passes?

    • Stationary remaining
    • Vacuum created
    • Reversed direction
    • Compressed in turn

  12. Why can sound waves not travel through a vacuum?

    • Excessive temperature
    • No particles exist
    • Too much gravity
    • Magnetic interference

  13. In what direction does a floating cork move as transverse surface ripples pass?

    • Side to side
    • With the wave
    • Randomly
    • Up and down

  14. What do both transverse and longitudinal waves transfer?

    • Medium
    • Matter
    • Energy
    • Particles

  15. In a longitudinal wave, what is a rarefaction?

    • Stationary node
    • Particles pushed close
    • Highest displacement point
    • Particles spread apart

  16. On a transverse wave, what term describes the highest point?

    • Crest
    • Compression
    • Trough
    • Node

  17. Which wave type correctly matches water ripples?

    • Transverse
    • Longitudinal
    • Electromagnetic
    • Stationary

  18. How do particles oscillate relative to energy transfer in sound waves?

    • Randomly
    • Circularly
    • Parallel
    • Perpendicular

  19. What travels along a Slinky when a push is applied at one end?

    • Plastic coils
    • Energy
    • Mass
    • Atoms

  20. What actually travels along a rope when a transverse wave is generated?

    • String molecules
    • Mass
    • Energy
    • Rope material

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