alleryStart learning →What is meant by a disturbance in the description of a wave?
ASomething losing all of its energy
BSomething moved from its equilibrium
CSomething changing its chemical form
DSomething gaining electrical charge
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Something moved from its equilibrium
1. A wave carries a disturbance rather than carrying matter along with it.
2. A disturbance is anything moved from its state of equilibrium.
3. For sound, the particles of the medium are pushed off their rest positions.
4. Some sound waves are periodic, so those particles undergo simple harmonic motion.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (high school, CC BY 4.0), Ch 14 "Sound", section Properties of Sound Waves_
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