Which of the following statements is correct ?

Options

A. Both sound and light waves in air are transverse
B. Both sound and light waves in air longitudinal
C. Sound waves in air are transverse while light longitudinal
D. Sound waves in air are longitudinal while light waves are transverse

Answer

To determine which statement is correct regarding sound waves and light waves, we need to analyze the properties of both types of waves.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Sound Waves**:
- Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (like air) to travel.
- They propagate through the medium by creating areas of compression and rarefaction.
- In sound waves, the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. This means that sound waves are classified as **longitudinal waves**.

2. **Understanding Light Waves**:
- Light waves are electromagnetic waves and do not require a medium to travel; they can propagate through a vacuum.
- The electric and magnetic fields associated with light waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. This characteristic classifies light waves as **transverse waves**.

3. **Comparing Sound and Light Waves**:
- Sound waves in air are longitudinal because the particle motion is parallel to the direction of wave travel.
- Light waves are transverse because the electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

4. **Evaluating the Statements**:
- We need to evaluate the statements provided in the question:
- **Statement 1**: Sound wave and light wave in air are transverse. (Incorrect)
- **Statement 2**: Both sound and light waves are longitudinal. (Incorrect)
- **Statement 3**: Sound waves in air are transverse. (Incorrect)
- **Statement 4**: Sound waves in air are longitudinal while light waves are transverse. (Correct)

5. **Conclusion**:
- The correct statement is that sound waves in air are longitudinal while light waves are transverse.

### Final Answer:
The correct statement is: **Sound waves in air are longitudinal while light waves are transverse.**

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