Question

The distance between a compression and its next rarefaction, in a sound wave of wavelength $\lambda$, will be:

• A. $0.5\lambda$
• B. $0.25\lambda$
• C. $0.125\lambda$
• D. $\lambda$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $0.5\lambda$

The distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions in a longitudinal wave is called wavelength. It is denoted by the symbol $\lambda$. Therefore, the distance between a compression and its next rarefaction will be half of the wavelength, i.e. $\frac{\lambda }{2}$ or $0.5\lambda$.