When playing tennis, if you hit the ball off of the top end of the racket, an uncomfortable standing wave vibration is produced in the racket. This wave is
A) longitudinal.
B) transverse.
C) both longitudinal and transverse.
D) neither longitudinal nor transverse.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The uncomfortable standing wave produced in the racket when the ball is hit off the top end of the racket is a transverse wave. This is because the wave is perpendicular to the direction of the energy transfer (which is along the length of the racket). A longitudinal wave would be parallel to the direction of the energy transfer and would not produce the standing wave vibration observed in this case.

When Playing Tennis, If You Hit the Ball Off of the Top