Consider the following statements regarding waves : 1. If the particles of a medium move along the direction of motion of the wave, the wave is called a longitudinal wave. 2. If the particles of a medium move perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave, the wave is called a transverse wave. 3. Transverse waves may involve change in the shape of the medium, whereas longitudinal waves involve change in the density of the medium. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

All three statements are scientifically accurate descriptions of wave motion:

• Statement 1: In longitudinal waves (e.g., sound waves), particles of the medium oscillate back and forth parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
• Statement 2: In transverse waves (e.g., waves on a plucked string), particles move up and down or side to side, perpendicular to the wave's direction.
• Statement 3: Longitudinal waves propagate through compressions and rarefactions, which cause periodic changes in the medium's density and pressure. Transverse waves involve shear stress, meaning they cause a change in the shape (deformation) of the medium without necessarily altering its density. This is why mechanical transverse waves can typically only propagate through solids, which have shear strength, whereas longitudinal waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.