Practice question

**Nature of wave** determines energy transfer mechanism. Longitudinal nature of sound explains propagation through fluids with density variations carrying energy, unlike transverse waves needing rigidity for restoring force. Transverse waves require a medium to resist shear deformation (shear modulus). Liquids lack rigidity and cannot sustain shear stress, making transverse wave propagation impossible. Using v = fλ and standing-wave condition fₙ = n v/(2L) or v/(4L) as applicable, calculation yields Due to lack of rigidity, illustrating frequency-length-speed interdependence and quantization by boundaries.