Final answer:
The correct characteristic of a sound wave is that its energy transmission is directly related to its amplitude, as sound waves are longitudinal waves where increased amplitude implies more energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that correctly describes one characteristic of a sound wave is: (3) The amount of energy a sound wave transmits is directly related to the wave’s amplitude. This is because the amplitude of a sound wave is a measure of its maximum disturbance from its undisturbed position, which correlates with how loud we perceive the sound to be. Hence, greater amplitude implies more energy transmission.
An important distinction to note is that sound waves are longitudinal waves, meaning the particles of the medium through which the sound is traveling oscillate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. This is different from transverse waves like those on a guitar string, where the disturbance moves perpendicular to the propagation of the wave. As such, option (2) stating that sound waves are transverse is incorrect.
Moreover, sound cannot travel through a vacuum since it requires a medium (air, liquid, or solid) to transmit the pressure changes that constitute sound. Therefore, option (1) which suggests a sound wave can travel through a vacuum is also incorrect. Finally, the energy a sound wave transmits is not inversely related to its frequency, which eliminates option (4) as a correct description.