Final answer:
An impulse of energy causing a compression in air pressure results in longitudinal waves, which include sound waves in air that travel in the same direction as the pressure disturbance.
Step-by-step explanation:
An impulse of energy which creates a compression in air pressure can result in longitudinal waves. These waves consist of compressions and rarefactions that travel through the air, displacing particles parallel to the direction of wave propagation. For example, sound waves in air and water are longitudinal waves, where the pressure disturbances move in the same direction as the wave itself. Transverse waves, like those on a string or electromagnetic waves such as visible light, have disturbances that are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.