Final answer:
The amount of energy loss as sound passes through a medium is due to factors such as the spreading of energy over a larger area, absorption by objects, conversion to thermal energy, and heat transfer during compressions and rarefactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of energy loss as sound passes through a medium is due to various factors. One factor is that the amplitude of a sound wave decreases with distance from its source, because the energy of the wave is spread over a larger area. Additionally, objects in the medium can absorb some of the energy and convert it to thermal energy. The viscosity of the air also converts some of the energy into thermal energy. Finally, heat transfers between the air during compressions and rarefactions, further reducing the organized disturbance of the sound wave.
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