Question

Sound can best be thought of as?

1) compression of air molecules by an object.
2) changes in air pressure produced by the vibration of an object.
3) waves of acoustic energy that travel at fewer than 20 miles per hour.
4) packets of energy.
5) expansion of air molecules produced by a traveling object.

Answer 1

Sound is essentially changes in air pressure caused by the vibrations of an object, and it travels in the form of longitudinal pressure waves through a medium such as air.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sound can be best thought of as changes in air pressure produced by the vibration of an object. When an object vibrates, it moves air molecules around it, which creates variations in air pressure known as compressions and rarefactions. These pressure variations spread outwards, forming longitudinal pressure waves — this is what we refer to as sound waves. The speed of sound waves is influenced by the medium through which they travel. For instance, sound travels faster in media where particles are closer together. Hence, sound is essentially a mechanical wave, a type of energy disturbance, that requires a medium (like air) to travel.