Final answer:
Sound waves consist of series of compressions and rarefactions moving through air caused by vibrations. They can be modeled using mathematical functions representing pressure changes. Sound's pitch is determined by wave frequency, and loudness by amplitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Sound Waves:
Sound is a mechanical wave that is best described as a series of compressions and rarefactions moving through a medium like air. When something like a speaker cone vibrates, it pushes on the surrounding air molecules creating areas of high pressure, known as compressions, and low pressure, known as rarefactions. These alternating high and low pressure areas move away from the source as a sound wave.
Modeling Sound with Equations:
The pressure variations in sound can be modeled mathematically with sine or cosine functions, indicating the wave-like nature of sound. Crests of the sine function correspond to compressions, and troughs correspond to rarefactions.
The Nature of Sound:
As a longitudinal wave, sound travels in the same direction as the displacement of air particles, characterized by the frequency of the vibrations producing the sound. Frequency determines the pitch, and the amplitude of the wave influences the loudness of the sound. When you pluck a string on a banjo, the vibration creates sound waves with a certain frequency and amplitude, which decreases over time causing the sound to diminish in volume.