Question

Describe how a sound wave travels through a medium to create sound. Include descriptions of vibrations, longitudinal waves, compressions, rarefactions, and direction of movement in your response.

Answer 1

Sound is a mechanical wave created by a vibrating object, a sound wave traveling through air, particle vibrations are best described as longitudinal. The result of longitudinal waves is the creation of air molecules in a direction of movement parallel to the direction in which the wave is moving, and the result of such longitudinal vibrations is the creation of compressions and rarefactions in the air.