Final answer:
Sound energy is a form of kinetic energy, not potential energy, because it arises from the motion and vibration of particles within a medium as the sound wave propagates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sound energy is not considered a type of potential energy because it is inherently associated with the motion of particles; therefore, it is a form of kinetic energy. Sound is a mechanical wave that results from the vibration of particles within a medium. As these particles oscillate, they transfer energy through the medium, resulting in what we perceive as sound. While a sound wave indeed combines kinetic and potential energy due to the motion of particles and the elasticity of the medium, the propagation of the wave itself and the sound energy we detect are manifestations of kinetic energy. In the case of potential energy, this form of energy is related to an object's position or state; for instance, a rock atop a hill has gravitational potential energy due to its elevated position in a gravitational field. Similarly, the chemical energy in a battery is potential energy based on the chemical composition and potential for a chemical reaction.
To help visualize the concept, consider water behind a dam. The water has potential energy because of its elevated position. As it moves and flows through turbines, it converts this potential energy into kinetic energy, which then can be harnessed to produce electricity. In contrast, when a guitar string is plucked, the energy initially stored in the deformed string is potential energy, but as the string returns to its normal state and vibrates, it generates sound—which is an expression of kinetic energy. Thus, when sound is produced, it is the motion and transfer of energy through a medium, reflecting kinetic, not potential, energy characteristics.