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Sound is a longitudinal wave which means that the air molecules move in a direction

Question

Sound is a longitudinal

wave which means that the air molecules move in a direction

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Solution

parallel to the direction of the energy transport. This is different from transverse waves, such as light waves, where the particles move perpendicular to the direction of energy transport.

In a sound wave, the particles of the medium (air, in this case) are displaced in a direction parallel to the direction of the wave, creating areas of compression and rarefaction.

Here are the steps:

  1. The sound source vibrates, moving back and forth. This could be a drum skin, vocal cords, or the cone of a loudspeaker.

  2. As the source moves forward, it pushes and compresses the air in front of it, creating a region of high pressure. This is called compression.

  3. As the source moves back, it creates a region of low pressure. This is called rarefaction.

  4. These compressions and rarefactions travel away from the source as a sound wave.

  5. When these waves reach our ears, they cause our eardrums to vibrate. These vibrations are converted into electrical signals by the inner ear and sent to the brain, which interprets them as sound.

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