Sound Waves

Front

What is a sound wave?

Back

A sound wave is a type of mechanical wave that is created by vibrating objects and travels through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) as a series of compressions and rarefactions.

Front

Can sound waves travel through empty space?

Back

No, sound waves cannot travel through empty space because they require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate.

Front

What is compression in sound waves?

Back

Compression is the region in a sound wave where particles are close together, resulting from the back-and-forth motion of the vibrating source.

Front

What is rarefaction in sound waves?

Back

Rarefaction is the region in a sound wave where particles are spread apart, occurring after a compression.

Front

How does frequency affect the pitch of a sound?

Back

The pitch of a sound is determined by its frequency; higher frequency results in a higher pitch, while lower frequency results in a lower pitch.

Front

What is amplitude in sound waves?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of particles from their rest position in a sound wave, which determines the loudness of the sound.

Front

What happens to sound when the amplitude increases?

Back

When the amplitude increases, the sound becomes louder.

Front

What is the relationship between amplitude and sound loudness?

Back

The higher the amplitude, the louder the sound; conversely, the lower the amplitude, the quieter the sound.

Front

What is the equilibrium position in a sound wave?

Back

The equilibrium position is the rest position of particles in a medium when no sound wave is passing through.

Front

What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Back

Transverse waves have particle motion perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, while longitudinal waves have particle motion parallel to the direction of wave propagation.