Sound waves are longitudinal waves that travel through a medium like air or water. When we think about sound, we often think about how loud it is (amplitude, or intensity) and its pitch (frequency).

Jan 2, 2026 · The study of sound should begin with the properties of sound waves. There are two basic types of wave, transverse and longitudinal, differentiated by the way in which the wave is propagated.

Humans can hear sounds between about 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (depending on the human!). You can try it yourself: Below 20 Hz is called infrasound ("infra" means below), and above 20,000 Hz is …

Nov 8, 2023 · Sound waves are fundamentally pressure waves, traveling through the compression and rarefaction of particles within a medium. Sound waves consist of areas where particles are bunched …

Explore sound waves with interactive simulations, adjusting frequency or volume to visualize and hear wave changes. Move the listener to experience different sounds.

A sound wave is a pressure wave; regions of high (compressions) and low pressure (rarefactions) are established as the result of the vibrations of the sound source.

What is a sound wave? A sound wave, also known as an acoustic wave, is a type of mechanical wave that propagates through a medium—such as air, water, or solids—due to the vibration of an object.

The physical phenomenon of sound is a disturbance of matter that is transmitted from its source outward. Hearing is the perception of sound, just as seeing is the perception of visible light. On the …

Sound waves are longitudinal waves of compression and rarefaction in which the air molecules move back and forth parallel to the direction of wave travel centered on an average position, resulting in no …

Jul 31, 2025 · Sound is produced when an object vibrates, creating a pressure wave. This pressure wave causes particles in the surrounding medium (air, water, or solid) to have vibrational motion. As …