Why does air make sound?

Answer 1

As a practical matter, moving air itself doesn't make sound. It moves things which in turn make sound. But yes, air alone can make sound. But it wouldn't be very much, and it would be extremely difficult to "observe" air (just air) making sound. Let's review.

Sound is mechanical energy, and it travels through air by creating "waves" of pressure. In the instance of a speaker, the cone is forced out and this causes air to "bunch up" in front of it. This is a compression wave, and it will move out away from the speaker at the speed of sound. Even if the speaker cone stops and does nothing else, this pressure wave has been transmitted. When the cone moves back in, air is "thinned" or rarefied in the place where the cone used to be. This creates another phenomenon that travels out from the speaker. As the cone moves out and in, waves of pressurized and rarefied air are transmitted from the cone. Are we good? Let's jump.

If you are located in a place where you are completely free from anything that can disrupt air and are not moving, you will be able to detect changes in the "air pressure" or, more properly, the air density. You'd basically have to be able to float high in the air away from things on the ground. Hanging from a parachute doesn't count because you will still be able to hear the air moving around the chute. (Freefall is out of the question.) As gusts of air move past you, you would notice something. Yes, your body and your clothing would make sound, but if you could cancel them out, there would still be a detectable "presence" of sound owing to changes in air density associated with the wind gusts, and your eardrum(s) would react to them.

Generally speaking, moving air pushes things around, and the things it moves create the sounds we associate with wind, like on a windy day. The mechanical energy in wind can be considerable.

It doesn't. It must pass through something or be otherwise manipulated in some manner in order to make a noise.

Air alone is silent.

Answer 2

Air particles carry sound when they come in contact with other air particles. An area without air, such as outer space, cannot carry sound.

Answer 3

Air certainly conducts sound, but solids& liquids conduct sound much better.

Answer 4

they make things vibrate which causes sound.

Answer 5

Not exactly. You need air - or any other substance to transmit the sound.

Answer 6

the cat sat on the mat