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Q: Does Rarefaction refer to the compression of air molecules?
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What is the area of compression and rarefaction?

Compression is a Pushing Force whereas Rarefaction is a Pulling Force[Compression is the point when the most force is being applied to a molecule&Rarefaction is the point when the least force is applied].Compression happens when particles are forced/pressed together.Rarefaction is just the opposite,it occurs when particles are given extra space&allowed to expand.Compression&Rarefaction are Effects the wave causes.If you look at any normal visual representation of a Sound Wave,the humps above the middle line are called Compressions,the humps below are called Rarefactions.


When molecules of air are pushed together they form a high area of pressure which is called?

When molecules of air are pushed together, they form an area of high pressure which is called compression. If the compression is cyclonic, it is called a node.


The wave pattern of smooth up and down curves is used to represent the way that a wave looks. What do the ups and downs mean when you are talking about sound waves?

When picturing the way sound travels in air, picture a big speaker cone. We've probably all seen one of these things at one time or another when a speaker cover has been removed and the speaker itself is exposed. The cone moves out and in to generate the sound. What's going on? When the cone moves out, it compresses air in front of it. All the gas atoms and molecules in front of the cone are smooshed (compressed) together and the "smooshed gas" (compression wave) moves out away from the speaker. It moves fast, too. Almost 3 ½ football fields a second. When the cone moves in, it creates a place of "unsmooshed" (rarified) gas in front of it, and the "unsmooshed gas" (rarefaction wave) travels out from in front of the speaker the way the compression wave did. A sound wave is an alternate series of compression and rarefaction fronts traveling in air. Comparing a sound wave to a wave traveling on water, the compression wave can be compared to the rising portion, the crest, of the water wave. The rarefaction wave can be compared to the dipping part of the water wave, the trough.


What kinds of waves are sound waves?

sound waves are compression waves, or longitudinal waves. sounds that we hear are actually just compressions and rarefactions of air particles, meaning the air particles move closer together for a time period then spread apart farther then they normally would rarefaction)


What type of wave is sound waves?

sound waves are compression waves, or longitudinal waves. sounds that we hear are actually just compressions and rarefactions of air particles, meaning the air particles move closer together for a time period then spread apart farther then they normally would(a rarefaction)

Related questions

Is rarefaction a high pressure area of tightly packed molecules?

No. A rarefaction is the region of a sound wave where the particles are spread out rather than close together. The closer together regions are compressions. These terms are used about waves in air, not weather systems.


Compressional waves caused by colliding air molecules?

Yes indeed, Sound waves will have alternate compression and rarefaction pressures. The air pressure goes above and below the average air pressure.


What is the area of compression and rarefaction?

Compression is a Pushing Force whereas Rarefaction is a Pulling Force[Compression is the point when the most force is being applied to a molecule&Rarefaction is the point when the least force is applied].Compression happens when particles are forced/pressed together.Rarefaction is just the opposite,it occurs when particles are given extra space&allowed to expand.Compression&Rarefaction are Effects the wave causes.If you look at any normal visual representation of a Sound Wave,the humps above the middle line are called Compressions,the humps below are called Rarefactions.


What happens to the air particles above the drumhead when the drumhead moves downward?

it makes up a series of compression and rarefaction.


Where does rarefaction occur?

When something vibrates, like a loudspeaker, it compresses the air and increases the pressure of the air when it moves out. When the loudspeaker moves in it creates a partial vacum and a decrease in air pressure. The increase/decrease in air pressure is propagated thru the air (or any medium),as a longitudinal wave, by pushing the air in front of it. The part of the cycle which produces the decrease in pressure is called a "rarefacation" of the air.


What are the 2 main type of waves?

Waves in Air give a great example: they occur in two types - compression [compressed Air] and rarefaction [expanded or decompressed Air] Waves.


Why when two men talk in the moon cannot hear each other?

Sound is a compression/rarefaction wave in a material, such as air. There is no such thing on the moon.


How is sound wave different from an EM wave?

A sound wave is a succession of air molecule compression and rarefaction. So the air molecules 'vibrate' between periods of being closer together (compression) and farther apart (rarefaction). When they bounce off of your eardrum, you hear them provided the frequency and intensity are adequate. An EM wave is quite different. To be honest, you'll have to check out the wikipedia page! http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation It will propagate in a vacuum, whereas a sound wave requires a medium to travel through (like air, water..... the kitchen table.) Light is an EM wave.


When molecules of air are pushed together they form a high area of pressure which is called?

When molecules of air are pushed together, they form an area of high pressure which is called compression. If the compression is cyclonic, it is called a node.


How do air molecules enable sound to travel from a radio speaker to your ear?

Sounds waves are compressional, and compressional waves are made up of compressions and rarefactions. When the radio speaker pumps sound outward, it forms a compression by pushing the molecules in air together. The compression moves away from the speaker as these molecules collide with other molecules in air. When the sound travels back, a rarefaction is formed where the molecules are farther apart. The air molecules form compressions and rarefactions. Compressions and rarefactions make up compressional waves. A sound wave is a compressional wave.


When molecules of air are pushed together they form an area of high pressure which is called a?

When molecules of air are pushed together, they form an area of high pressure which is called compression. If the compression is cyclonic, it is called a node.


How does a sound travel through?

Sound, which is mechanical energy, travels through a solid by setting up a mechanical compression wave in that solid. When the compression wave of the sound in air strikes the solid, it compresses the solid. It isn't much, but the energy delivered by the air is transferred into the solid. Waves of compression and rarefaction move through the solid as they did in air, but move much faster in a solid.