How does a sound wave travel?

Answer 1

Sound waves travel by the movement of particles in a medium; the source of the wave provides energy in a radiating direction, and this energy causes motion of the particles in an outward direction. At some point, those particles strike others, transferring the energy into them in a direction also away from the source.

Those particles travel as well, and strike more particles, in a repeated fashion throughout the medium. At each point, the total energy moving directly away from the source is lessened, and the amount of energy moving at other directions, even back towards the source, is increased until a balance is achieved with energy moving in all directions evenly. At this point, the wave has ceased existing.

In a solid medium, sound waves may be transverse; the particles move at right angles to the direction of propagation of the wave. The particles at the source are displaced from their equilibrium point, and this action results in the displacement of particles attached to the initial ones. This then causes displacement further along, again in a repeated fashion, causing gradual displacement along the entirety of the object. As the energy is transferred along, the particles also return to equilibrium. This results in the movement of energy from one area of the object to the others, but with the particles moving transversally instead of longitudinally.

Sound waves that travel in this way can be seen in the strings of Guitars, violins and similar instruments; the reeds of wind instruments; the sound created by striking a beam or pipe.

Answer 2

Sound waves travel by the movement of particles in a medium; the source of the wave provides energy in a radiating direction, and this energy causes motion of the particles in an outward direction. At some point, those particles strike others, transferring the energy into them in a direction also away from the source.

Those particles travel as well, and strike more particles, in a repeated fashion throughout the medium. At each point, the total energy moving directly away from the source is lessened, and the amount of energy moving at other directions, even back towards the source, is increased until a balance is achieved with energy moving in all directions evenly. At this point, the wave has ceased existing.

In a solid medium, sound waves may be transverse; the particles move at right angles to the direction of propagation of the wave. The particles at the source are displaced from their equilibrium point, and this action results in the displacement of particles attached to the initial ones. This then causes displacement further along, again in a repeated fashion, causing gradual displacement along the entirety of the object. As the energy is transferred along, the particles also return to equilibrium. This results in the movement of energy from one area of the object to the others, but with the particles moving transversally instead of longitudinally.

Sound waves that travel in this way can be seen in the strings of Guitars, violins and similar instruments; the reeds of wind instruments; the sound created by striking a beam or pipe.

Answer 3

Sound waves travel through a medium, such as air, by causing particles in the medium to vibrate in a back-and-forth motion. This vibration creates a series of compressions and rarefactions that propagate through the medium, carrying the energy of the sound wave. The speed of sound depends on the properties of the medium through which the wave is traveling.