General Knowledge - Physics - Discussion

Sound waves exist as variations of pressure in a medium such as air. They are created by the vibration of an object, which causes the air surrounding it to vibrate. The vibrating air then causes the human eardrum to vibrate, which the brain interprets as sound.

Sound waves propogate longitudinally in air whereas light waves propogate in traverse direction in air.

Any one explain, why sound wave in air is longitudinal?

Longitudinal wave means the direction of propagation of wave is along the direction of vibration.

When we make sound, it first creates a compression and then an expansion in the atmosphere due to the (air) molecules present in the atmosphere. This compression and expansion, or we can say that the disturbances, produced in the atmosphere, moves from one place to another by the presence of molecules present in the atmosphere.

Here the air molecules do not move, they only transfer their energies due to the disturbances to the nearby molecules. So the disturbances or energy only move.

Sound waves are mechanical waves which does not travel in vacuum. Only non mechanical or (transverse waves) electromagnetic waves travel in vacuum so sound waves are longitudinal waves.

Sound wave are mechanical waves which does not travel in vacuum.

Longitudinal wave means the direction of propagation of wave is along vibration so sound wave are longitudinal waves.

Sound waves longitudinal in nature and it creates vibration in the molecules present in atmosphere.

Sound waves are harmful ray switch affects the environment.

In Longitudinal wave particle vibrate along the direction of propagation of wave.

Sound waves in air:

A single-frequency sound wave traveling through air will cause a sinusoidal pressure variation in the air. The air motion which accompanies the passage of the sound wave will be back and forth in the direction of the propagation of the sound, a characteristic of longitudinal waves.