Question

How do sound waves travel ?

Answer 1

Here, you are asked to find the way through which the sound waves travel. In order to answer this question, you need to understand what a sound wave is and before that, go for the definition of a wave. After giving a thought to waves, you will tackle various types of waves, then figure out in what type the sound wave falls.

Complete answer:
So, in physics, waves are disturbances that occur in a medium and travel through that medium from one point to another. Due to the disturbances in the medium, that are the waves, the thing is that matter does not travel through the medium but the energy does. There are three categories or types in which waves are divided, out of which first is the mechanical wave and second is the electromagnetic wave. Our focus will be on mechanical waves and we are going to see why it is so. Mechanical waves are waves in which the matter oscillates which results in the transfer of energy. Mechanical waves are further classified as transverse waves and longitudinal waves.

Now, a sound wave is a mechanical wave and in that too, it is a longitudinal wave. The sound waves are produced when an object or a system vibrates. For our understanding, let us take the example of speakers. The diaphragm in the speakers vibrate, meaning that they flex in and out rapidly. As the diaphragm moves out, it pushes the air particles out and in turn these particles push the adjacent particles and this disturbance goes on and when the diaphragm moves in, it pulls the air particles and in turn they pull the adjacent particles and so on.

So, this is how the disturbance is carried and the sound waves travel.

Note: We have discussed how sound waves travel using the example of a speaker, so keep this approach in your mind and try to create a picture of it. Also, note that here we have told you that in waves, matter does not travel from one point to another but that is only true when you do not consider light, that is the dual nature of the light, so remember this point. Also, remember that sound waves are longitudinal waves and belong to the category of mechanical waves.