Are Sound Waves Longitudinal waves? | Don't Memorise | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Sound waves are longitudinal waves, with particles of the medium vibrating parallel or antiparallel to the direction of energy transport.

Key Insights

• 👋 Sound waves are a type of longitudinal wave, with particles vibrating parallel or antiparallel to the direction of propagation.
• 👋 Longitudinal waves are characterized by compressions and rarefactions.
• 👋 Transverse waves have particle displacement perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
• 👋 Sound waves are often referred to as pressure waves due to their compressions and rarefactions.
• 🔉 Sound waves propagate through the medium by creating disturbances in the form of high and low-pressure regions.
• 👋 The particles in a string oscillate up and down while the wave propagates horizontally, making it a transverse wave.
• 👋 Understanding the direction of particle displacement helps classify waves as longitudinal or transverse.

Transcript

we have seen how sound propagates through a medium when the object vibrates it creates the disturbance in the surrounding medium and this disturbance is what we call us sound waves the wave travels in the medium in the form of compressions and rarefactions but in which direction do the particles of the medium vibrate before we answer that question ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What are longitudinal waves?

Longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles of a medium vibrate in a direction parallel or antiparallel to the direction of energy transport.

Q: Are sound waves longitudinal waves?

Yes, sound waves are longitudinal waves. The particles of the medium vibrate in the same direction as the propagation of the wave.

Q: Why are sound waves also called pressure waves?

Sound waves consist of high pressure regions called compressions and low pressure regions called rarefactions. This repeating pattern of pressure fluctuations gives rise to the name "pressure waves."

Q: Are there waves where particle displacement is not in the direction of wave propagation?

Yes, such waves are called transverse waves. In transverse waves, the particles vibrate at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Sound waves are created when an object vibrates, causing disturbances in the surrounding medium.

• Longitudinal waves are waves in which particles of the medium vibrate parallel or antiparallel to the direction of energy transport.

• Sound waves are also known as pressure waves, consisting of compressions and rarefactions.