Sound waves are special kinds of waves that need something to travel through. Unlike other types of waves, like light waves, which can move through empty space, sound waves can’t. Let's break it down:
Need a Medium: Sound moves through things like solids, liquids, and gases because it makes the tiny particles inside these materials vibrate. If there’s no medium, like in empty space, sound can't travel.
How Particles Move: When sound waves happen, the particles in the medium move back and forth. This back-and-forth movement creates areas where particles are squeezed together (called compressions) and areas where they spread out (called rarefactions). This movement is how sound gets made and how we hear it.
So, if you’ve ever noticed that sound is louder in water than in air, that’s because the medium (water) helps carry the sound better!
Sound waves are special kinds of waves that need something to travel through. Unlike other types of waves, like light waves, which can move through empty space, sound waves can’t. Let's break it down:
Need a Medium: Sound moves through things like solids, liquids, and gases because it makes the tiny particles inside these materials vibrate. If there’s no medium, like in empty space, sound can't travel.
How Particles Move: When sound waves happen, the particles in the medium move back and forth. This back-and-forth movement creates areas where particles are squeezed together (called compressions) and areas where they spread out (called rarefactions). This movement is how sound gets made and how we hear it.
So, if you’ve ever noticed that sound is louder in water than in air, that’s because the medium (water) helps carry the sound better!