A sound wave is a type of longitudinal wave, which means that all the particles of the medium (such as gas, liquid, or solid) vibrate in the same direction as the wave
. Sound waves are created by object vibrations, such as a ringing cellphone, and produce pressure waves that disturb the particles in the surrounding medium
. These pressure waves are then transmitted through the medium, causing the particles to move close together and create regions of high pressure, known as compressions, and regions of low pressure, known as rarefactions
. Key characteristics of sound waves include:
- Amplitude : The maximum displacement of the particles from their normal position
- Frequency : The number of oscillations per unit of time
- Time : The duration of a sound wave
- Velocity : The speed at which a sound wave travels through a medium
- Wavelength : The distance between adjacent crests or identical points in the adjacent cycles of a sound wave
When sound waves reach the outer ear, the auricle or pinna collects and channels them through the ear canal, amplifying the sound
. Sound waves cannot travel in a vacuum, and they require a medium to propagate
