Sound waves

What type of waves are sound waves classified as?

Longitudinal waves.

What happens to air particles when a speaker vibrates?

Air particles move back and forth, creating areas of higher and lower pressure.

What are the alternating patterns of high pressure and low pressure areas in sound waves called?

Compressions and rarefactions.

What occurs to sound energy as it moves away from the source?

The intensity of sound gets less.

Through what mediums can sound travel?

Solid, liquid, or gas; sound cannot travel through a vacuum.

What is the speed of sound in air?

330 m/s.

In which medium does sound travel fastest?

In solids; faster than in liquids and gases.

What are some dangers of exposure to loud sounds?

Hearing loss and damage to ear cells and membranes.

What precautions can be taken to manage sound levels?

Using soundproofing in cars and houses and limiting time listening to loud music.

What should you limit when using earphones or headphones?

The time spent listening to loud music or videos.