Describe physically what the "speed of sound" represents. What kind of pressure changes occur in air sound waves during ordinary conversation?

Kelton Molina

Kelton Molina

Answered question

2022-09-26

Describe physically what the "speed of sound" represents. What kind of pressure changes occur in air sound waves during ordinary conversation?

Answer & Explanation

Lilliana Mason

Lilliana Mason

Beginner2022-09-27Added 11 answers

The rate of transmission of sound waves in the form of pressure pulses in a fluid is represented by the speed of sound. Pressure waves arise as compressions and decompressions in the direction of passage of sound waves. These waves are known as longitudinal waves in fluids.
maredilunavy

maredilunavy

Beginner2022-09-28Added 2 answers

To solve this problem we have to describe physically what does the speed of sound represent and to see what kind of pressure changes occur in air sound waves during the ordinary conversation.
Speed of sound refers to how fast will the disturbance be passed from particle to particle.
More precisely, by the definition, speed of sound is the distance travelled per time by sound wave which propagates through the medium (elastic).
Now, about the pressure changes in the air duringa conversation.
Because the sound wave is a repeating pattern of high and low-pressure regions which are moving through a medium, which, in this case is the air, it is referred to as the pressure wave in some cases.
Since there is a longitudinal motion of the air, there will be regions in the air where the air particles will be compressed together, and other, where those particles will be spread apart.
Those regions are actually rarefactions(regions of low air pressure) and compressions (regions of high air pressure).
Result:
Speed of sound is the distance travelled per time by sound wave which propagates through the medium.
Due to the longitudinal motion of the air, there will be regions in the air where the air particles will be compressed together, and other, where those particles will be spread apart.

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