sound wave behavior

Sound waves are vibrations that travel through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. When an object vibrates, it pushes and pulls on the surrounding particles, creating waves that move outward. These waves consist of compressions (where particles are close together) and rarefactions (where they are spread apart). Sound travels fastest in solids because particles are closer together, allowing vibrations to transfer more efficiently. Our ears detect these waves, interpreting them as sounds, allowing us to hear everything from music to speech. The pitch and volume depend on the frequency and amplitude of the sound waves, respectively.