Sound Waves
A sound wave is a chain of disturbances in particles and those around them. A sound is caused by an object which is vibrating. A person makes sound by vibrating their vocal chords, which causes a disturbance in the substance around them (air, water). These moving particles bump into ones next to them, causing a wave, although none of the particles are moving very far at all. This wave of particles goes on in all directions, getting weaker as it travel farther, like a pebble being dropped in a pond. Sounds differ in their frequencies. How fast and how far a sound wave travels is based on their frequencies. Some have higher and some have lower. The speed of sound changes depending on the medium they are traveling through. Sounds travel more quickly at higher temperatures and densities.
Humans hear sounds because of the eardrum. The eardrum is a stretched membrane in the inner ear. When a sound wave hits a person’s ear, the disturbed particles vibrate the ear drum, which is interpreted to us as sound.
Humans hear sounds because of the eardrum. The eardrum is a stretched membrane in the inner ear. When a sound wave hits a person’s ear, the disturbed particles vibrate the ear drum, which is interpreted to us as sound.