Question

Explain how sound waves travel in air.

Answer 1

Sound travels through air when air molecules vibrate. If air molecules are considered as small balls, a sound wave travels through air by pushing these balls close to each other and then pulling them away from each other. The air molecules come together in areas called compressions and they lie away from each other in areas called rarefactions. The air molecules do not move from their place but only vibrate about their original position. This vibrating effect propagates and allows sound to travel through air.