What is the difference between a compression and a rarefaction in a sound wave? Illustrate your answer with a sketch.

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Solution

Compression is a region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together.

A rarefaction is a region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are furthest apart.

The region where the medium is compressed is known as compression and the region where the medium is spread out is known as a rarefaction.

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