Physics PHYS S - 123 Study Guide - Final Guide: Logarithmic Scale, Ambient Pressure, Sound Pressure
Document Summary
"# the propagation of mechanical disturbances in an elastic medium. The molecules of the elastic medium vibrate around their equilibrium positions (or state of rest). These disturbances are perceived, among others, by the human ear which interprets them as sounds. Like any mechanical wave, a sound wave requires a material medium (solid, liquid or gas) to propagate $%# opposed to electromagnetic waves (radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, rays) that can propagate in a vacuum. Indeed, &""""()*+# a disturbance, originally created by a mechanical source, the molecules undergo small variations in pressure (acoustic pressure); they collide with each other to transmit the deformation (disturbance) thus undergoing micro-displacements. "# their initial position once the disturbance has passed; this is a propagation of energy in a material medium without transport of matter. The science that studies these waves is called acoustics. Acoustic waves are generally longitudinal: the medium vibrates in the same direction as that of propagation of the wave.
