Explain the terms 'compression' and 'rarefactions' of a wave. What type of waves consist of compressions and rarefactions?
Download our app for free and get startedPlay store
A compression is that part of a longitudinal wave in which the particles of the medium are closer to one another than they normally are, and there is a momentary reduction in volume of the medium. A rarefaction is that part of a longitudinal wave in which the particles of the medium are farther apart than normal, and there is a momentary increase in the volume of the medium. Longitudinal waves consist of compressions and rarefactions.
art

Download our app
and get started for free

Experience the future of education. Simply download our apps or reach out to us for more information. Let's shape the future of learning together!No signup needed.*

Similar Questions

  • 1
    What is the difference between a compression and a rarefaction in a sound wave? Illustrate your answer with a sketch.
    View Solution
  • 2
    Describe a simple experiment to show that the prongs of a sound producing tuning fork are vibrating.
    View Solution
  • 3
    How can reverberations in a big hall or auditotium be reduced?`
    View Solution
  • 4
    Three different vibrating objects produce three types of sounds $X$, $Y$ and $Z$. Sounds $X$ and $Y$ cannot be heard by a man having normal range of hearing but sound $Z$ can be heard easily. The sound $X$ is used in hospitals to break kidney stones of a patient into fine grains whioch then get flushed out with urine. The sound $Y$ is similar to that which is produced during an earthquake before the main shock wave is generated.
    1. What t$Y$pe of sounds are $(i) X, (ii) Y$, and $(iii) Z$?
    2. Name one device which can produce sound like $X$.
    3. Name one device in a science laboratory which can produce sound like $Y$.
    4. Name one device in our homes which can produce sound like $Z$.
    5. What is the frequency range of sounds like $Z$?
    View Solution
  • 5
    A sound producing body is at considerable distance from a man. There can be four different media $W, X, Y$ and $Z$ between the sound producing body and the man. The medium $X$ brings the sound to man most quickly whereas medium $Z$ takes the maximum time. The time taken by medium $W$ in bringing sound to man is less than that of $X$ but more than that of $Z.$ The medium $Y,$ however, fails to bring the sound from the sound producing body to the man. Which medium could be the one:
    1. Having no fixed shape and no fixed volume$?$
    2. Having a fixed volume but no fixed shape$?$
    3. Having the same composition as that on the moon$?$
    4. Having a fixed shape and a fixed volume$?$
    View Solution
  • 6
    The drawing shoes a ship $800\ m$ from a cliff. A gun is fired on the ship. After $5$ seconds the people at the front of the ship hear the sound of the gun again.
    View Solution
  • 7
    Consider the following sound waves marked $A, B, C$ and $D:$
    1. Which two waves represent sounds of the same loudness but different pitch$?$
    1. Which two waves represent sounds of the same frequency but different loudness?
    1. State whether all these sound waves have been produced by the same vibrating body or different vibrating bodies?
    1. Which vibrating body/bodies could have generated the sound waves shown here?
    View Solution
  • 8
    Describe an experiment to show that sound cannot pass through vacuum.
    View Solution
  • 9
    How does sound from a sound producing body travel through air to reach our ears? Illustrate your answer with the help of a labelled diagram.
    View Solution
  • 10
    What are longitudinal waves and transverse waves? Explain with the help of labelled diagrams.
    View Solution