Describe with the help of a diagram, how compressions and rarefactions are produced in the air near a source of the sound.

Compression:

The 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 the volume of the medium is known as compression. It takes place under high pressure.

Rarefaction:

The 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 which is known as rarefaction. It takes place at low pressure.

Diagram showing compression and rarefaction:

A labeled diagram is given below that shows compressions and rarefactions in a longitudinal wave. When the prongs of a tuning fork create a longitudinal wave by vibrating back and forth. When its prongs move forward, then the region of the air particles of the medium is contacted and compression is formed, and when the prongs of the fork move back then the region of the medium gets expanded and rarefaction is formed.

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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