Question

What type of waves are sound waves? How could they propagate?

Answer 1

Sound waves are spherical longitudinal waves that travel through air via compressions and rarefactions of the air medium. They are longitudinal waves because the direction of propagation of the wave is in the same direction as the movement of the particles.

Answer 2

Orientation of particle motion relative to the direction of energy propagation is one way waves are characterized. There are three categories: Longitudinal wave *s - Movement of the particles are parallel to the motion of the energy. Sound waves moving through the air is an example of this type of wave.