Do Sound Waves Have Compressions and Rarefactions?

Sound waves traveling through air are indeed longitudinal waves

longitudinal waves
Mechanical longitudinal waves are also called compressional or compression waves, because they produce compression and rarefaction when traveling through a medium, and pressure waves, because they produce increases and decreases in pressure.
› wiki › Longitudinal_wave
with compressions and rarefactions.

Do sound waves have compressions?

Sound travels in compression (or longitudinal) waves. ... Compression waves are made up of areas of increased pressure called compressions (like the bunched-up part of a slinky as it moves) and areas of decreased pressure called rarefactions (like the stretched part of a slinky as it moves).

Do sound waves have rarefactions?

Rarefaction, in the physics of sound, segment of one cycle of a longitudinal wave during its travel or motion, the other segment being compression. ... A succession of rarefactions and compressions makes up the longitudinal wave motion that emanates from an acoustic source.

Chloe Bennett

Chloe Bennett

Culture, Media & Entertainment Columnist

Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.