Question

What type of wave is sound?

Answer 1

Hint: To answer our question, what type of wave is sound. We shall at first tend to perceive a sound wave then, describe the wave in regard of completely different characteristics like speed, their activity pattern under completely different mediums, etc. We will additionally see how these waves are created or generated.


Complete step-by-step solution:
The kinds of carrier waves that require a material medium for the transference of energy through them are characterised as Mechanical waves. The sound waves also require a material medium to transfer energy from one place to another. Hence, sound waves are a type of Mechanical wave.
Now, when a sound wave is travelling from one medium to another, its speed is directly proportional to the density of the medium, that is, greater the density of the medium in which it travels, greater the speed of sound wave. This principle is employed in tele-communication, that is, the use of wires for sending the sound waves from the point source to its destination. The speed of sound wave in air is $343m{{s}^{-1}}$, in water is $1480m{{s}^{-1}}$and in solids is about $6000m{{s}^{-1}}$.

Note: There is one other type of wave known as non-mechanical wave. Apparently, Electro-magnetic waves are the sole sort of Non-mechanical waves to be found. Non-mechanical waves are generated, once the electrically charged particles are vibrated. This successively produces electric and magnetic fields, hence the name electromagnetic radiation. The speed of a non-mechanical wave is very close to the speed of light.