Understanding our hearing starts with our understanding of sound. Here is the first mini blog on how sound travels!
How does sound travel?
Sound travels through the transmission of vibrations through a medium, such as air, water, or solid objects. When an object vibrates, it creates a series of compressions and rarefactions in the surrounding medium. These compressions and rarefactions propagate through the medium as a sound wave.
In air, sound waves are transmitted through the movement of air molecules. When a sound wave passes through the air, it causes the air molecules to vibrate and collide with one another. These vibrations and collisions transmit the energy of the sound wave through the air.
The speed of sound through a medium is determined by the density and elasticity of the medium. In general, sound travels faster through denser materials and slower through less dense materials. For example, sound travels faster through water than it does through air because water is denser than air.
The properties of the medium also affect the way that sound waves are transmitted. For example, sound waves can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted by different materials. This is why sound behaves differently in different environments, and why it is possible to hear sounds that are far away or around corners.
