Properties and Behaviour of Sound

Abstract

Sound may be defined as vibrations or pressure changes in an ‘elastic’ medium which are capable of being detected by the ear. By ‘elastic’ we mean that the particles of the medium return to their original position after disturbance by the vibrational wave. Such vibrations travel through solids, liquids and gases but the normal process of hearing depends on their ultimate transmission through the air so that the ear drum is set in vibration and a sequence of events we call ‘hearing’ begins.