📚 Topic Summary
Sound is created by vibrations, which are back-and-forth movements of particles. These vibrations travel through a medium (like air, water, or solids) as waves. The properties of the medium affect how fast and how far the sound can travel. Understanding these basics is crucial for grasping more complex concepts in acoustics and wave mechanics.
🧮 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms with their definitions:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Amplitude |
a. The number of vibrations per second. |
| 2. Frequency |
b. A substance through which sound travels. |
| 3. Wavelength |
c. The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position. |
| 4. Medium |
d. The distance between two successive crests or troughs of a wave. |
| 5. Vibration |
e. A repeating back-and-forth motion. |
Answers: 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b, 5-e
✏️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Sound waves are a type of _______ wave. Sound travels fastest through _______, slower through _______, and slowest through _______. The _______ of a sound wave determines its loudness, while the _______ determines its pitch.
Answers: longitudinal, solids, liquids, gases, amplitude, frequency
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Explain how the density of a medium affects the speed of sound. Give examples to support your answer.