What type of wave is represented by sound waves?

Sound waves are classified as longitudinal waves because the oscillations of the medium's particles occur in the same direction as the wave travels. In a longitudinal wave, areas where particles are closer together (compression) alternate with areas where they are further apart (rarefaction).

When you speak or any sound is produced, it creates vibrations in the surrounding air molecules. These vibrations push the air molecules together and then pull them apart, creating regions of higher and lower pressure that travel through the air. This characteristic of transferring energy through compressions and rarefactions distinctly identifies sound as a longitudinal wave.

Other types of waves, such as transverse waves, have particles that move perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, which is not the case with sound. Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and do not require a medium, while surface waves typically occur at the interface between different mediums, like water waves, where there is both vertical and horizontal movement. Thus, the definition and behavior of sound waves align perfectly with the characteristics of longitudinal waves.