How does a sound wave propagate?












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$begingroup$


So , Sound travels by vibration , but vibration is only a one dimensional motion. Left and right. So the air molecules only move towards the left or right. So the sound wave only propagates left or right. But what if we are perpendicular to the oscillation. How do we hear sound?






waves acoustics







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    $begingroup$
    it is not that simple . see hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/sprop.html and links
    $endgroup$
    – anna v
    2 hours ago
















2












$begingroup$


So , Sound travels by vibration , but vibration is only a one dimensional motion. Left and right. So the air molecules only move towards the left or right. So the sound wave only propagates left or right. But what if we are perpendicular to the oscillation. How do we hear sound?






waves acoustics







share|cite|improve this question









New contributor




Sarvesh Thiruppathi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    it is not that simple . see hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/sprop.html and links
    $endgroup$
    – anna v
    2 hours ago














2












2








2


1



$begingroup$


So , Sound travels by vibration , but vibration is only a one dimensional motion. Left and right. So the air molecules only move towards the left or right. So the sound wave only propagates left or right. But what if we are perpendicular to the oscillation. How do we hear sound?






waves acoustics







share|cite|improve this question









New contributor




Sarvesh Thiruppathi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




So , Sound travels by vibration , but vibration is only a one dimensional motion. Left and right. So the air molecules only move towards the left or right. So the sound wave only propagates left or right. But what if we are perpendicular to the oscillation. How do we hear sound?






waves acoustics




waves acoustics






share|cite|improve this question









New contributor




Sarvesh Thiruppathi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|cite|improve this question









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Check out our Code of Conduct.









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edited 1 hour ago









Qmechanic♦

106k121921212




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asked 2 hours ago









Sarvesh ThiruppathiSarvesh Thiruppathi

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212




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Sarvesh Thiruppathi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    it is not that simple . see hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/sprop.html and links
    $endgroup$
    – anna v
    2 hours ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    it is not that simple . see hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/sprop.html and links
    $endgroup$
    – anna v
    2 hours ago








1




1




$begingroup$
it is not that simple . see hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/sprop.html and links
$endgroup$
– anna v
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
it is not that simple . see hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/sprop.html and links
$endgroup$
– anna v
2 hours ago










3 Answers
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$begingroup$


vibration is only a one dimensional motion




This is not generally true. As a trivial example, one could the movements of water in a pond where a few small rocks have been tossed. The motion is definitely a wave behavior, and could even be called vibration, but it is most definitely not one dimensional.



Another potential example would be the vibrator on your phone, which vibrates in a circular manner.



But in the end, the key is that atoms in a sound wave don't vibrate "left and right." They are a longitudinal wave, in which particles move in the direction of the wave's motion and back.



So when something causes a sound, the waves propagate outward from the object creating the sound, as molecules of gas move away from the source and towards the source. This is typically a 3 dimensional pattern






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Sound wave is not a transverse wave, as you thought. That means the vibration and the direction of propagation for sound wave are parallel. And the vibration is caused by difference in air pressure at different places. To the question "how I can listen to it" thats because the pressure difference propagates toward your ear and force your eardrum to vibrate.






    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    user10842694 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      0












      $begingroup$

      Sound travels outwards from a source in all directions. The waves that are set in motion are spherical.






      share|cite|improve this answer









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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

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        2












        $begingroup$


        vibration is only a one dimensional motion




        This is not generally true. As a trivial example, one could the movements of water in a pond where a few small rocks have been tossed. The motion is definitely a wave behavior, and could even be called vibration, but it is most definitely not one dimensional.



        Another potential example would be the vibrator on your phone, which vibrates in a circular manner.



        But in the end, the key is that atoms in a sound wave don't vibrate "left and right." They are a longitudinal wave, in which particles move in the direction of the wave's motion and back.



        So when something causes a sound, the waves propagate outward from the object creating the sound, as molecules of gas move away from the source and towards the source. This is typically a 3 dimensional pattern






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$


















          2












          $begingroup$


          vibration is only a one dimensional motion




          This is not generally true. As a trivial example, one could the movements of water in a pond where a few small rocks have been tossed. The motion is definitely a wave behavior, and could even be called vibration, but it is most definitely not one dimensional.



          Another potential example would be the vibrator on your phone, which vibrates in a circular manner.



          But in the end, the key is that atoms in a sound wave don't vibrate "left and right." They are a longitudinal wave, in which particles move in the direction of the wave's motion and back.



          So when something causes a sound, the waves propagate outward from the object creating the sound, as molecules of gas move away from the source and towards the source. This is typically a 3 dimensional pattern






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$
















            2












            2








            2





            $begingroup$


            vibration is only a one dimensional motion




            This is not generally true. As a trivial example, one could the movements of water in a pond where a few small rocks have been tossed. The motion is definitely a wave behavior, and could even be called vibration, but it is most definitely not one dimensional.



            Another potential example would be the vibrator on your phone, which vibrates in a circular manner.



            But in the end, the key is that atoms in a sound wave don't vibrate "left and right." They are a longitudinal wave, in which particles move in the direction of the wave's motion and back.



            So when something causes a sound, the waves propagate outward from the object creating the sound, as molecules of gas move away from the source and towards the source. This is typically a 3 dimensional pattern






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$




            vibration is only a one dimensional motion




            This is not generally true. As a trivial example, one could the movements of water in a pond where a few small rocks have been tossed. The motion is definitely a wave behavior, and could even be called vibration, but it is most definitely not one dimensional.



            Another potential example would be the vibrator on your phone, which vibrates in a circular manner.



            But in the end, the key is that atoms in a sound wave don't vibrate "left and right." They are a longitudinal wave, in which particles move in the direction of the wave's motion and back.



            So when something causes a sound, the waves propagate outward from the object creating the sound, as molecules of gas move away from the source and towards the source. This is typically a 3 dimensional pattern







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered 2 hours ago









            Cort AmmonCort Ammon

            23.4k34778




            23.4k34778























                2












                $begingroup$

                Sound wave is not a transverse wave, as you thought. That means the vibration and the direction of propagation for sound wave are parallel. And the vibration is caused by difference in air pressure at different places. To the question "how I can listen to it" thats because the pressure difference propagates toward your ear and force your eardrum to vibrate.






                share|cite|improve this answer








                New contributor




                user10842694 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                $endgroup$


















                  2












                  $begingroup$

                  Sound wave is not a transverse wave, as you thought. That means the vibration and the direction of propagation for sound wave are parallel. And the vibration is caused by difference in air pressure at different places. To the question "how I can listen to it" thats because the pressure difference propagates toward your ear and force your eardrum to vibrate.






                  share|cite|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  user10842694 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  $endgroup$
















                    2












                    2








                    2





                    $begingroup$

                    Sound wave is not a transverse wave, as you thought. That means the vibration and the direction of propagation for sound wave are parallel. And the vibration is caused by difference in air pressure at different places. To the question "how I can listen to it" thats because the pressure difference propagates toward your ear and force your eardrum to vibrate.






                    share|cite|improve this answer








                    New contributor




                    user10842694 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                    $endgroup$



                    Sound wave is not a transverse wave, as you thought. That means the vibration and the direction of propagation for sound wave are parallel. And the vibration is caused by difference in air pressure at different places. To the question "how I can listen to it" thats because the pressure difference propagates toward your ear and force your eardrum to vibrate.







                    share|cite|improve this answer








                    New contributor




                    user10842694 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer






                    New contributor




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                    answered 2 hours ago









                    user10842694user10842694

                    211




                    211




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                    New contributor





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                        0












                        $begingroup$

                        Sound travels outwards from a source in all directions. The waves that are set in motion are spherical.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$


















                          0












                          $begingroup$

                          Sound travels outwards from a source in all directions. The waves that are set in motion are spherical.






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$
















                            0












                            0








                            0





                            $begingroup$

                            Sound travels outwards from a source in all directions. The waves that are set in motion are spherical.






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$



                            Sound travels outwards from a source in all directions. The waves that are set in motion are spherical.







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered 2 hours ago









                            niels nielsenniels nielsen

                            20.2k53061




                            20.2k53061






















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