In sound wave propagation, the region of elevated pressure is called what?

In sound wave propagation, the region of elevated pressure is called what?

• A. Compressions
• B. Demodulation
• C. Rarefaction
• D. Period

Answer: (A)

When a sound wave travels through air, the air particles are alternately squeezed together and pulled apart. The squeezed-together region becomes a region of higher pressure, known as a compression. The opposite region, where particles are spread apart, is a region of lower pressure called a rarefaction. Together, compressions and rarefactions move through the medium as the wave carries energy from one place to another. Demodulation is a signal-processing term that isn’t about how sound waves propagate, and period refers to the time for one complete cycle of the wave, not a region of pressure.

When a sound wave travels through air, the air particles are alternately squeezed together and pulled apart. The squeezed-together region becomes a region of higher pressure, known as a compression. The opposite region, where particles are spread apart, is a region of lower pressure called a rarefaction. Together, compressions and rarefactions move through the medium as the wave carries energy from one place to another. Demodulation is a signal-processing term that isn’t about how sound waves propagate, and period refers to the time for one complete cycle of the wave, not a region of pressure.