acoustic wave

A longitudinal wave that (a) consists of a sequence of pressure pulses or elastic displacements of the material, whether gas, liquid, or solid, in which the wave propagates, (b) in gases, consists of a sequence of compressions (dense gas) and rarefactions (less dense gas) that travel through the gas, (c) in liquids, consists of a sequence of combined elastic deformation and compression waves that travel though the liquid, and (d) in solids, consists of a sequence of elastic compression and expansion waves that travel though the solid. Note 1: The speed of an acoustic wave in a material medium is determined by the temperature, pressure, and elastic properties of the medium. In air, acoustic waves propagate at 332 m/s (1087 ft/s) at 0°C, at sea level. In air, sound-wave speed increases approximately 0.6 m/s (2 ft/s) for each kelvin above 0°C. Note 2: Acoustic waves audible to the normal human ear are termed sound waves. [From Weik ’89]