What is Sound Wave Compression?



“Sound wave compression is a form of sound wave when the molecules of air are compressed.” The sound wave compression is important and vital for the transformation of vibration from one end to other end. The compressions are produced when the molecules are forced and hard-pressed together.

When defining sound wave compression it is important to have a brief introduction about different components of sound. These components play important role to produce and transfer sound from one place to other or from one object to other. To start the discussion on this topic it is important to have a tuning fork, a rubber cork and a drum or empty vessel. It is understood that when sound is produced in or by any body or object it produces sound waves. Sound waves are produced because of vibration present in the body or object. These sound waves are transferred from one object to other with the help of compression that is produced in a wave crest.

Compression is a collection or accumulation of energy particles that’s crowded together. You might have heard that sound is a form of energy so this energy is actually because of these particles that accumulate in a sound crest. This sound crest transfers the energy by producing refraction. Refraction is the distance or gap between two crests. When the sound waves are in refraction form the energy particles spread apart.

The sound wave compression and refraction are two terms that are closely associated with each others. Actually, these are opposite terms because when the molecules accumulate in the crest it is called compression while in refraction the molecules are released. Both the terms are important to produce the vibration and to transfer the sound waves from one end to other end. However, the sound wave compression should be given importance because it is the point where the mechanical energy is converted into sound in the form of vibration.

The molecules of the sound are continuously produced by the sound waves. Sound waves also transfer them from one crest to next crest. This continuity of molecule transferring energy from one end to other is responsible for the production of sound. When the compression is more it will produce more sound by transferring the molecules through sound waves. When the sound wave compression will reduced the production of sound waves it will decrease the frequency of sound because of slow rate of molecule translocation or vibration.