Sound waves

Null_

After much thought on the matter, I am very confused about sound. I know that it is just a wave...what is the wave made of? Vibrations of what? And if the wave is made of nothing, then how does it travel through a vacuum?

And, if there are no "sound particles" as I have been told, then why does sound travel slower than light? Light has an associated mass, so I don't see why this doesn't slow it down to slower than the speed of sound.


I don't have much physics knowledge as you can probably tell, so please keep the responses so. :)

Naty1

check wikipedia...it can answer your questions..

Sound is vibrational energy of a material...hence sound, unlike electromagnetic radiation (light) cannot ravel in a vacuum...as there is no material to vibrate...

For example in traditional telephone receivers carbon granules move in response to varying electrical signal strength...this moves a diaphram..which vibrates air molecules..and, voila, you can HEAR another person....vocal cords also vibrate air molecules so you can get hollered at by girlfriends and your parents....