Compressions and rarefactions of a sound wave

AI Thread Summary
Sound waves consist of compressions, which are maximum pressure points, and rarefactions, which are minimum pressure points. In this context, compressions can be considered loud points, while rarefactions are associated with quieter areas due to lower particle density. Nodes are points of no displacement, while antinodes are points of maximum displacement in a wave. The confusion arises from interpreting these concepts in relation to sound intensity and visualizing the wave's behavior. Understanding these definitions is crucial for grasping the nature of sound waves and their characteristics.
Nauraushaun
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Homework Statement


Well it's not so much a direct question as it is several.
I'm very confused about sound waves. I know that, when modeled as a transverse wave on a set of axis, a compression is a maximum and a rarefaction is a minimum. But where do nodes and antinodes fit into this? Which is a node, which is an antinode?
What's more, I'm even more confused about actual loud points. Are compressions and rarefactions considered to be loud points, meaning the point in the middle is a quiet point?


The Attempt at a Solution


See attached image.
You can see that I had a go at labelling the wave myself. Could someone please replace my labels with the correct ones?
Thanks very much.
 

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Nauraushaun said:

Homework Statement


Well it's not so much a direct question as it is several.
I'm very confused about sound waves. I know that, when modeled as a transverse wave on a set of axis, a compression is a maximum and a rarefaction is a minimum. But where do nodes and antinodes fit into this? Which is a node, which is an antinode?

Well, what are the definitions of a node/antinode?

What's more, I'm even more confused about actual loud points. Are compressions and rarefactions considered to be loud points, meaning the point in the middle is a quiet point?

What's plotted on the y-axis of this graph?
 
I'm not sure about the definitions! Therein lies the problem :D

Well, it depends how you interpret it. It's got the X axis, which could be seen as 0. On a Voltage vs. time graph, both maximums and minimums are 'high' points of voltage, so this could be the same.
On the other hand, the notion of a minimum suggests it's very little sound, and I was sure rarefactions were quiet points, being the absence of particles, but it's hard to visualize.
 

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