What Is Sound? - Understood at Atomic Level

[mkbh_10]

What exactly is SOUND ? I have read in many books as describing it as the energy carried by fluctuation of air pressure of correct extent & rapidity or compression & rarefaction of air molecules but i want to know what exactly happens at micro level , at atomic level , out of curiosity what will happen when atoms or electron collide , is sound produced , can it be measured ? Is it a property of macro level ? IS friction necessary to produce sound ?

 

[Dale]

What exactly is SOUND ? I have read in many books as describing it as the energy carried by fluctuation of air pressure of correct extent & rapidity or compression & rarefaction of air molecules but i want to know what exactly happens at micro level , at atomic level , out of curiosity what will happen when atoms or electron collide , is sound produced , can it be measured ? Is it a property of macro level ? IS friction necessary to produce sound ?

Do you understand what pressure is "at a micro level"? If so, then sound is essentially just a wave in the pressure.

Friction is not really relevant to sound. Basically friction is due to shear stress, while pressure is due to normal stress.

 

[atyy]

Sound is like touch. Touch is movement sensed by your skin, sound is movement sensed by your ear.