Which term describes the high-pressure portion of a sound wave?

Which term describes the high-pressure portion of a sound wave?

• A. Compression
• B. Rarefaction
• C. Refraction
• D. Reflection

Answer: (A)

In a sound wave, the high-pressure portion is called compression. Sound travels as a longitudinal wave, meaning the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of travel. When these particles bunch together, they create a region of higher pressure—that’s compression. The regions where the particles spread apart are lower pressure and are called rarefactions. Refraction and reflection describe changes in direction or bouncing of waves at boundaries, not the local pressure variation within the wave. So the term for the high-pressure part of the wave is compression.

In a sound wave, the high-pressure portion is called compression. Sound travels as a longitudinal wave, meaning the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of travel. When these particles bunch together, they create a region of higher pressure—that’s compression. The regions where the particles spread apart are lower pressure and are called rarefactions. Refraction and reflection describe changes in direction or bouncing of waves at boundaries, not the local pressure variation within the wave. So the term for the high-pressure part of the wave is compression.