A sound wave is a type of mechanical wave that is created by vibrating objects and travels through a medium, such as air or water. It is characterized by compressions and rarefactions, which are areas of high and low pressure, respectively.
Sound travels through different mediums by causing particles in the medium to vibrate, which creates a wave of pressure. The speed of sound varies depending on the medium, with it being faster in denser mediums, such as solids, and slower in less dense mediums, such as gases.
Frequency refers to the number of vibrations per second, while pitch is how high or low a sound is perceived. The higher the frequency of a sound wave, the higher the pitch will be. This is why high-pitched sounds have a higher frequency than low-pitched sounds.
The loudness of a sound wave is determined by its amplitude, which is the height of the wave. The larger the amplitude, the louder the sound will be. This is why louder sounds have larger amplitudes than softer sounds.
No, sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum because they require a medium to travel through. In a vacuum, there are no particles for the sound wave to vibrate and create a wave of pressure. This is why sound cannot be heard in outer space.