![]() The wavelength of a water wave would be the distance between wave crests. Like all waves, sound waves have the characteristics of wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. This makes sound waves different from water waves, which move up and down and are called transverse waves. These waves travel in the same path that the sound wave is moving. Vibrations that make sound waves create compression or longitudinal waves. That's about 767 miles per hour or approximately a mile in five seconds! How fast? Sound moves at a quick 1,125 feet per second in dry air at 68ยบ F at sea level. In fact, sound travels really fast through the air. Here on Earth, though, there are plenty of air molecules to help sound travel. Moviemakers add sound to make the experience of watching the movie better. In reality, you'd be able to see, but not hear, those explosions. Lasers flash across the sky and spaceships explode in loud bursts of sound and light. You've probably seen a lot of science-fiction movies that feature spectacular battles in outer space. The absence of air - called a vacuum - in outer space prevents sound from traveling. That's why no one would be able to hear you if you screamed in outer space. When vibrating objects, such as your vocal cords or the strings of a piano, make sounds, they do so by causing the air molecules to move in waves that your ears receive and interpret as sounds. While the air might seem rather empty, it's actually filled with lots of air molecules. Sound waves move through the air around you most of the time. When they carry inspirational words or music, though, you certainly can ride them to a whole new place in your mind. Unlike the water waves you can surf on, however, sound waves are invisible. ![]() You probably already know that sound travels through the air in waves. Have you ever been surfing? Many people love swimming in the ocean, but there's nothing quite like the rush of jumping up on a longboard as a large ocean wave propels you toward the shore.
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