As sound is created by the vibration of particles it requires a medium such as air, liquid or a solid. This explains why in the vacuum of space no-one can hear you scream.
Sound is usually described as a wave that disturbs its medium by vibration. The vibrations set up by a sound wave causes alternating compressions which the ear perceives as sound. Not all sound can be perceived by the human ear though, our range is usually limited to sound waves of between 20 and 20,000 vibrations per second.
The speed of sound depends on the medium through which it is passing and also other factors including density and temperature. At zero degrees centigrade a sound wave passing through air will travel at approximately 1,089 ft per second. But when the temperature rises to 20 degrees centigrade, sound will travel significantly faster, at about 1,130 ft per second; an increase of about 2 ft per second for every centigrade degree rise in temperature.
Sound is usually described as a wave that disturbs its medium by vibration. The vibrations set up by a sound wave causes alternating compressions which the ear perceives as sound. Not all sound can be perceived by the human ear though, our range is usually limited to sound waves of between 20 and 20,000 vibrations per second.
The speed of sound depends on the medium through which it is passing and also other factors including density and temperature. At zero degrees centigrade a sound wave passing through air will travel at approximately 1,089 ft per second. But when the temperature rises to 20 degrees centigrade, sound will travel significantly faster, at about 1,130 ft per second; an increase of about 2 ft per second for every centigrade degree rise in temperature.
