Mission SM2 Characteristics of Sound Waves
Hold down the T key for 3 seconds to activate the audio accessibility mode, at which point you can click the K key to pause and resume audio. Useful for the Check Your Understanding and See Answers.
The intensity of a wave is the rate at which energy passes through a cross-sectional area of the medium. Intense waves are associated with relatively large amplitude of vibrations of the particles of the medium. The more energy put into the wave by the source, the greater the amplitude of vibration of the particles, and the greater the intensity of the wave.
A holler is clearly perceived differently than a whisper. In a holler, particles of the medium are disturbed a relatively large amount from their resting position. A holler causes particles to vibrate about their rest position with a relatively large amplitude of vibration. The result is a relatively high intensity sound wave. At the observer's ear, particles of the medium are undergoing a relatively high amplitude vibration. Such vibrating particles will transmit a relatively high intensity wave to the ear. In turn, the observer perceives the sound wave to be loud.
