ABSTRACT
Sound is a specialized form o f vibration, specialized because it is perceived by the h um an ear. It can exist w herever m o tio n occurs in an elastic m edium . N orm ally that elastic m edium is air, although it can, for example be w ater. N o sound can be transm itted in a vacuum . T he resulting v ib rations are transm itted th ro u g h the air as fluctuations o f pressure, referred to as w aves o f com pression and rarefaction. These w aves o f com pression im pinge on the eard rum and are transm itted in to the ear to generate nerve signals w h ich are perceived as sound.
