Not all waves disperse in the same way. The concept of dispersion refers to the phenomenon where different components of a wave, such as different frequencies, travel at different speeds or exhibit different behaviors.
In the case of sound waves, they can indeed be made up of differing frequencies, similar to light. Sound is a mechanical wave that propagates through a medium, such as air or water, by causing variations in pressure. These pressure variations create compressions and rarefactions that result in the perception of sound.
Like light waves, sound waves can have various frequencies. Frequency refers to the number of cycles or vibrations per unit of time. In the context of sound, frequency determines the pitch we perceive. High-frequency sound waves have a higher pitch, while low-frequency sound waves have a lower pitch.
When we hear a sound, we are typically perceiving a complex mixture of different frequencies. For example, a musical note played on an instrument consists of a fundamental frequency, which gives the note its pitch, and additional harmonic frequencies that contribute to the timbre or tone quality of the sound.
In summary, not all waves disperse, but some do exhibit dispersion. Sound waves can be made up of different frequencies, similar to light waves, and the mixture of these frequencies contributes to the overall perception of sound.