No, vibration is not the only form of sound travel. While vibration is the primary mechanism by which sound is produced and transmitted, sound can travel through different mediums using various mechanisms.
In general, sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium to propagate. When an object vibrates, it creates compressions and rarefactions in the surrounding medium, such as air, water, or solids. These compressions and rarefactions propagate as waves, carrying the sound energy with them.
However, sound can also travel through other means:
Airborne Sound: This is the most common form of sound travel, where sound waves propagate through the air. Vibrations in the air molecules create changes in air pressure, and these pressure variations travel as sound waves.
Waterborne Sound: Sound can also propagate through water, where the vibrations are transmitted through the water molecules. Underwater sound waves can travel much farther than in air due to the denser medium.
Solid-borne Sound: Sound can travel through solids, such as walls, floors, or solids in general. When an object vibrates against a solid surface, the vibrations can be transmitted through the solid material, allowing sound to travel.
It's important to note that the speed of sound and the way it behaves can vary depending on the medium through which it travels. For example, sound travels faster in solids than in liquids, and faster in liquids than in gases. Each medium has its own characteristics that affect the propagation of sound waves.