An air wave and a sound wave are closely related, but they refer to slightly different phenomena.
Sound Wave: A sound wave is a type of mechanical wave that propagates through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. It is a disturbance that travels through the medium, carrying energy and causing particles in the medium to vibrate. In the case of sound waves in air, they are generated by the vibration of an object (e.g., a musical instrument, vocal cords) and travel as a series of compressions and rarefactions of air molecules. These compressions and rarefactions create changes in air pressure, resulting in the perception of sound by our ears.
Air Wave: An air wave, on the other hand, generally refers to the movement or disturbance of air itself. It can describe phenomena like a gust of wind, the motion of air molecules due to temperature differences (e.g., convection currents), or the displacement of air caused by an explosion or other rapid disturbances. Unlike sound waves, which specifically refer to the propagation of mechanical disturbances associated with sound, air waves can encompass a broader range of air movements or disturbances.
In summary, a sound wave specifically refers to the propagation of mechanical disturbances through a medium (like air) that carry sound energy, while an air wave is a more general term that can describe various movements or disturbances of air itself, including those unrelated to sound.