Sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium to propagate, such as air, water, or solids. Although sound waves themselves do not possess mass, they rely on the vibration and interaction of particles within the medium to transmit energy and carry the sound wave forward.
When a sound is produced, such as someone speaking or a musical instrument playing, it causes the particles of the medium (e.g., air molecules) to vibrate. These vibrations are passed from one particle to another, creating a chain reaction of successive particle vibrations. Each particle transfers its energy and vibration to its neighboring particles, causing them to oscillate as well.
This transfer of energy between particles allows sound waves to travel through the medium. As the particles vibrate, they create regions of compressed particles (high pressure) and regions of rarefied particles (low pressure), forming a pattern of alternating compressions and rarefactions.
Despite the fact that sound waves propagate through this oscillatory motion of particles, the overall movement of sound waves is not limited to straight lines. Sound waves can undergo phenomena such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference, which cause them to change direction, bend around obstacles, and interact with other waves.
So, while individual particles within the medium vibrate in a back-and-forth motion, the sound wave as a whole can exhibit complex paths and behaviors, allowing it to reach our ears from various directions and locations.