Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Rarefaction refers to the reduction in density and pressure of a medium, such as air or water, caused by the passage of a sound wave. It is the opposite of compression.
Compression is the opposite of rarefaction and refers to an increase in density and pressure within a medium caused by a sound wave.
Longitudinal Wave: A longitudinal wave is a type of wave where particles move parallel to the direction of energy transfer. Sound waves are examples of longitudinal waves.
Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points on a wave that are in phase. In terms of sound waves, it represents the distance between two compressions or two rarefactions.