Compression — Science definition
Defined in 2 courses:
- Reduction of the space occupied by a material. (Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy)
- A region of a longitudinal wave where particles are squeezed close together. (Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy)
Where it is taught
- Gas Particles, Diffusion & Pressure — Phases of Matter, Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy, Grade 8
- Sound Waves — Waves, Sound & Light, Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy, Grade 8
Questions using compression
Problem 1
Using the words compression and rarefaction, explain how a speaker creates sound.
Answer and explanation
The speaker cone vibrates back and forth, pushing air molecules together to create compressions and pulling them apart to create rarefactions. This repeating pattern travels outward through the air as a sound wave.
Taught alongside
- diffusion
- concentration
- gas pressure
- absolute pressure
- model
- evidence
- system boundary
- assumption
- longitudinal wave
- rarefaction
- pitch
- medium