Explore sound

Change frequency to explore pitch, and pressure amplitude to explore loudness.

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Audio is off. Start with low device volume; animation controls do not change audio speed.

Period: Wavelength: Air: 343 m/s
Sound particles and pressure graphs Air particles oscillate horizontally about fixed positions. Compressions and rarefactions travel right. A pressure-distance graph matches the particle view, and a pressure-time graph shows the selected frequency and amplitude. Air particles oscillate ↔ Wave and energy travel → Orange particle ↔ dashed rest position Pressure along the air (snapshot) HigherNormalLower Pressure at a fixed point over time HigherNormalLower

C = compression (higher pressure); R = rarefaction (lower pressure). Particle motion is slowed 600 times; spacing and displacement are schematic. The top graph follows the animation. The bottom graph shows a fixed 10 ms recording starting at peak pressure. Its curve represents pressure, not an up-and-down particle path.

Try it: Pause, then double the frequency from 440 to 880 Hz. More cycles fit into 10 ms and the wavelength halves. Restore 440 Hz and increase amplitude: peaks grow, but cycle spacing stays the same.