Explain how sound is produced and propagated.

Sound is produced when an object vibrates, causing the surrounding air molecules to also vibrate. These vibrations create compressions and rarefactions in the medium, allowing the sound to travel as a longitudinal wave.

Example: A vibrating tuning fork creates disturbances in air molecules, forming a wave that reaches our ears. The eardrum detects these vibrations and converts them into nerve signals for the brain to interpret as sound.