A speaker produces sound waves in a column of air. The sound waves move from left to right through the air column as shown in the diagram. Using information from the diagram, what is happening to the gas particles as the sound waves move? Explain.
A
The sound wave produces compressions in the air where the air particles are close together because the air pressure is lower in these regions.
B
The sound wave pushes the air particles along the column of air as it moves from left to right because the sound wave takes up space.
C
The sound wave produces compressions and rarefactions in the column of air. In compressions, the air particles are close together. The compressed air particles move with the sound wave.
D
The sound waves produce compressions and rarefactions in the column of air. The compressions move through the air particles, but the air particles do not move with the sound wave.