What is the nature of sound waves in relation to the medium they require for travel?

Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium, such as air, water, or solids, in order to propagate. When sound waves move through air, they typically travel at a speed of approximately 340 meters per second. This value can change depending on factors like temperature and humidity, but it generally serves as a reference for sound travel in air.

The necessity for a medium is fundamental to the behavior of sound waves because they rely on the vibration of particles within that medium to transmit energy. These vibrations create compressions and rarefactions as the wave moves forward, which cannot occur in a vacuum where no particles are present to facilitate this process.

This principle highlights the crucial function of mediums in the propagation of sound and clarifies why the assertion that sound requires a medium and the specified speed in air accurately describes the nature of sound waves.