noun
- regions in a medium where particles are spread apart, creating areas of lower density or pressure
Usage: physics; acoustics
Examples
- Sound waves consist of alternating compressions and rarefactions in the air.
- The rarefactions in the sound wave correspond to areas of lower air pressure.
- Scientists studied the rarefactions and compressions in the acoustic medium.
- The oscilloscope displayed the pattern of rarefactions moving through the material.
- Understanding rarefactions is essential for studying wave propagation.
- The spacing between rarefactions determines the wavelength of the sound.