CAIE IGCSE Physics Sound Compressions and Rarefactions
Practise identifying and explaining compressions and rarefactions from particle spacing, pressure and graph or dot-pattern representations of sound.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Physics 0625
Exam points
- identify a compression where particles are closest and pressure is above normal
- identify a rarefaction where particles are furthest apart and pressure is below normal
- map pressure peaks and troughs or dot spacing to the centres labelled C and R
3.4.10—Compression and rarefaction question 1
[Maximum number: 2]
Sound waves have compressions and rarefactions.
Explain what is meant by compression and rarefaction.
compression
rarefaction
(region where) particles are close(r) together (than normal) OR (region where) there is a great(er) pressure (than normal)
B1
(region where) particles are further / far apart (than normal) OR (region where) there is a low(er) pressure (than normal)
B1
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