Acoustics in physics is the study of the generation, propagation, control, and perception of sound waves. It covers a wide range from basic acoustics to applied acoustics. Sound waves are mechanical waves that alternate between compression and rarefaction as they propagate due to the vibration of solids, liquids or gases. Acoustics studies the propagation and reflection, refraction and interference of sound waves in media such as air, water and solids. It also studies the characteristics of sound waves such as frequency, amplitude, speed and wavelength, as well as the mechanisms of sound generation and perception. Acoustics has a wide range of applications including music, communication, medical imaging, sonar, architectural design and environmental noise control.
