rarefaction
Other forms: rarefactions
A decrease in the density of something is rarefaction. As you climb a mountain, you experience rarefaction of the air; the air becomes less dense the higher up you go.
Most of the time, rarefaction refers to air or other gases becoming less dense. When rarefaction occurs, the particles in a gas become more spread out. You may come across this word in the context of sound waves. A sound wave moving through air is made up of alternating areas of higher and lower density. The areas of lower density are called rarefactions.
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a decrease in the density of something“a sound wave causes periodic rarefactions in its medium”type of:concentrationan increase in density
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Vocabulary lists containing rarefaction
Review this list and wave goodbye to any confusion you might have about waves. Learn about types of waves, wave properties like amplitude and frequency, and different kinds of wave motion, including reflection, refraction, and diffraction. You're sure to make waves once you master these words.
Review this list and wave goodbye to any confusion you might have about waves. Learn about types of waves, wave properties like amplitude and frequency, and different kinds of wave motion, including reflection, refraction, and diffraction. You're sure to make waves once you master these words.