How+does+sound+travel?

The first thing to know about how sound travels is that it's in longitudinal waves down a medium (mechanical)! This image shows a sound wave traveling, the compressed areas are where the sounds are traveling at. Sound waves, being longitudinal waves, are parallel to the force that created the sound vibrations in the first place.

media type="file" key="Sound.mov" width="300" height="300" Since sound is a mechanical wave, without a medium you wouldn't be able to hear anything, which is why in space or in an air tight area like a vacuum, no sound escapes.

media type="file" key="Standing Waves.mov" width="300" height="300" Standing Waves

Speed of Sound: