Acoustic phenomena encompass the generation, propagation, interaction, and detection of mechanical waves in elastic media such as gases, liquids, and solids, typically within the audible frequency range for humans but also including infrasonic and ultrasonic regimes. They are governed by continuum mechanics and wave equations that describe pressure, particle velocity, and displacement fields, along with boundary conditions at interfaces. Key characteristics include frequency-dependent dispersion, attenuation via viscous and thermal losses, reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, and nonlinearity at high amplitudes. Acoustic phenomena underpin techniques such as acoustic spectroscopy, imaging, and material characterization, and are critically influenced by medium properties like density, compressibility, and anisotropy.
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