Compléter SoundVersion en ligne Sound wave par Ayuni Amat 1 higher molecules rarefactions closer vibrates other apart air rarefactions vibrate longitudinal vibrate energy longitudinal molecules transferring vibration further lower energy vibrates sound compressions molecules parallel compressions air A longitudinal wave is a wave which travels in a direction to the direction of vibrations . An example of a longitudinal wave is . This is an example of how sound is produced from a loudspeaker : The loudspeaker , making air molecules surrounding it and therefore transferring vibration and to other molecules . This will produce a wave which is made up of series of and . Here is another example of how sound is produced from a guitar : The guitar's string , making surrounding it and therefore and to . This will produce a wave which is made up of series of and . Compression is a region where air molecules are together and they have pressure . Rarefaction , on the other hand , is a region where are and they have pressure .