The same thing can be said about a stadium wave . In a stadium wave, the fans do not get out of their seats and walk around the stadium. We all recognize that it would be ludicrous for any fan to even contemplate such a thought. In a stadium wave, each fan rises up and returns to the original seat. The disturbance moves through the stadium, yet the fans are not transported.
Waves involve the transport of energy without the transport of matter.
Each individual particle of the medium is temporarily displaced and then returns to its original equilibrium positioned. In order for John to hear Jill, air molecules must move from the lips of Jill to the ears of John. Depress mouse to view answer. A sound wave involves the movement of energy from one location to another, not the movement of material. The air molecules are the particles of the medium, and they are only temporarily displaced, always returning to their original position.