Particle acceleration

In acoustics, particle acceleration is the acceleration (rate of change in speed and direction) of particles in a sound transmission medium. When sound passes through a medium it causes particle displacement and as such causes changes in their acceleration.

The acceleration of the air particles of a plane sound wave is given by:

SymbolUnitsMeaning
a m/s2particle acceleration
v m/sparticle velocity
δ m, metersparticle displacement
ω = 2πf radians/sangular frequency
f Hz, hertzfrequency
p Pa, pascalssound pressure
Z N·s/m3acoustic impedance
J W/m2sound intensity
E W·s/m3sound energy density
Pac W, wattssound power or acoustic power
A m2area