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Lesson 6: Properties of the Medium Air consists of approximately 400 billion molecules per cubic inch. In the state before a source of sound has been energized the molecules are in random motion and the maintain some average distance from one another. Air, and all other mediums that can serve to transmit sound, is characterized by two important physical properties: mass elasticity. Lesson 6: Properties of the Medium By mass we mean the amount or quantity of matter that is present. Density is the amount of mass per unit volume. Elasticity is the ability to resist changes in shape or volume. If the applied force exceeds the elastic limit deformation occurs. Elastic limit of air is so large that it is not a concern. Lesson 6: Tones and Resonance There is one common and important type of motion that can be analyzed easily. This motion is called periodic motion. A motion is said to be periodic if it repeats at regular intervals of time. ?The motion of the hands of a clock, movement of a planet around the sun and the motion of the blades of a fan are examples of repetitive motion. Here, any point in the path of the body is crossed by the body in the same direction, at regular intervals of time. Lesson 6: Tones and Resonance On the other hand, the motion of a body attached to a suspended spring, the motion of the prongs of an excited tuning fork, the motion of the plucked string of a musical instrument, the motion of the pendulum are also examples of periodic motion but oscillatory. i.e., a to and fro motion. A given point in the path is crossed by the body in opposite directions at regular intervals. This is called oscillatory motion. All oscillatory motions are periodic but not all periodic motions are oscillatory. ? Lesson 6: Tones and Resonance On observing an oscillating system, like a loaded spring, one can conclude that two properties are involved. These are elasticity and inertia. When a spring is extended by a small force, it opposes the change in its shap