Current acoustic wave

Professional Definition

A current acoustic wave is a wave propagating in a free acoustic field. It is a disturbance of the medium that moves in a specific direction, transporting acoustic energy from point A to point B.

Unlike a standing wave, in a current wave, there are no fixed points in space with zero or maximum loudness (nodes and antinodes). The phase of particle vibrations changes continuously along the direction of propagation, which means that the wave "flows" through the medium without being trapped between obstacles.

Acoustics in Simple Words

The best analogy is the observation of waves in the open sea (far from the shore). Waves on the water move uniformly in one direction – the crests of the waves travel from the horizon towards you. This is a current wave.

If these same waves hit a vertical cliff and started to retreat, overlapping with incoming waves, the water would begin to "pulse" in place (bouncing up and down) instead of flowing forward – that would be a standing wave.

In acoustics, a current wave is a sound that "comes out" of a speaker and travels far away. It does not encounter any wall or obstacle along the way that would cause it to turn back and overlap with itself.

Summary

• Energy transport: Energy is transferred unidirectionally from the source to the receiver.

• No reflections: Occurs in ideal conditions, such as open space (free field) or specialized anechoic chambers.

• Continuity: The wave phase shifts in time and space, allowing for a smooth reception of sound without dead spots.