Direction: Read the given passage and answer the following questions.

Sound is a form of energy that travels in waves created by vibrating objects. These vibrations create pressure differences in the surrounding medium, typically air, which propagate as longitudinal waves. The human ear detects these waves and translates them into the perception of sound. The characteristics of sound include pitch, which is determined by the frequency of the waves, and loudness, which is determined by the amplitude. Sound can travel through various media, including gases, liquids, and solids, but it cannot travel through a vacuum as there is no medium to carry the vibrations. The speed of sound varies depending on the medium; for instance, it travels faster in water than in air. The study of sound, known as acoustics, covers a wide range of phenomena, including sound wave propagation, sound reflection, and the effects of sound on materials. Understanding these principles is essential in numerous fields such as music, engineering, medicine, and environmental science.