Particle acceleration
In acoustics, particle acceleration is the acceleration 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:
| Symbol | Units | Meaning |
| a | m/s2 | particle acceleration |
| v | m/s | particle velocity |
| δ | m, meters | particle displacement |
| ω = 2πf | radians/s | angular frequency |
| f | Hz, hertz | frequency |
| p | Pa, pascals | sound pressure |
| Z | N·s/m3 | acoustic impedance |
| J | W/m2 | sound intensity |
| E | W·s/m3 | sound energy density |
| Pac | W, watts | sound power or acoustic power |
| A | m2 | area |