In this post we learn that sound transfers a lot more energy than heat across the medium, so why don't we burn ourselves when we speak by generating sound? Does sound reflect more easily than heat?
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It is similar to the reason we don't burn ourselves by compressing a spring. The compressed spring stores potential energy. If you stop pushing, the spring will push you away and you get it (almost) all back.
If the spring rubbed a wall as it compressed and expanded, there would be friction. Some energy would be lost as heat. You would not get it all back.
Sound is a pressure wave. Air compresses like a spring.
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