Fundamentals of acoustic wave generation and propagation

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the foundational concepts related to the generation and propagation of acoustic waves. Beginning with a brief history of acoustics, the chapter categorizes various acoustic phenomena based on the wave propagation modes and resulting acoustic effects, enabling readers to easily navigate through the book's subtopics. From the fundamental definition of a wave to discussions on topics such as acoustic generation, scattering, dissipation, and streaming, the chapter provides readers with all the necessary concepts to comprehend the book's more advanced subject matter. This chapter is designed to be accessible to novice readers while also serving as a comprehensive review for experts in the field.