3 ms·

Can someone explain to me how sound waves can move something towards the source of the wave?

• mtreis86 11y ago
  Not a physicist. I think, if you get a standing wave going, say on a drum surface, and slowly change the frequency slightly up or down, a piece of rice sitting on the drum can be moved around. The rice will tend to settle between nodes. If you have significant enough energy, the interference patterns can 'drive' an object. Apparently this can be done in midair, with enough energy to break gravity. And can be entirely controlled. Sweet. Edit, spelling.
• Natanael_L 11y ago
  Because you control the air pressure waves (sound) well enough that there's a pressure peak (slightly more dense air) right behind the object, with lower pressure in front of it (less dense air) on average. That would force it to move towards you if you can overcome any friction and other counteracting forces.