> if it starves the fuel of oxygen My understanding is that it doesn't starve the fuel of oxygen, but rather starves it of activation energy. I'm fuzzy on the

> if it starves the fuel of oxygen My understanding is that it doesn't starve the fuel of oxygen, but rather starves it of activation energy. I'm fuzzy on the chemistry, but I remember it being like this: fuel + O2 + activation energy -> CO2 + H2O + energy The propagating sound waves move two of the input components of the reaction. fuel: stationary O2: moves, but is replaced by more O2 activation energy: moves and is missing from future reactions unless/until new activation energy is introduced. Again, I took chem long ago, but I think that's what's going on.