Sound waves are produced by the vibration of molecules and transmitted through matter as longitudinal waves, traveling faster in solids than liquids or gases due to the closer proximity of molecules. Sound travels as waves that can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed by various media; the velocity depends on the density and elasticity of the material. The human ear detects sound waves through the vibration of the eardrum and conversion to neural signals by specialized structures in the inner ear that are transmitted to the brain for interpretation.