What type of wave is primarily involved in the phenomenon of beats?

Beats are a phenomenon that occurs when two waves of slightly different frequencies interfere with each other. The most common context in which beats are observed is with sound waves. When two sound waves with close but distinct frequencies combine, they produce a sound that alternates in loudness due to constructive and destructive interference. This variation in amplitude is perceived by the human ear as a pulsating sound or "beat."

Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (like air, water, or a solid) to propagate, and they convey variations in pressure. The frequency difference between the two waves determines the rate at which the beats occur. This particular phenomenon can easily be experienced in musical contexts, such as tuning instruments or when two musicians play slightly out of tune with one another, resulting in the auditory sensation of beating.

While electromagnetic waves, light waves, and radio waves can also interfere with each other to create various patterns, they do not produce the same auditory beats that sound waves do. The essence of beats relies on the way our auditory system responds to changes in sound amplitude, making sound waves the primary type of wave involved in the phenomenon of beats.