A microphone converts

A microphone converts

electrical signals to sound waves
sound waves to electrical signals
microwaves to sound waves
sound waves to microwaves
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2022
A microphone converts sound waves into electrical signals.
– A microphone is a transducer, a device that converts one form of energy into another.
– Its function is to capture sound (which consists of variations in air pressure) and transform it into a corresponding electrical voltage or current signal.
– Different types of microphones use different principles (e.g., electromagnetic induction in dynamic microphones, capacitance change in condenser microphones) to achieve this conversion.
– The electrical signal produced by a microphone can then be amplified, recorded, or transmitted.
Conversely, a loudspeaker or headphone is a transducer that performs the opposite function: it converts an electrical signal into sound waves.