Why does banging on metal produce a reverberating echo-type sound instead of say, a thick knock-like sound when hitting wood? My assumption is that the space of atoms and vibrations change the intensity, volume, frequency, pitch, and effect. But what about the sound of blowing wind? Or the long booming rumble of thunder? or the sound of a motercycle down the road? What makes these types of sounds what they are, with precise magnitude, frequency, pitch, and intensity?