Device that transforms thermal energy to mechanical energy

Sound waves are mechanical waves in which the particles in the medium vibrate ina direction parrallel to the direction of energy transport. what is another name of the type of wave that transfers energy in this way?

Light from the sun reaches the earth in 8.3 minutes. the velocity is 3.00 x 10^8 m/s. how far is earth from the sun? i know how to get to d = (3 x 10^8 m/s)(498 sec). i just don't know how to get from there to the answer being 1.5 x 10^11 m.

Air is to be preheated by hot exhaust gases in a cross-flow heat exchanger before it enters the furnace. air enters the heat exchanger at 95 kpa and 20°c at a rate of 0.6 m^3/s. the combustion gases (cp = 1.10 kj/kg°c) enter at 160°c at a rate of 0.95 kg/s and leave at 95°c. determine the rate of heat transfer to the air and its outlet temperature.