A microphone converts sound waves into electrical signals. Specifically, it converts the mechanical vibrations caused by sound waves, which are longitudinal pressure waves in the air, into corresponding electrical energy signals.

Details on the waves and conversion:

• The waves involved are sound waves—longitudinal waves characterized by pressure variations traveling through a medium such as air.

• The microphone has a diaphragm that vibrates when struck by sound waves. This mechanical vibration is then converted into an electrical signal by different internal mechanisms depending on the microphone type (electromagnetic induction in dynamic microphones, capacitance change in condenser microphones, piezoelectric effect in crystal microphones).

• In essence, the microphone transduces acoustic energy from the sound waves into electrical energy, allowing the sound to be recorded, amplified, or transmitted.

Thus, the kind of waves a microphone converts are sound waves (longitudinal waves).