I am attempting to understand the mechanics of a longitudinal sound wave.
I understand that as a material vibrates, it pushes air molecules forward as it moves towards the direction of the wave. For example, a tuning fork "swings" back and forth as it vibrates, and as it moves forward the air is compressed as the air molecules come in contact with the molecules in front of them. This causes the compression to propagate through the medium by pushing forward successive molecules.
However, what I do not understand is what causes the molecules to move back to their initial position after the compression of the wave. My intuition tells me that the vibration would continue to push the particles forward as a new pulse is created, but there is an equal reverse motion after the first half of the period shown in videos and diagrams of longitudinal waves, such as this one by Khan Academy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xZZt99MzY). What is the phenomenon that causes these particles to move backwards? Is it the result of the collision with the particles in front of them and the "equal and opposite reaction" of Newton's third law of motion? Is it an equalization of the pressure differential created when the molecules are moved forward and spread out? Is it the air rushing to fill the vacuum created when the vibrating object moves backwards again? Either way I would expect a net forward movement of the molecules - a return to their precise starting position seems too perfect to me.