Why does sound behave differently in water than in air?
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I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?
I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.
I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done
acoustics water air home-experiment
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?
I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.
I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done
acoustics water air home-experiment
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?
I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.
I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done
acoustics water air home-experiment
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
$endgroup$
I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?
I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.
I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done
acoustics water air home-experiment
acoustics water air home-experiment
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
edited 42 mins ago
Chair
3,68472034
3,68472034
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
asked 6 hours ago
LunaLuna
6712
6712
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.
The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
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When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).
Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
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2 Answers
2
active
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2 Answers
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$begingroup$
Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.
The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.
The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.
The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
$endgroup$
Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.
The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
answered 3 hours ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17.9k42757
17.9k42757
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).
Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
262
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CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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$begingroup$
When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).
Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
262
New contributor
CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
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$begingroup$
When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).
Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
262
New contributor
CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).
Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
262
New contributor
CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
262
New contributor
CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
262
answered 5 hours ago
CanaCoderCanaCoder
262
262
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CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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