And although there may be a body present to receive the transmitted waves, because they are vibrating at such a high frequency they are virtually undetectable to the unaided ear.ī. However, ultimately, the mechanical sound waves need a receiver in order to complete their journey. For sound waves to sound waves, an originating source might be a pair of vocal chords, a stereo speaker, or a tree falling in the forest.Ī long-held philosophical discussion has surrounded the question, "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it really make a sound?" The point of this debate is that although a sound wave is produced, if there is no receiver is the wave really considered to be a complete sound?Ĭertainly the sound could travel because what is known as "particle interaction" allows the vibrating wave to be transported from one location to another. There must be a source of the wave, some type of vibrating object that is capable of setting into motion the entire chain of events for the disturbance. For the most part the medium through which it travels is air, although sound waves can just as readily travel though water or metal materials. Similar to the slinky wave described in the previous chapter, a sound wave carries a disturbance (vibration) from one location (point) to another. It travels through a medium from one point, A, to another point, B.Īs is true of all types of waves, specific behaviors, properties, and characteristics apply to sound waves. Sound is a wave that is produced by objects that are vibrating. The physics of waves helps to explain the process by which sound is produced, travels, and is received. Have you ever taken time to consider how you are able to detect sounds? Specifically, have you ever thought about the manner in which sound travels from one person or object so that it can be detected by your own ears?
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