hooglyourself.blogg.se - Water and soundwaves

When a sound is carried to you through the air, you judge the location of its source by comparing when the sound reaches one ear versus the other. For starters, sound travels through water five times faster than it travels through air. Youre witnessing evidence that water is a good conductor of sound. Below the surface, sound waves pass directly through the water and into your head. When your head is submerged, your skull also vibrates with the sound because it is close to the same density and elasticity as water. Above the surface, the sound waves only vibrate your eardrum (unless the sound is very loud). You also feel more of a sound when youre underwater. But if you put your head under the water, the sound becomes much louder. When your head is out of the water and you listen to a sound made underwater, you dont hear much. Sound thats generated underwater stays underwater very little sound passes from water to air. You'll find that you still can't tell which direction the sound is coming from.

Now, ask your friend to clink the spoons underwater somewhere.

It will be harder to tell where the sound is coming from. Can you tell what direction the sound is coming from? Then, put your ears under the water, keep your eyes closed, and have your friend clink the spoons again, from a different location. With your head above water, close your eyes and have your friend clink the spoons together. Then, put your ears under the water, clink the spoons, and listen.

With your head above the water, hold two spoons below the surface and clink them together, listening to the sound.

When there is enough water to slide under and submerge your ears, do so.

While the bath water is running, listen to the sound it makes splashing into the tub.

T ry these simple tests in the tub or swimming pool: Show yourself how well sound travels through water. Science Wire from the Exploratorium and Public Radio International