Energy in sound waves?

[Durran]

Is it possible (or even practical) to create a device that can harness the power of sound waves?

[jdavel]

Durran,

Ever hear of a microphone? :-)

[Clausius2]

As far as I know usual sound waves have little energy. The sound power exerted by a complete football stadium roughly mades a cup of tea.

I don't remember, but I think that in General Engineering forum there is a thread about sound power used in freezing machines. Take a look at there.

[kirovman]

Durran,

Ever hear of a microphone? :-)

You need to increase the gain of a signal on a microphone though?

As for harnessing sound waves...try shouting at a windmill :rofl:

[Galileo]

Useless fact: If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.

[Mk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoluminescence
This is a phenomonon known as sonoluminescence, when bubbles are disturbed by sound, they pop and give off light.

[jdavel]

kirovman

"You need to increase the gain of a signal on a microphone though?"

You mean you need to amplify it? Not if all you're trying to do is "harness the power of sound waves" which was what the original question was about.

[T.Roc]

more relevant, but perhaps still useless fact: a trained opera singer could yell a tone resonant with the cup & coffee and shatter it in <60 seconds.

[Artman]

There is a pseudoscience theory that suggests that the Giza Pyramids were built to capture and amplify the resonance of the earth to generate electricty. The author's name is Christopher Dunn and the book was "The Giza Power Plant." Interesting details about the pryamids in that book, even if the theory is unproven, or hairbrained.