Why Can't We Hear: Sound Traveling in Solids

  • Thread starter johncena
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In summary, sound travels faster in solids than in air, but it can also be absorbed more. As a result, closing our ears with our hands, which are soft and flexible, can block, reflect, or absorb most of the sound trying to get through. Even though whatever small fraction of sound that is left over may go through our hands faster, the sensitivity of our ears to sound vibrations in air is what allows us to properly hear. The ear drum, joined to the inner ear by tiny bones, is designed to match and sense these vibrations. However, when our absorbent fingers are in the way, they cannot move as freely as the ear drum and only allow a small amount of sound energy to pass through. Therefore, the speed
  • #1
johncena
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1
If sound travels faster in solids than in air then why on closing our ears we cannot hear the sound properly?
 
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  • #2
It may be faster in a solid but be absorbed more. Also, every change in medium tends to absorb/reflect some sound.
 
  • #3
I'm no sound engineer, but I also doubt that hands make a good sound conductor. They are soft and flexible, and that just doesn't sound good when talking about sound transmission.

As haruspex said, they'll block/ reflect/ absorb most of the sound trying to get through them. But, whatever small fraction of sound that is left over will go through them faster.
 
  • #4
Land animals spent hundreds of millions of years developing ears that are sensitive to sound vibrations in air. The ear drum is a very light structure which is joined to the inner ear by those little bones (ossicles) and 'matches the vibrations to the actual sensor (cochlea). If you put your massive and absorbant finger in the way, it can't move as freely as the ear drum and only passes a small proportion of the sound energy that hits it. The speed isn't what counts - its the fact that the sound just doesn't get through.
 
  • #5


This is a great question! The reason we can't hear sound traveling in solids as clearly as we can in air is due to the difference in the way sound waves travel in each medium. In air, sound waves are able to travel freely and easily, which allows us to hear them clearly. However, in solids, sound waves are able to travel much faster due to the tightly packed molecules, but they also encounter more resistance and obstacles along the way. This causes the sound waves to become distorted and muffled, making it difficult for us to hear them clearly. Additionally, when we close our ears, we are creating a barrier that prevents the sound waves from reaching our eardrums, which also contributes to our inability to hear the sound properly. Overall, the speed and resistance of sound waves in solids make it challenging for us to hear them as clearly as we do in air.
 

1. Why can't we hear sound traveling in solids?

Sound travels through different mediums, including solids, liquids, and gases. However, solids are generally better at conducting sound compared to gases or liquids. So, when sound travels through a solid, it doesn't produce vibrations in the air that our ears can detect, which is why we can't hear sound traveling in solids.

2. How does sound travel in solids?

Sound travels through solids by creating vibrations in the molecules of the solid material. These vibrations are then passed on from one molecule to another, causing a chain reaction that allows sound to travel through the solid medium.

3. Why is sound able to travel in solids but not in space?

Sound needs a medium to travel through, such as air, water, or a solid material. In space, there is no medium for sound to travel through, which is why we cannot hear sound in space.

4. Can sound travel through all types of solid materials?

Yes, sound can travel through all types of solid materials. However, some materials are better at conducting sound than others. For example, sound travels faster and more efficiently through denser materials, such as steel or concrete, compared to less dense materials like wood or plastic.

5. How does the speed of sound in solids compare to the speed of sound in air?

The speed of sound in solids is generally faster than the speed of sound in air. This is because sound travels more efficiently through solids due to the closely packed molecules. The speed of sound in air is approximately 343 meters per second, whereas the speed of sound in steel is approximately 5950 meters per second.

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