Explain how the "snap" of a wet towel is produced

In summary, the 'snap' of a wet towel is caused by a miniature sonic boom, similar to the 'crack' of a whip. Bats use sound to navigate, emitting high-frequency waves and using their large ears to collect echoes and determine distance. Breaking the sound barrier is difficult for aircraft due to the air behaving like a solid object at high speeds, but a well-designed craft can successfully pass Mach 1.
  • #1
bebe_boobs
5
0
1) Explain how the "snap" of a wet towel is produced
2) Describe how a bat uses sound to find its way around
3)Why is is difficult for an aircraft to break through a sound barrier?
if anyone can answer these questions it would be a lot of help. THANK
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
The 'snap' of a wet (or dry) towel is the same as the 'crack' of a whip. It's a miniature sonic boom from the tip exceeding the speed of sound.

A bat navigates by sonar in the same manner as cetaceans. It's similar to radar, but based upon sonic waves rather than electromagnetic ones. The bat emits high-frequency sound from its vocal chords, then those honkin' huge ears collect the echos and its brain calculates the distance to something based upon the time delay. It's amazingly accurate, allowing the bat to 'see' something as small and fast-moving as a gnat.

A plane has to have the right sort of shape, as well as power, to break the sound barrier because air is very much like a solid object at that sort of speed. Transonic shockwaves will batter the daylights out of a poorly designed craft. A properly designed one doesn't actually have any difficulty passing 1 Mach.

I love your username; a picture in the Members' Photo section is indicated. :biggrin:
 
  • #3
YOU

1) The "snap" of a wet towel is produced through a combination of air resistance and the properties of water. When a wet towel is snapped, it creates a wave of energy that travels through the towel and pushes against the air molecules around it. As the wave moves, the air molecules are compressed and then quickly released, creating a sound wave that we hear as the snap. The water in the towel also adds weight and resistance, making the snap more forceful and audible.

2) Bats use a process called echolocation to find their way around. They emit high-frequency sounds, usually in the range of 14-100 kHz, which bounce off objects in their environment. The bat's ears then pick up the echoes of these sounds and use the time it takes for the echoes to return to determine the distance and location of objects. This allows bats to navigate and hunt in the dark and in cluttered environments.

3) It is difficult for an aircraft to break through the sound barrier because of the intense air resistance and pressure that builds up as it approaches the speed of sound. As the aircraft approaches the speed of sound, the air in front of it begins to compress and create shock waves, resulting in a sudden increase in drag. This can cause the aircraft to experience instability and potentially even break apart. To overcome this, aircrafts designed to break the sound barrier, such as supersonic jets, have streamlined shapes and powerful engines to help them overcome the resistance and maintain stability.
 

1. How does the "snap" sound of a wet towel occur?

The "snap" sound of a wet towel is produced by the rapid movement and vibration of the towel's fibers as it is snapped through the air. This causes a wave of compression to travel through the towel, creating a small sonic boom that we hear as the "snap" sound.

2. What causes the wet towel to make a "snap" sound?

The "snap" sound of a wet towel is caused by the disruption of the surface tension of the water on the towel's surface. As the towel is snapped, the water molecules are quickly pulled apart, creating a small vacuum that collapses and produces the "snap" sound.

3. Why does a wet towel make a louder "snap" sound than a dry towel?

A wet towel makes a louder "snap" sound than a dry towel because the water on the surface of the towel helps to increase the tension and stiffness of the fabric. This allows for a stronger wave of compression to travel through the towel, resulting in a louder "snap" sound.

4. Is the "snap" sound of a wet towel affected by the size or material of the towel?

Yes, the "snap" sound of a wet towel can be affected by the size and material of the towel. A larger towel will produce a louder "snap" sound due to the increased surface area and stiffness. Additionally, different materials may produce different "snap" sounds due to variations in their structure and surface tension.

5. Can the "snap" sound of a wet towel be used to measure the towel's moisture content?

No, the "snap" sound of a wet towel cannot be used to accurately measure the towel's moisture content. While a wetter towel may produce a slightly different "snap" sound than a drier towel, there are many other factors that can affect the sound, such as the size and material of the towel, the speed and force of the snap, and the surrounding environment.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
15
Views
346
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • General Engineering
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
13
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
735
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
10
Views
4K
Replies
36
Views
908
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
20
Views
2K
Back
Top