Understanding Sound Wave Energy: Impact on Speed, Frequency, and Wavelength

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between energy and sound waves, specifically how energy affects speed, frequency, and wavelength. Participants explore various aspects of sound waves, including their properties and the influence of different factors on these properties.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how energy affects wave properties, specifically speed, frequency, and wavelength.
  • Another participant suggests that the amplitude of the wave is primarily affected by energy levels.
  • There is a query about whether the type of wave (mechanical or electromagnetic) influences these properties.
  • A participant states that the speed of sound is determined by the medium, providing a specific speed for air.
  • Frequency and wavelength are described as interrelated, with examples given for specific frequencies and their corresponding wavelengths.
  • One participant claims that energy levels only affect amplitude and discusses how sound radiates from a source in a spherical manner, affecting energy distribution calculations.
  • Consideration is given to the logarithmic nature of decibels when converting energy levels to sound pressure levels (SPL).
  • A later reply confirms that sound waves are mechanical in nature.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on how energy affects sound wave properties, with some focusing on amplitude while others discuss speed and wavelength. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the overall impact of energy on these properties.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions, such as the dependence of speed on the medium and the nature of wave types, which may affect the discussion's conclusions. The relationship between frequency and wavelength is noted but not fully explored.

oranges and lemons
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How does the amount of energy effect a wave? Does it affect the speed or the frequency or the wavelength?
 
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Please help me...
 
Mainly the amplitude
 
does also depnedss on the type of wave? mechnical or eletromagnetic.
 
Speed is determined by the medium the sound travels in, and for air 1130 ft/s is generally used as the speed.

Frequency and wavelength are related, knowing the speed you can find the one of these by dividing the speed by the other. For example, 20Hz has a wavelength of 56.5ft and vice versa, and 20KHz has a wavelength of 0.0565ft and so on.

Energy level would only affect amplitude. Sound would radiate from the source in a sphereical fashion, so your formulas would need to account for that and calculate by dividing the energy evenly over the area of the sphere. If you have a single plane involved like the ground, this is one-half space so one-half the sphere's area is used, if you have two planes like the ground and a wall you use one-quarter the sphere's area. And if you're inside where you have a floor and two walls you use one-eighth the sphere's area to find the energy distribution.

Remember also that when converting energy levels to sound pressure level (SPL) that the nature of the decibel is logarithmic so keep that in mind as well.

HTH,
Cliff
 
oh sound wave then it's mechnical only =)
 

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