If sound moves faster through ?

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Sound travels faster through dense materials like glass, wood, and metal compared to air, but barriers like glass can quieten sound due to absorption and reflection of sound waves. When sound waves encounter a barrier, some are absorbed, leading to a reduction in sound intensity. Additionally, sound waves may reflect off the barrier, preventing some from reaching the listener. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in environments like cars, where the entire structure vibrates, further dissipating sound energy. Thus, while sound moves quickly through dense materials, barriers can effectively dampen sound levels.
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If sound moves faster (better?) through dense materials such as wood or metal as compared to air (over ten times quicker through glass i believe) then what's the "scientific" explanation for why putting a sheet of glass or some other barrier between you and the speaker ends up quietening the sound down?

Is it because the glass or whatever is "absorbing" some or a lot of the sound waves? How is this reconciled with the fact that it is also moving faster?
 
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neoweb said:
If sound moves faster (better?) through dense materials such as wood or metal as compared to air (over ten times quicker through glass i believe) then what's the "scientific" explanation for why putting a sheet of glass or some other barrier between you and the speaker ends up quietening the sound down?

Is it because the glass or whatever is "absorbing" some or a lot of the sound waves? How is this reconciled with the fact that it is also moving faster?

The sound waves don't transfer between materials such as air and wood easily. Some of the waves will get bounced back by the wood. (echo...)
 
neoweb said:
If sound moves faster (better?) through dense materials such as wood or metal as compared to air (over ten times quicker through glass i believe) then what's the "scientific" explanation for why putting a sheet of glass or some other barrier between you and the speaker ends up quietening the sound down?

Is it because the glass or whatever is "absorbing" some or a lot of the sound waves? How is this reconciled with the fact that it is also moving faster?

youve answered your ovn question. It is the absorbtion which dies out the sound. When you put glass in front of a speaker (in a car) notice how the whole car vibrates and the sound energy just goes to the vibration of the car. Another reason is the one stated above but this only works partially.
 
reflection. some get through, but most don't.

if the sound sorce and the receptor are within the same solid medium, this reflection won't happen.
 

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