Can We See Around Corners? How Sound Travels Differently

[aquabum619]

Homework Statement

how come we can hear around corners but we can't see around corners?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

because the wall is obstructing the image?

 

[cristo]

It's to do with diffraction of the wave around the object. What do you know about diffraction? What factors do diffraction depend upon?

 

[neutrino]

Then why is that the wall obstructs the sound?

 

[aquabum619]

Diffraction by definition is the divergence of light from its initial line of travel.
But images can't diffract through walls, right? Diffraction depends on coherent sources of light waves from a monochromatic source. wrt the double slit ex. right?

 

[denverdoc]

Much more general than that. If the wavelength is anywhere close to the obstaces dimensions it will move around it, while small wavelengths are a bb on a brickwall, long wavelengths more like a a blob of jello which will peek around corners.

 

[Dick]

Happy 700, doc! Rockets, huh?

 

[denverdoc]

I never even noticed, but thanx, and no new ground here, humanity has a choice between well what we are doing and hedging bets,

 

[MattiasL]

It depends on the wavelength, alonger wave like sounds "go over" lager objects.