Can you relate sound frequency's to light frequency's?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the relationship between sound frequencies and light frequencies, examining whether they can be compared or related in any meaningful way. It includes questions about the nature of sound and light, the potential for hearing light vibrations, and the generation of sound by lasers underwater.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if one could hear ultra high frequencies, they might perceive the vibrations of photons and question whether these would vibrate adjacent air molecules at the same frequency.
  • Others argue that sound and light are fundamentally different phenomena, asserting that sound is not light.
  • There is a question about the validity of charts that compare color to sound, with a request for a scientific basis for such comparisons.
  • One participant mentions that lasers can generate underwater sound, prompting a discussion about the accuracy of this claim and whether it supports the idea that light and sound can be compared.
  • Another participant clarifies that while lasers can create sound underwater, it involves processes like ionization and superheating of water, rather than a direct comparison of light and sound.
  • There is a mention that the frequency of sound remains the same in both air and water, but the wavelength differs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between sound and light, with some asserting they are not comparable, while others explore the potential for connections. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity of claims about lasers generating sound underwater.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on specific definitions of sound and light, and the discussion includes assumptions about the nature of frequencies and their perception. The technical details surrounding laser-generated sound and its mechanisms are not fully resolved.

Cyrus80772
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I heard that the color red has a frequency of 43 trillion hz, and if you divide that by 2 over and over until you get a hz range that's audible to the human ear you could find the equivalent Octave of the musical note to hear what that color sounds like. I also heard that light is vibrating photons and sound is vibrating air molecules so you can compare them... If you had a ear that could hear ultra high frequency's could you hear the photons vibrating and would they intern vibrate the air molecules next to them on the same frequency? I see lots of charts on the web comparing color to sound as if they are the same thing, is there a practical way to look at this? I hear lasers can generate underwater sound dose this relate? And is the frequincy of a sound underwater the same as it would be if the sound was in air?
 
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Your broad statement does not lend itself to a answer. Could you narrow it down a bit.
 
Sorry... Did not want to post all 4 questions separtely sense they are all related, here they are in less of a mess, thanks.



1.If you had a ear that could hear ultra high frequency's could you hear the photons vibrating and would they intern vibrate the air molecules next to them on the same frequency?

2.I see lots of charts on the web comparing color to sound as if they are the same thing, is there a scientific way to do this?

3.I hear lasers can generate underwater sound dose this prove true the statement that " Light is vibrating photons and sound is vibrating air molecules so you can compare them " ?

4.And is the frequincy of a sound underwater the same as it would be if the sound was in air?
 
1. No, sound is not light.

2. No, sound is not light.

3. Whoever told you lasers generate underwater sound is mistaken. (Well, I suppose you could make underwater sound by banging two laser pointers together, but that doesn't really count)

4. The frequency of a sound underwater is the same as in air, but the wavelength is not.
 
http://www.physorg.com/news171284762.html says lasers generate underwater sound, are they twisting the words around and that's not what is really going on? I don't know if you see the same ad at the top of this page under my first post but it has the http://www.physorg.com/news171284762.html website telling all about how the military is making sound underwater with lasers... Is that not really exactly what is going on and they are just twisting words around or somthing?
 
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You should read the article very carefully and not just stop at the title. In particular, pay attention to this passage:

Efficient conversion of light into sound can be achieved by concentrating the light sufficiently to ionize a small amount of water, which then absorbs laser energy and superheats. The result is a small explosion of steam, which can generate a 220 decibel pulse of sound.

Zz.
 

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