Change in medium and its effect on sound

In summary, when sound waves travel from a rarer to a denser medium, their wavelength increases. This causes the speed of sound to increase in the denser medium. The frequency of the sound wave remains constant, and it is the wavelength that causes the increase in speed. This can be compared to a line of people walking on a moving conveyor, where their speed and frequency remain the same, but the spacing between each person increases.
  • #1
faiziqb12
Gold Member
105
3
my question is just that how does the wavelength and frequency of sound wave change when it travels from rarer to a denser medium .......
and whatever is your solution please give a briefer insight into it..

NOTE:
i was recently going through a physics olympiad paper and i found from a question that when the above type of transition occurs ; from rarer to denser medium , the wavelength of the sound wave increases..

please assist!
thanks in advance!
 
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  • #2
What happens to the speed of sound in a denser medium?

What equation relates speed, frequency, and wavelength?
 
  • #3
insightful said:
What happens to the speed of sound in a denser medium?

What equation relates speed, frequency, and wavelength?
the speed of sound increases.....
but does it increase due to an increase in frequency or wavelength and how?
 
  • #4
faiziqb12 said:
the speed of sound increases.....
but does it increase due to an increase in frequency or wavelength and how?
How would it be possible for the frequency to change?
 
  • #5
haruspex said:
How would it be possible for the frequency to change?
yes , you are right
the frequency doesn't change for a given energy input in diffrent media......
so it must be the wavelenth that causes the increase in speed in denser media...
 
  • #6
faiziqb12 said:
so it must be the wavelenth that causes the increase in speed in denser media...
I think of it the other way around. Consider a line of people at an airport with a "people-mover" (horizontal conveyor). On the floor, they pass you at a frequency of 1/s, and all walk at 1m/s. They step on the conveyor, which moves at 1m/s relative to the floor, while maintaining their 1m/s relative to the conveyor. You stand stationary on the floor next to the conveyor. What is their speed? What is their frequency? What is their "wavelength" (spacing)? Think about it.
 
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1. How does sound travel through different mediums?

Sound travels through different mediums by creating vibrations that move through the molecules of the medium. These vibrations cause the molecules to bump into each other and transfer the energy of the sound wave.

2. How does the density of a medium affect the speed of sound?

The speed of sound is directly proportional to the density of the medium. In denser mediums, such as solids, the molecules are closer together and can transmit the sound waves faster compared to less dense mediums like gases.

3. What is the effect of temperature on the speed of sound?

As temperature increases, the speed of sound also increases. This is because at higher temperatures, the molecules in the medium have more energy and are able to vibrate faster, allowing sound waves to travel more quickly.

4. How does the change in medium affect the pitch of a sound?

The pitch of a sound is determined by the frequency of the sound wave. When a sound wave travels from one medium to another, its frequency remains the same, but the speed and wavelength change. This can make the sound appear higher or lower in pitch to the human ear.

5. What is the difference between a medium and a medium's impedance?

A medium is the material through which sound travels, while impedance is the measure of the medium's resistance to sound waves. Materials with high impedance, such as solids, reflect more sound waves compared to materials with low impedance, like air.

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