Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around finding an equivalent formula for sound waves in a medium, analogous to the wavelength relationship in electromagnetics. Participants explore the dependence of sound speed on different media and seek a reference value for sound speed similar to the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant notes that the wavelength in a medium for electromagnetic waves is given by $$\lambda = \frac{\lambda_{0}}{n}$$ and questions if a similar formula exists for sound waves.
- Another participant explains that the speed of sound varies with the medium (gas, liquid, solid) and provides a formula for solids: $$c=\sqrt{\frac{K}{\rho}}$$, where K is the coefficient of stiffness and $$\rho$$ is the mass density.
- A participant seeks to understand if there is a relationship for acoustic waves that allows for calculating an equivalent length in an acoustic medium by dividing the vacuum wavelength by a constant similar to the refractive index.
- One participant describes the relationship between wavelengths in different media, stating that the frequency remains constant across boundaries, leading to the relation $$\nu=\frac{c_1}{\lambda_1}=\frac{c_2}{\lambda_2}$$.
- A later reply reiterates the lack of a standard reference material for sound wave speed and suggests that sound speed data for common materials can be found on various webpages.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree that the speed of sound is dependent on the medium, but there is no consensus on the existence of a standard reference value for sound speed analogous to electromagnetic waves in vacuum. Multiple competing views regarding the formulation and reference values remain unresolved.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the absence of a universally accepted reference material for sound speed and the dependence of sound speed on specific medium properties, which may vary widely.