HELP PLEASE Spherical Sound Waves Problem

In summary, a jackhammer, operated at a construction site, acts as a point source of spherical sound waves. A construction supervisor standing 63.5 m north of the source walks west, and the question is how far she needs to walk for the amplitude of the wave function to decrease by a factor of 2.10. Using the relationship \frac{A_0}{r}=2.1, the supervisor needs to walk a distance of \sqrt{(\frac{A_0}{2.1})^2-y_0^2} in the positive x direction.
  • #1
cmilho10
20
0
A jackhammer, operated continuously at a construction site, behaves as a point source of spherical sound waves. A construction supervisor stands 63.5 m due north of this sound source and begins to walk due west. How far does she have to walk in order for the amplitude of the wave function to drop by a factor of 2.10?

Could someone point me in the right direction on solving this please?
 
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  • #2
i hope i right

take origin as place where jackhammer is
[itex]y_0[/itex] is where supervisor at the beggining.
you know that amplidute falls with the distance as [itex]\frac{A_0}{r}[/itex]

assume that supervisor walks in positive x direction distance s
 
  • #3
ok...but I'm still confused about what to do with these relationships and the numbers given in the problem
 
  • #4
[tex]\frac{A_0}{r}=2.1[/tex]
=>[itex]r=\frac{A_0}{2.1}[/itex]

finaly

[tex]y_0^2+x^2=r^2=(\frac{A_0}{2.1})^2[/tex]
 
Last edited:

1. What is a spherical sound wave?

A spherical sound wave is a type of sound wave that radiates outwards from a single point source in all directions. This type of wave is commonly produced by objects such as speakers or musical instruments.

2. How does a spherical sound wave differ from other types of sound waves?

A spherical sound wave differs from other types of sound waves, such as plane waves or cylindrical waves, in that it radiates outwards from a single point source rather than in a specific direction or along a specific path.

3. What is the relationship between amplitude and distance for a spherical sound wave?

The amplitude of a spherical sound wave decreases as the distance from the source increases. This is due to the spreading out of the wave over a larger area as it travels away from the source.

4. How does the shape of the source affect the propagation of a spherical sound wave?

The shape of the source can affect how a spherical sound wave propagates. For example, a point source will produce a spherical wave, while a line source will produce a cylindrical wave. The shape of the source can also affect the directionality and intensity of the wave.

5. What are some real-world applications of spherical sound waves?

Spherical sound waves have many applications in our daily lives, such as in sound systems, musical instruments, and medical imaging. They can also be used in underwater communication and in studying the properties of materials through techniques like ultrasonic testing.

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