How can sound distance be calculated without triangulation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter anup08
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Calculation Sound
AI Thread Summary
Calculating sound distance without triangulation is challenging, especially with varying sound sources. Using multiple microphones can help determine the sound source's bearing through interferometry, but precision decreases with distance. An alternative method involves analyzing the sound pressure level (SPL) at the source and comparing it to the detected SPL, allowing for distance estimation. Additionally, understanding the frequency spectrum of the sound can aid in distance estimation due to the dispersion of sound waves. Overall, accurate distance measurement typically requires advanced techniques or specific conditions.
anup08
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I have two different sound sources (suppose two different person's voice playing in different volume).
How to find which sound coming from further distance. What is the exact equation to calculate distance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'm not sure that there is one. What have you got to work with? What degree of precision do you want?

If you've got three microphones you could use something like interferometry to figure out the bearing of the source from each pair of microphones and then do triangulation to get the distance. Precision drops off badly with range with this method.

If you know something about the frequency spectrum of the sources you might be able to use dispersion to estimate the distance. Under some circumstances, waves of different frequencies travel at different speeds, so the spectrum will evolve with distance. I doubt you could place anything more precisely than a couple of hundred meters with this, even if it is possible.
 
anup08 said:
I have two different sound sources (suppose two different person's voice playing in different volume).
How to find which sound coming from further distance. What is the exact equation to calculate distance.

anup08, Welcome to Physics Forums!

The received (detected) sound pressure level (SPL) in dB without the given distance to the sound source is really useless for finding the range. Other than a complicated triangulation system, as proposed by Ibix above, there is one way you could measure the distance to those sources: If you knew the exact SPL at the source, and then measure the SPL at the receiving location, the distance to the source could be calculated by comparing the two levels.
For the technical details, see:
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-distance.htm

Distance measuring devices typically transmit a short burst of sound toward a target, which reflects the sound back to the sensor. The system then measures the time for the echo to return to the sensor and computes the distance to the target using the speed of sound in the medium.
A typical sound velocity in air is:
T25 is 298.15 K (= 25 °C = 77 °F), giving a value of 346.1 m•s−1 (= 1135.6 ft/s = 1246 km•h−1 = 774.3 mph = 672.8 knots).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
 

Thread '1:1 versus 2:1 Mechanical Advantage debate'

The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
View full post »

Thread 'Newton's first law?'

Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
View full post »
Thread 'Beam on an inclined plane'

Thread 'Beam on an inclined plane'

Hello! I have a question regarding a beam on an inclined plane. I was considering a beam resting on two supports attached to an inclined plane. I was almost sure that the lower support must be more loaded. My imagination about this problem is shown in the picture below. Here is how I wrote the condition of equilibrium forces: $$ \begin{cases} F_{g\parallel}=F_{t1}+F_{t2}, \\ F_{g\perp}=F_{r1}+F_{r2} \end{cases}. $$ On the other hand...
View full post »

Similar threads

B What sound frequencies can pass through a hole in a wall?
Replies
31
Views
3K
I Sound pressure and inverse distance law
Replies
5
Views
2K
I Relationship between frequency and power for sound?
Replies
11
Views
5K
I Does two-slit sound-wave interference pattern return to original form?
Replies
10
Views
2K
Phase difference between sound waves
Replies
3
Views
2K
Sound intensity - How to deal with decibels?
Replies
17
Views
1K
I Summing and averaging RMS pressure (amplitude) of sound waves
Replies
2
Views
2K
Sound of 2 identical horns cancels out?
Replies
8
Views
2K
Why Can a Sound Wave Not Travel Faster than the Average Molecule Speed?
Replies
23
Views
4K
Amplitudes of longitudinal sound waves
Replies
8
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top