Humming Notes 1/2-lambda apart

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter ahaanomegas
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Notes
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of sound interference, specifically focusing on the scenario where a person hums a note and then starts humming the same note again after a half wavelength has exited their mouth. Participants explore the implications of this timing on sound perception and interference effects.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the conclusion that destructive interference would result in no sound being heard, suggesting that the reasoning behind this conclusion is flawed.
  • Another participant clarifies that the argument involves hearing half a wavelength before cancellation occurs, indicating a misunderstanding of how sound waves interact.
  • A different perspective notes that in other directions, sound waves could add constructively, leading to increased power in those directions, challenging the idea that sound would simply disappear.
  • One participant emphasizes the distinction between hearing a distance (1/2 wavelength) and hearing a cycle of oscillation, suggesting a need for clarity in the original description of the scenario.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of sound interference and the implications of timing in sound wave production. There is no consensus on the correct interpretation of the scenario.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential ambiguities in the original description and the need for precise definitions regarding sound waves and their interactions.

ahaanomegas
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
A question my friend gave me the other day:

If I start humming a constant note and, once 1/2 a wavelength exits my mouth, I start humming the same constant note starting at the same point along the wave while somehow managing to produce both of the same note, what will you hear?

His logic is that destructive interference would occur and I wouldn't hear anything. This confused me. How can someone just conclude that someone is totally deaf to a sound is coming just because "I'd hear 1/2 a wavelength and THEN they'd cancel each other out.". Why is my friend wrong? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance! :)
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
Oi, that wasn't the other day, that was today! :)

Though my argument was that you'd hear 1/2 a wavelength and THEN they'd cancel each other out.
 
Which is what I meant to say. Thanks for clearing it up though! I'll edit.
 
Of course, in some other direction is space (off axis), the two waves would add constructively and the power that didn't go in the forward direction would cause the power in that direction be quadrupled (2 squared). There is no way that the power coming from the sources would 'disappear'.

You could do this much easier with two loudspeakers.
 
Whovian said:
Oi, that wasn't the other day, that was today! :)

Though my argument was that you'd hear 1/2 a wavelength and THEN they'd cancel each other out.

Actually, you don't hear "a 1/2 wavelength" because that is a distance. You could say that you would hear one half of a Cycle of oscillation.
I'm not sure what the original description means - now I read it again.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
5K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
6K