Looking at this simple light problem

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A concert hall pillar obstructs the audience's view due to light's nature as a transverse electromagnetic wave, while sound, a longitudinal pressure wave, can bend around obstacles. The discussion highlights the differences in wave properties, such as wavelength and speed, which influence how they interact with barriers. Light has a shorter wavelength compared to sound, leading to less diffraction, which is why it can block visibility. Sound, with its longer wavelength, diffracts more easily around obstacles, allowing the audience to hear despite the pillar. Understanding these wave characteristics clarifies why light affects sight more than sound affects hearing.
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Homework Statement


Hi everyone! This question is very simple, but I just cannot think of anything to explain it.

The question is: A pillar in a concert hall can block the view of the audience but it has little effect on their hearing. Why?

1)Light is a transverse wave while sound is a longitudinal wave.
2)Light is a EM wave but sound is a pressure wave.
3)Light has a smaller/larger (cant remember) wavelength compared to sound.
4)Light travels faster than sound.


All the options are tricky for me but I still put 2 as it is instinct (somewhat, but still no sense whatsoever). However, the answer is wrong and I still do not know the answer.

Anyone help?

Thanks.:blushing:
 
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What determines how light--or any other wave--bends around an obstacle? (Look up diffraction.)
 
Ok...So diffraction. The longer the wavelength, the more it diffracts right? So sound has a longer wavelength?
 
qazxsw11111 said:
The longer the wavelength, the more it diffracts right?
Right.
So sound has a longer wavelength?
I'm not telling! Look up the typical wavelengths for visible light and for sound. Compare.
 
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Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
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