Understanding Sound Wave Energy: Impact on Speed, Frequency, and Wavelength

AI Thread Summary
The discussion clarifies that the energy of a sound wave primarily affects its amplitude, not its speed, frequency, or wavelength. Speed is determined by the medium, with air typically allowing sound to travel at 1130 ft/s. Frequency and wavelength are inversely related; knowing one allows calculation of the other using the wave speed. Energy distribution from a sound source is calculated based on the area of a sphere, adjusted for the environment, such as one-half or one-eighth of the sphere's area depending on surrounding surfaces. Additionally, when converting energy levels to sound pressure level (SPL), the logarithmic nature of decibels must be considered.
oranges and lemons
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
How does the amount of energy effect a wave? Does it affect the speed or the frequency or the wavelength?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Please help me...
 
Mainly the amplitude
 
does also depnedss on the type of wave? mechnical or eletromagnetic.
 
Speed is determined by the medium the sound travels in, and for air 1130 ft/s is generally used as the speed.

Frequency and wavelength are related, knowing the speed you can find the one of these by dividing the speed by the other. For example, 20Hz has a wavelength of 56.5ft and vice versa, and 20KHz has a wavelength of 0.0565ft and so on.

Energy level would only affect amplitude. Sound would radiate from the source in a sphereical fashion, so your formulas would need to account for that and calculate by dividing the energy evenly over the area of the sphere. If you have a single plane involved like the ground, this is one-half space so one-half the sphere's area is used, if you have two planes like the ground and a wall you use one-quarter the sphere's area. And if you're inside where you have a floor and two walls you use one-eighth the sphere's area to find the energy distribution.

Remember also that when converting energy levels to sound pressure level (SPL) that the nature of the decibel is logarithmic so keep that in mind as well.

HTH,
Cliff
 
oh sound wave then it's mechnical only =)
 

Thread 'Derivation of Hamilton's Principle: Questions'

I have recently been really interested in the derivation of Hamiltons Principle. On my research I found that with the term ##m \cdot \frac{d}{dt} (\frac{dr}{dt} \cdot \delta r) = 0## (1) one may derivate ##\delta \int (T - V) dt = 0## (2). The derivation itself I understood quiet good, but what I don't understand is where the equation (1) came from, because in my research it was just given and not derived from anywhere. Does anybody know where (1) comes from or why from it the...
View full post »

Similar threads

B What sound frequencies can pass through a hole in a wall?
Replies
31
Views
3K
Amplitudes of longitudinal sound waves
Replies
8
Views
3K
I Does two-slit sound-wave interference pattern return to original form?
Replies
10
Views
2K
I Relationship between frequency and power for sound?
Replies
11
Views
5K
Sound Wave Doppler effect question
Replies
13
Views
3K
Why Can a Sound Wave Not Travel Faster than the Average Molecule Speed?
Replies
23
Views
4K
I A Question About Shock Waves From an Airplane
2
Replies
82
Views
7K
Equation of a sound wave with viscous damping in ideal gas
Replies
3
Views
2K
Signal Transmission Using Sound Waves
Replies
12
Views
2K
Relaxation times of molecules during sound propagation
Replies
3
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top