Sound Interference Experiment: Explaining Intensity Increase

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter jaumzaum
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Interference Sound
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around an experiment involving sound interference, specifically addressing the relationship between sound intensity and amplitude. Participants explore the phenomenon where the intensity observed at a receptor increases significantly when two sound sources are active compared to when only one is active.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why the intensity at the receptor increases to 4I when both sound sources are active, compared to I when only one source is on.
  • Another participant asks about the relationship between intensity and amplitude for sound.
  • A third participant expresses uncertainty about the existence of a physical formula that relates amplitude to intensity.
  • A later reply suggests that the intensity of sound waves is proportional to the square of the amplitude, drawing a parallel to light waves.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the specific relationship between amplitude and intensity in sound, and there is no consensus on the explanation for the intensity increase observed in the experiment.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential missing assumptions about the sound sources and the environment in which the interference occurs, as well as the need for clarification on the mathematical relationship between amplitude and intensity.

jaumzaum
Messages
433
Reaction score
33
I cannot understand the following:

Imagine you have 2 sound sources and build up an interference experiment, where far away from the sources you have a receptor. Imagine you put the receptor at the same distance from the sources. If you turn off one source the receptor will receive a sound of intensity I, if you turn both on the intensity will be 4I, why is that? I can understand that for the light experiment, as the intensity depends on the square of the electric field, but how can I expain that for the sound?
 
Science news on Phys.org
What is the relationship between intensity and amplitude for sound?
 
I don't know :(
Is there a physical formula that relates the amplitude with the intensity?
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Calculating Intensity in Single Slit Diffraction Experiments
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
Graduate Interference Intensity: Questions & Answers
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Can n-slit interference produce subwavelength stripes?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad What happens to intensity during light interference?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Question about two interference patterns viewed at infinity
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Undergrad Does Constructive Interference Double Sound Intensity at Source Point in Water?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Explanation for bright fringes in Single Slit Diffraction
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Question about sound absorption/reflection
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Understanding Interference of Sound Experiment
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate The coherence length is much longer than the manufacturer claims
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K