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Why sound waves propagate through liquids as longitudinal waves, and it is propagate on the surface of the liquid as transverse waves?
Drakkith said:I've never heard of sound waves traveling on the surface of a liquid.
Bobbywhy said:Examples of transverse waves include seismic S (secondary) waves, and the motion of the electric (E) and magnetic (M) fields in an electromagnetic plane wave, which both oscillate perpendicularly to each other as well as to the direction of energy transfer. Therefore an electromagnetic wave consists of two transverse waves, visible light being an example of an electromagnetic wave. See electromagnetic spectrum for information on different types of electromagnetic waves. An oscillating string is another example of a transverse wave; a more everyday example would be an audience wave.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_wave
Bobbywhy said:Yes, acoustic waves may travel on the surface of water. Here are two youtube videos showing just that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annota...&feature=iv&src_vid=tI6S5CS-6JI&v=8LEeENVSG-k
And yes, surface tension has much to do with their propagation!
Sound travels through liquids in a similar way to how it travels through gases. When an object vibrates in a liquid, it creates sound waves that travel through the liquid, causing the particles in the liquid to vibrate and carry the sound energy.
The speed of sound in liquids is affected by the density, compressibility, and temperature of the liquid. Sound travels faster in denser liquids and slower in more compressible liquids. It also travels faster in warmer liquids.
As sound travels through a liquid, it gradually loses energy due to the particles of the liquid absorbing some of the sound waves. This means that the deeper the liquid, the weaker the sound will be as it reaches the bottom. Additionally, the speed of sound may also change with depth due to changes in pressure and temperature.
Yes, sound can travel through all liquids, including water, oil, and even molten lava. However, the speed and strength of the sound may vary depending on the properties of the liquid.
Sound is commonly used for communication in underwater environments due to its ability to travel long distances through water. This is utilized in sonar technology, where sound waves are emitted and the returning echoes are used to detect objects and map the ocean floor. Submarines also use sound to communicate with each other and with the surface.