Why are the bass notes of a car radio heard by people on the street an

In summary, the bass notes of a car radio are heard by people on the street because of the fixed and free end boundaries and the fact that the high notes are reflected back into the car while bass notes are transmitted through the car. This is due to the use of 500W+ amplifiers and low-pass filters, as well as the placement of speakers in areas that easily transmit low frequencies to the outside. Windows and glass also play a role in attenuating high frequencies.
  • #1
needingtoknow
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Homework Statement



Why are the bass notes of a car radio heard by people on the street and not the high notes


The Attempt at a Solution



I think it has something to do with fixed and free end boundaries and may have something do with the fact that the high notes are being reflected back into the car while the bass notes are transmitted through the car. I have not learned the pitch or acoustics unit yet. Can anyone help?
 
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  • #2
With all things being equal on a perfect transducer reflection,absorption and (room) modes do affect what's heard on the outside of a car from a single speaker isolated from the car body but mainly (rant mode) it's because they have 500W+ amplifiers with low-pass filters to restrict the signal to below a few hundred cycles , the speakers connected those large amplifers can only respond to those low frequency signals and are usually bolted to the cars body. There is some interaction with modes causing large peaks in the frequency response of the cars interior but it's mainly bass range brute power vs normal levels of high note power you are hearing.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/sound/u11l3d.cfm

Here are some car freq response charts for a 2008 Honda sub upgrade. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsaspook/sets/72157621840211633/

As you can see the speakers are usually mounted in doors or large panels forming an enclosure with external surface areas that transmit low frequencies easily to the outside as speakers produce sound on BOTH sides of the cone coupling bass to the outside. Most of the higher frequency sound waves are reflected inside the enclosure instead of being transmitted outside.
 
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  • #3
Windows/glass also attenuates high frequencies more than low frequencies...

Google found..
sound+reduction+chart.png
 

1. Why can people on the street hear the bass notes of a car radio?

People on the street can hear the bass notes of a car radio because low frequency sound waves, such as bass, have longer wavelengths and can travel farther than high frequency sound waves.

2. Is it harmful to have the bass notes of a car radio heard by people on the street?

No, it is not harmful to have the bass notes of a car radio heard by people on the street. The sound waves are significantly reduced in intensity by the time they reach the street, making them safe for human ears.

3. Can the bass notes of a car radio be controlled or adjusted?

Yes, the bass notes of a car radio can be controlled and adjusted through the car's equalizer settings. These settings allow the driver to adjust the intensity of specific frequency bands, such as bass, to their preference.

4. Why do some car radios have louder bass than others?

The loudness of the bass notes on a car radio can depend on a variety of factors, such as the quality of the car's sound system, the tuning of the equalizer settings, and the type of music being played. Additionally, some car radios may have a built-in bass boost feature that can make the bass notes sound louder.

5. How can I reduce the bass notes of my car radio from being heard by people on the street?

To reduce the bass notes of your car radio from being heard by people on the street, you can lower the bass levels on your car's equalizer, adjust the volume of your music, or simply roll up your car windows. Additionally, consider being mindful of the volume levels and bass intensity when playing music in public spaces.

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