Sound propagation and obstacles
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Information sheet:
What happens when sound hits an obstacle? The wave nature of sound is explained.
English, Spanish (CREA), German
2017-04-20
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Sound waves propagate concentrically or spherically. A free or undisturbed sound field is one where there are no obstacles in the path of the sound waves. In everyday life, however, the sound field is usually disturbed or blocked by obstacles, for example, walls or people.
There are a number of ways a sound can behave when it hits an obstacle: refraction, reflection, dispersion, absorption, diffraction. All these possibilities arise ultimately because of the wave nature of sound.
Information and ideas:
This information sheet provides a good overview of the most important basic concepts of the wave nature of sound.
Relevant for teaching:
Sound/acoustics: parameters
Vibrations and waves
There are a number of ways a sound can behave when it hits an obstacle: refraction, reflection, dispersion, absorption, diffraction. All these possibilities arise ultimately because of the wave nature of sound.
Information and ideas:
This information sheet provides a good overview of the most important basic concepts of the wave nature of sound.
Relevant for teaching:
Sound/acoustics: parameters
Vibrations and waves
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Information sheet
Physics
Grade 5 to 6; Grade 7 to 9; Grade 10 to 13
Middle/high school; Vocational training
Optics; Sound; Wave (physics); Diffraction; Sound (basic phenomenon); Sound propagation; Sound wave
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