Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: imd321 on 16/02/2010 10:37:17

Title: Will sound travel an equal distance?
Post by: imd321 on 16/02/2010 10:37:17

If I stood on top of a building, faced forward, and shouted, would the sound travel an equivalent distance  up and down or is there anything which would limit its movement up e.g gravity, air pressure etc.

Title: Will sound travel an equal distance?
Post by: flr on 16/02/2010 16:58:22

See a calculator:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/atmossndabsorbcalc.html

Title: Will sound travel an equal distance?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 16/02/2010 18:19:52

Sound does tend to deviate from a straight line path as it passes through the atmosphere.  this deviation depends on the temperature pressure and moisture content of the atmosphere.  On clear bright summer days horizontal sound tends to deviate upwards making it appear quieter and helping us to hear the skylarks  on cold heavy oppressive winter days with an inversion sound transmitted upwards can be bent back to ground level making distant sounds louder.  I used to live near Heathrow airport and in conditions like this we could occasionally hear aircraft on the ground.   The wind can also affect the propagation of sound

Title: Will sound travel an equal distance?
Post by: yor_on on 16/02/2010 21:28:48

Nice link flr.
==
And cool explanation Soul Surfer