Why does sound behave differently in water than in air?












3












$begingroup$


I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?



I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.



I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done



(I may need help with tags so feel free to let me know if I did them wrong)






acoustics water air home-experiment







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  • 4




    $begingroup$
    Tell us what differences you found in your experiments. If we don't know that, we might give you an explanation for something that you didn't observe!
    $endgroup$
    – alephzero
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    probably the title should be edited... maybe "in air than in water"?
    $endgroup$
    – ZeroTheHero
    4 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    that was an error XD
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    thank you for constructive criticism it helps me improve my questions
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago
















3












$begingroup$


I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?



I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.



I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done



(I may need help with tags so feel free to let me know if I did them wrong)






acoustics water air home-experiment







share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 4




    $begingroup$
    Tell us what differences you found in your experiments. If we don't know that, we might give you an explanation for something that you didn't observe!
    $endgroup$
    – alephzero
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    probably the title should be edited... maybe "in air than in water"?
    $endgroup$
    – ZeroTheHero
    4 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    that was an error XD
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    thank you for constructive criticism it helps me improve my questions
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago














3












3








3


1



$begingroup$


I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?



I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.



I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done



(I may need help with tags so feel free to let me know if I did them wrong)






acoustics water air home-experiment







share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




I noticed in some experiments at home that sound does not behave the same in water than in air. Is there a good scientific explanation to this?



I noticed that the sound sounded distorted in water but not in air.



I also used a software that I could use to hear the sound as if I had ears that are meant for underwater. I do not have the files because they are self wiped after I am done



(I may need help with tags so feel free to let me know if I did them wrong)






acoustics water air home-experiment




acoustics water air home-experiment






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited 4 hours ago







Luna

















asked 4 hours ago









LunaLuna

6212




6212








  • 4




    $begingroup$
    Tell us what differences you found in your experiments. If we don't know that, we might give you an explanation for something that you didn't observe!
    $endgroup$
    – alephzero
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    probably the title should be edited... maybe "in air than in water"?
    $endgroup$
    – ZeroTheHero
    4 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    that was an error XD
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    thank you for constructive criticism it helps me improve my questions
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago














  • 4




    $begingroup$
    Tell us what differences you found in your experiments. If we don't know that, we might give you an explanation for something that you didn't observe!
    $endgroup$
    – alephzero
    4 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    probably the title should be edited... maybe "in air than in water"?
    $endgroup$
    – ZeroTheHero
    4 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    that was an error XD
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    thank you for constructive criticism it helps me improve my questions
    $endgroup$
    – Luna
    4 hours ago








4




4




$begingroup$
Tell us what differences you found in your experiments. If we don't know that, we might give you an explanation for something that you didn't observe!
$endgroup$
– alephzero
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
Tell us what differences you found in your experiments. If we don't know that, we might give you an explanation for something that you didn't observe!
$endgroup$
– alephzero
4 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
probably the title should be edited... maybe "in air than in water"?
$endgroup$
– ZeroTheHero
4 hours ago






$begingroup$
probably the title should be edited... maybe "in air than in water"?
$endgroup$
– ZeroTheHero
4 hours ago














$begingroup$
that was an error XD
$endgroup$
– Luna
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
that was an error XD
$endgroup$
– Luna
4 hours ago












$begingroup$
thank you for constructive criticism it helps me improve my questions
$endgroup$
– Luna
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
thank you for constructive criticism it helps me improve my questions
$endgroup$
– Luna
4 hours ago










2 Answers
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Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.



The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).



    Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.



    http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html






    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    • $begingroup$
      thank you, you did a good job.
      $endgroup$
      – Luna
      1 hour ago











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    2 Answers
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    active

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    2 Answers
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    $begingroup$

    Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.



    The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      2












      $begingroup$

      Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.



      The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        2












        2








        2





        $begingroup$

        Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.



        The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Human ears are evolved to furnish a good impedance match between sound waves traveling in air, and the nerve array inside your ear that turns vibrations into electrical impulses. This means that the greatest possible amount of sound wave energy will be conveyed to those nerves, across the greatest possible range of different frequencies.



        The characteristic impedance of water as a sound-carrying medium is completely different from that of air. When you immerse your ear in water, there will be a significant impedance mismatch between your ear and the water. The sound waves in the water will be poorly matched to your ear, which will make the sounds faint, and the sounds you do hear will be distorted because some frequencies will be attenuated more than others.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        niels nielsenniels nielsen

        17.8k42757




        17.8k42757























            1












            $begingroup$

            When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).



            Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.



            http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html






            share|cite|improve this answer








            New contributor




            CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              thank you, you did a good job.
              $endgroup$
              – Luna
              1 hour ago
















            1












            $begingroup$

            When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).



            Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.



            http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html






            share|cite|improve this answer








            New contributor




            CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              thank you, you did a good job.
              $endgroup$
              – Luna
              1 hour ago














            1












            1








            1





            $begingroup$

            When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).



            Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.



            http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html






            share|cite|improve this answer








            New contributor




            CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            $endgroup$



            When any wave enters a different medium, the wavelength and direction can change (from the refractive index of the medium). For example, there is a 33% change in refraction between water and air (for light).



            Sound waves are less affected than waves at light speeds, but there is still an effect.



            http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/refrac.html







            share|cite|improve this answer








            New contributor




            CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer






            New contributor




            CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered 3 hours ago









            CanaCoderCanaCoder

            162




            162




            New contributor




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            New contributor





            CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            CanaCoder is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.












            • $begingroup$
              thank you, you did a good job.
              $endgroup$
              – Luna
              1 hour ago


















            • $begingroup$
              thank you, you did a good job.
              $endgroup$
              – Luna
              1 hour ago
















            $begingroup$
            thank you, you did a good job.
            $endgroup$
            – Luna
            1 hour ago




            $begingroup$
            thank you, you did a good job.
            $endgroup$
            – Luna
            1 hour ago


















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