What would happen if you were in a car traveling @ the speed of sound and you honked the horn? Would you hear it?
2006-08-26 04:13:03 · 8 answers · asked by jefferson 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
If the horn diaphram has a ground speed of the speed of sound, then the sound coming from it would initially have a relative speed of twice the speed of sound.
Of course, the speed would decay quickly.
For proof, stand still & spit.
It travels at a certain speed.
Now, get in a car & travel at 50 mph.
Stick your head out of the window & spit.
You have to add the applied speed or show where it disappeared to......
2006-08-26 08:10:05 · answer #1 · answered by mnm75932 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming the horn sounds in the air (and not making the body of your car vibrate)
If it is in front of you, the soundwaves would have a frequency of zero, as the front wave would move at the same speed as you. So you won't hear it.
If it is IN THE CAR (that is in the air of the inside of the car): you would hear it normally. People in FRONT of the car won't hear it (until you hit them with the car).
If it is behind the car, you won't hear it either...
All is a question of knowing the medium in which YOU are and the medium in which the sound is originated.
If the mediums are common, or linked in some way, the sound will travel at a "certain speed" (the speed in the medium: air is 360 m/s, solid is much faster etc).
In any case, if you move in relation to the horn, you will have to apply Doppler-Fizeau effect to calculate the frequency, and if too low or too high, you still won't hear it...
2006-08-26 12:52:06 · answer #2 · answered by just "JR" 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There may be a better example, An attacking aircraft at .99 the speed of sound by the time u hear it it is there u don't have time to duck.
2006-08-26 16:34:49 · answer #3 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes if the horn in in front of you, Yes if it is behind you and connected to you (as sound would travel in the connection, but then the sound would be different). No if it is behind you and not connected, the sound waves would not be able to overtake your speed.
2006-08-26 11:41:33 · answer #4 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes we will because speed of the car which u have = speed of sound
2006-08-26 11:21:19 · answer #5 · answered by Mikhil M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sound radiates in all directions, so I would think you would hear it.
2006-08-26 11:21:39 · answer #6 · answered by answer_man 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everyone seems pretty sure u will so I guess so
2006-08-26 12:06:31 · answer #7 · answered by D Gyroscope 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes.
2006-08-26 11:23:16 · answer #8 · answered by loadstar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋