2006-10-25 13:22:25 · 10 answers · asked by jill 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Our eyes are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation of certain frequencies which we call visible light. Sound consists of vibrating air molecules. Air is transparent so we can't see it's motion. Even if we fill the air with smoke to make it less transparent we would have a hard time seeing sound waves passing through it because most those in the range of our hearing are very short and travel very fast (1 mile in 5 seconds.) There is a way to see sound waves indirectly. Pour a small amount of dust into a long transparent tube and position it horizontally. Send in a single tone (frequency) from a powerful source in one end. Sound waves will travel back and forth and set up what are called standing waves. (This is what happens in an organ pipe or a trumpet.) The dust will be disturbed in some parts of the tube but not others. When you stop the sound you will see a wavelike pattern in the settled dust.
2006-10-25 17:25:02 · answer #1 · answered by rethinker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the sensitive cells in our retinas only respond to specific stimuli, namely, a certain type of energy with certain wavelengths.
While sound waves spread as vibrations of air, we can't see them (we can't normally see air). However, when they pass through visible objects, we might see them as movement of those objects.
Instead, we have other sense organs that react to sound waves (which are actually vibrations): the ears.
2006-10-25 13:37:30 · answer #2 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound Waves are produced by the vibration so they mainly travel in material medium i.e can be solid, liq., or gaseous.
all medium molecules take part in the travel of the wave so the sound wave is not matter or something it is basically material molecules travelling or passing out the vibration.
2006-10-25 13:27:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because if they were big enough to see, they woud not fit in your ear- ok...that just my little joke- the reason is that sound waves is actually just vibrating air. there is no sound in vacuum because there is no air to vibrate.
2006-10-25 13:25:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
becaues they move in wave lengths that are too faint for the eyes to detect. i read somewhere that we can only see 98% of light and the remaining 2% is converted into sound. i dont know if it's true
2006-10-25 13:25:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because pressure moves the air, and we can't see either. "Sound" is actually air movement, and is perceived by our brains as sound.
2006-10-25 13:23:30 · answer #6 · answered by Life after 45 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because our eyes can see that much in the light spectrum and thank god we cant because we'd see so many rays everywhere
2006-10-25 16:35:01 · answer #7 · answered by mr hobo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because just that they are sounds..
2006-10-25 13:24:21 · answer #8 · answered by Tired Old Man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just be thankful...Can you imagine how hideous a fart would look like? ; )
2006-10-25 13:24:10 · answer #9 · answered by Chistiaŋ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because you can't see them!
2006-10-25 13:24:33 · answer #10 · answered by ZORRO 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋