how can we still be able to hear sounds even though there is a big wall that is in the way?? Can air actually travel through walls?
2007-05-29 06:48:57 · 7 answers · asked by 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
How well sound is transmitted through a wall depends on the wall.
The air does NOT travel through the wall.
The sound (wave) force (energy) striking the wall causes the wall to vibrate.
The vibrations of the wall creates new sound waves in the air on the opposite side of the wall. (similar to the sound created by the vibrations of the cone in a radio speaker or a can on the end of a string).
That newly created sound gives the impression that the sound traveled through the wall but it could be said that the sound was "transmitted" by the wall.
Obviously, the type of wall and its ability to vibrate will greatly influence the sound transmittal..
2007-05-29 07:05:32 · answer #1 · answered by Philip H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you never had loud neighbours? You can hear them through the walls, in a different appartment. Therefore sound does travel through. It's a wave, travels through some matter better than others. So how much sound is dampened depends on the thickness and the insulation of the wall. You can make the wall thick and insulated enough to dampen the sound to inaudible levels, otherwise, yes, you can hear what's going on on the other side.
2007-05-29 07:08:58 · answer #2 · answered by nvladimirsky 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can think of sound as the movement of energy, in the form of a pressure wave. The pressure wave will travel through the wall because of the collisions of molecules, even though the air will not penetrate the wall (think of a multi-car crash on the freeway: one car crashes into another, and it crashes into another, and so on)
2007-05-29 06:58:01 · answer #3 · answered by OneMoreTime 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two ways for that sound to reach you.
Yes, sound can travel through walls. In fact it is faster in solids than in liquids, and faster in liquids than in gases/air. So, it is fastest in solids (wall).So that is one way for you to hear the sound
The other way is for the sound waves to reflect off surfaces and reach you either directly by air or by using other media inbetween.
There is also the possibility of diffraction of sound waves
2007-05-29 07:37:22 · answer #4 · answered by Ohil 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sound is a mechanical compression wave that travels ,using compression and rarefaction, through all matter- although it travels through some types of matter better than others (for instance, sound travels through water better than air). It wouldn't be the air traveling through the wall, but the wave.
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/sound.htm
2007-05-29 06:53:55 · answer #5 · answered by Dan K 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
air can't travel to wall if is perfect wall... but a wave for sure ;) adimoga.com
2007-05-29 06:54:15 · answer #6 · answered by brlmnd 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sound needs any medium to travel that does not mean only air it can also travel through solids and aslo liduids
wall is solid so sound waves can travel through it
2007-05-29 07:19:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋