2007-10-12 03:17:52 · 4 answers · asked by John S2005 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Not directly. However, gravity can affect the density of the wave medium, and that in turn can affect the sound waves. For example, gravity causes the air to be more dense at lower altitudes than higher altitudes. As a result, sound waves passing through the air will curve slightly (refract) as they pass through areas of different density.
This should not be interpreted as though the gravity were "pulling down" on the sound wave (in fact, it causes the wave to bend UP, not down) -- but it is a side effect of the medium being in a gravity field.
2007-10-12 03:25:14 · answer #1 · answered by RickB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A sound wave is not an independent entity. For instance, if you were to propagate a wave thorough a solid object, the wave would not be affected by gravity, since the solid object is not moving because of gravity. With air, the net motion of the molecules is most likely not determined by gravity (instead by pressure differentials) so there again there should be no effect.
You could set up an experiment to see how sound travels through an object in free-fall. From the point of view of outside of the object, the actual origin of the sound and the apparent origin would be different, but that's because the object is moving not because gravity is somehow bending the wave.
2007-10-12 10:27:49 · answer #2 · answered by BNP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's strange i wonder about that two months ago but i didn't have aclue.
mail me the answer please.
thanks
2007-10-12 10:24:00 · answer #3 · answered by 1101-1001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everything is effected by gravity. Think "black hole", not even light can escape it.
2007-10-12 10:25:20 · answer #4 · answered by skcidxusoohay 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋