A student claims that a loud sound travels faster than a soft one, because it has more energy…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A student claims that a loud sound travels faster than a soft one, because it has more energy. At a concert from the stage, a soft flute and a loud drum start together. When does each sound reach the student? Is the claim correct?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Frequency (waves each second, in ), time period , wavelength (compression to compression), and . The medium sets ; the source sets .
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The speed of sound depends on the medium (and its temperature), not on the loudness.
Step 2. Both take .
Answer: both arrive after ; the claim is wrong. More energy gives a bigger amplitude, a louder sound, not a faster one.
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