Applications of refraction of sound

Refraction of sound

This is explained with a rubber bag filled with carbon-di-oxide as shown in Fig.. The velocity of sound in carbon-di-oxide is less than that in air and hence the bag acts as a lens. If a whistle is used as a source S, the sound passes through the lens and converges at O which is located with the help of flame. The flame will be disturbed only at the point O.

When sound travels from one medium to another, it undergoes refraction.

Applications of refraction of sound

 It is easier to hear the sound during night than during day-time During day time, the upper layers of air are cooler than the layers of air near the surface of the Earth. During night, the layers of air near the Earth are cooler than the upper layers of air. As sound travels faster in hot air, during day-time, the sound waves will be refracted upwards and travel a short distance on the surface of the Earth. On the other hand, during night the sound waves are refracted downwards to the Earth and will travel a long distance.

Progressive wave

A progressive wave is defined as the onward transmission of the vibratory motion of a body in an elastic medium from one particle to the successive particle.