The Interactions of Sound with Different Mediums
Science: KS3, topic 3.3.10
Sound Through Mediums
Sound travels at different speeds through solids, liquids and gases.
Mediums and vacuums
- We use the word medium in science to mean solids, liquids or gases.
- Sound can travel through these mediums.
- Sound travels at different speeds through different mediums.
Sound and vacuums
- Sound travels because of vibrating air molecules.
- So sound cannot travel in space.
- There are no particles in space.
- So a space with no particles is called a vacuum.
Sci-fi movie sound
- An exploding spaceship in a sci-fi movie is wrong.
- There would be no sound in space.
Sound through solids
- Sound travels fastest through solids.
- The molecules in solids are closer together.
- Closer molecules pass vibrations on to the next particle.
- Sound can travel up to 5,000m/s in some solids.
Sound through liquids
- Sound can travel up to 1,500 m/s in liquids.
- Scientists studying whale sounds have noted whale songs can travel around 10,000 miles underwater.
Hearing underwater
- Humans can hear higher frequencies of sounds underwater.
- The sounds bypass the middle ear.
- The sounds vibrate the bone behind the ear.
- Sounds are odd and magnified when swimming underwater.
Sound through gases
- Sound travels slowest through gases.
- The particles in gases are furthest apart.
- Sound will travel 340 m/s in air.
Tapping the table
- You can compare sounds through air and solids by tapping a table.
- First tap the table and listen to the sound produced.
- Then rest your ear on the table and tap again.
- Which is louder?
Test yourself on The Interactions of Sound with Different Mediums
What is a medium?
What does sound travel fastest through?
A student taps a wooden table, then rests their ear on the table and taps it again in the same way. Why does the second tap sound louder?