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Why does sound not move through a wall?


Sound waves through a glass filled with liquidHow does sound travel in space?Accelerating faster per second than the speed of sound?The Doppler effect in a medium like air (sound) versus the electromagnetic Doppler effectThe Mysterious Reverb in a Jar of Hair GelWhy doesn't amplitude affect the speed of sound?Atmospheric pressure's effect on soundGrand Canyon Sound Problem TroublesWhy is sound reflected and not transmitted through a wall?Why does sound absorption in oceans depend on the pH?













6












$begingroup$


I'm learning a bit about sound and was wondering:



If the speed of sound is determined by the amount of matter the source is surrounded with why doesn't it go through a wall?



Example:



Speed of sound is 343m/s



But in water, it moves at 1500 m/s, because of the increase of matter surrounding it. And since iron have more tightly packed matter it moves even faster, because it's moving the matter to move the vibrations.



If this is true, why doesn't the sound go through walls?



Is it because it loses its "strength" for the amount it travels?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Yes the whole wall, or at least a section of it, has to vibrate to transmit the sound. Thus the sound is diminished. But diminished or not, living in an apartment with a noisy neighbor is a nightmare.
    $endgroup$
    – MaxW
    7 hours ago















6












$begingroup$


I'm learning a bit about sound and was wondering:



If the speed of sound is determined by the amount of matter the source is surrounded with why doesn't it go through a wall?



Example:



Speed of sound is 343m/s



But in water, it moves at 1500 m/s, because of the increase of matter surrounding it. And since iron have more tightly packed matter it moves even faster, because it's moving the matter to move the vibrations.



If this is true, why doesn't the sound go through walls?



Is it because it loses its "strength" for the amount it travels?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Yes the whole wall, or at least a section of it, has to vibrate to transmit the sound. Thus the sound is diminished. But diminished or not, living in an apartment with a noisy neighbor is a nightmare.
    $endgroup$
    – MaxW
    7 hours ago













6












6








6





$begingroup$


I'm learning a bit about sound and was wondering:



If the speed of sound is determined by the amount of matter the source is surrounded with why doesn't it go through a wall?



Example:



Speed of sound is 343m/s



But in water, it moves at 1500 m/s, because of the increase of matter surrounding it. And since iron have more tightly packed matter it moves even faster, because it's moving the matter to move the vibrations.



If this is true, why doesn't the sound go through walls?



Is it because it loses its "strength" for the amount it travels?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




I'm learning a bit about sound and was wondering:



If the speed of sound is determined by the amount of matter the source is surrounded with why doesn't it go through a wall?



Example:



Speed of sound is 343m/s



But in water, it moves at 1500 m/s, because of the increase of matter surrounding it. And since iron have more tightly packed matter it moves even faster, because it's moving the matter to move the vibrations.



If this is true, why doesn't the sound go through walls?



Is it because it loses its "strength" for the amount it travels?







acoustics






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited 41 mins ago









Ghanima

1035




1035










asked 7 hours ago









HeeysamHHeeysamH

15216




15216







  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Yes the whole wall, or at least a section of it, has to vibrate to transmit the sound. Thus the sound is diminished. But diminished or not, living in an apartment with a noisy neighbor is a nightmare.
    $endgroup$
    – MaxW
    7 hours ago












  • 8




    $begingroup$
    Yes the whole wall, or at least a section of it, has to vibrate to transmit the sound. Thus the sound is diminished. But diminished or not, living in an apartment with a noisy neighbor is a nightmare.
    $endgroup$
    – MaxW
    7 hours ago







8




8




$begingroup$
Yes the whole wall, or at least a section of it, has to vibrate to transmit the sound. Thus the sound is diminished. But diminished or not, living in an apartment with a noisy neighbor is a nightmare.
$endgroup$
– MaxW
7 hours ago




$begingroup$
Yes the whole wall, or at least a section of it, has to vibrate to transmit the sound. Thus the sound is diminished. But diminished or not, living in an apartment with a noisy neighbor is a nightmare.
$endgroup$
– MaxW
7 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















20












$begingroup$

Sound doesn't go through walls? Please tell my neighbor.



In electromagnetism, a medium has a property called an "impedance" which is related to the index of refraction and the speed of waves in the medium. At an interface between two media, the relative impedances determine how much of an incoming wave is transmitted or reflected, so that the entire power of the incoming wave goes somewhere. At an "impedance-matched" interface the reflection coefficient goes to zero. In signal cables and waveguides for electromagnetic waves this leads to people adding "terminating resistors" in various places, so that an incoming signal doesn't get reflected back from a cable junction. Conversely, at a junction with an impedance mis-match, the reflection coefficient is generally nonzero and not all of the power is transmitted.



You can do the same sort of analysis for sound waves moving from one medium to another. The reflection and transmission coefficients can depend on the frequency of the wave, as well, which is why my neighbor complains when I have my music turned up too loud: they can hear the low-frequency bass sounds just fine through the wall, but the high-frequency components (that they'd need to follow the lyrics) don't reach them.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$




















    3












    $begingroup$

    Sound waves are just pressure oscillations; when they strike a surface they are either reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. When they're transmitted, you'll hear them on the other side.



    According to Wikipedia, regarding acoustic absorption:




    Deformation causes mechanical losses via conversion of part of the sound energy into heat, resulting in acoustic attenuation, mostly due to the wall's viscosity.



    The fraction of sound absorbed is governed by the acoustic impedances of both media and is a function of frequency and the incident angle.



    In general, soft, pliable, or porous materials (like cloths) serve as good acoustic insulators - absorbing most sound, whereas dense, hard, impenetrable materials (such as metals) reflect most.




    So, walls will reflect the sound waves, as well as absorb them. The effectiveness of this depends on the material properties of the wall, as well as the frequency of the sound (low frequencies travel much easier through plywood, for instance).






    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.






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      2 Answers
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      2 Answers
      2






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      active

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      active

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      20












      $begingroup$

      Sound doesn't go through walls? Please tell my neighbor.



      In electromagnetism, a medium has a property called an "impedance" which is related to the index of refraction and the speed of waves in the medium. At an interface between two media, the relative impedances determine how much of an incoming wave is transmitted or reflected, so that the entire power of the incoming wave goes somewhere. At an "impedance-matched" interface the reflection coefficient goes to zero. In signal cables and waveguides for electromagnetic waves this leads to people adding "terminating resistors" in various places, so that an incoming signal doesn't get reflected back from a cable junction. Conversely, at a junction with an impedance mis-match, the reflection coefficient is generally nonzero and not all of the power is transmitted.



      You can do the same sort of analysis for sound waves moving from one medium to another. The reflection and transmission coefficients can depend on the frequency of the wave, as well, which is why my neighbor complains when I have my music turned up too loud: they can hear the low-frequency bass sounds just fine through the wall, but the high-frequency components (that they'd need to follow the lyrics) don't reach them.






      share|cite|improve this answer











      $endgroup$

















        20












        $begingroup$

        Sound doesn't go through walls? Please tell my neighbor.



        In electromagnetism, a medium has a property called an "impedance" which is related to the index of refraction and the speed of waves in the medium. At an interface between two media, the relative impedances determine how much of an incoming wave is transmitted or reflected, so that the entire power of the incoming wave goes somewhere. At an "impedance-matched" interface the reflection coefficient goes to zero. In signal cables and waveguides for electromagnetic waves this leads to people adding "terminating resistors" in various places, so that an incoming signal doesn't get reflected back from a cable junction. Conversely, at a junction with an impedance mis-match, the reflection coefficient is generally nonzero and not all of the power is transmitted.



        You can do the same sort of analysis for sound waves moving from one medium to another. The reflection and transmission coefficients can depend on the frequency of the wave, as well, which is why my neighbor complains when I have my music turned up too loud: they can hear the low-frequency bass sounds just fine through the wall, but the high-frequency components (that they'd need to follow the lyrics) don't reach them.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$















          20












          20








          20





          $begingroup$

          Sound doesn't go through walls? Please tell my neighbor.



          In electromagnetism, a medium has a property called an "impedance" which is related to the index of refraction and the speed of waves in the medium. At an interface between two media, the relative impedances determine how much of an incoming wave is transmitted or reflected, so that the entire power of the incoming wave goes somewhere. At an "impedance-matched" interface the reflection coefficient goes to zero. In signal cables and waveguides for electromagnetic waves this leads to people adding "terminating resistors" in various places, so that an incoming signal doesn't get reflected back from a cable junction. Conversely, at a junction with an impedance mis-match, the reflection coefficient is generally nonzero and not all of the power is transmitted.



          You can do the same sort of analysis for sound waves moving from one medium to another. The reflection and transmission coefficients can depend on the frequency of the wave, as well, which is why my neighbor complains when I have my music turned up too loud: they can hear the low-frequency bass sounds just fine through the wall, but the high-frequency components (that they'd need to follow the lyrics) don't reach them.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          Sound doesn't go through walls? Please tell my neighbor.



          In electromagnetism, a medium has a property called an "impedance" which is related to the index of refraction and the speed of waves in the medium. At an interface between two media, the relative impedances determine how much of an incoming wave is transmitted or reflected, so that the entire power of the incoming wave goes somewhere. At an "impedance-matched" interface the reflection coefficient goes to zero. In signal cables and waveguides for electromagnetic waves this leads to people adding "terminating resistors" in various places, so that an incoming signal doesn't get reflected back from a cable junction. Conversely, at a junction with an impedance mis-match, the reflection coefficient is generally nonzero and not all of the power is transmitted.



          You can do the same sort of analysis for sound waves moving from one medium to another. The reflection and transmission coefficients can depend on the frequency of the wave, as well, which is why my neighbor complains when I have my music turned up too loud: they can hear the low-frequency bass sounds just fine through the wall, but the high-frequency components (that they'd need to follow the lyrics) don't reach them.







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited 36 mins ago

























          answered 7 hours ago









          robrob

          42k1078175




          42k1078175





















              3












              $begingroup$

              Sound waves are just pressure oscillations; when they strike a surface they are either reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. When they're transmitted, you'll hear them on the other side.



              According to Wikipedia, regarding acoustic absorption:




              Deformation causes mechanical losses via conversion of part of the sound energy into heat, resulting in acoustic attenuation, mostly due to the wall's viscosity.



              The fraction of sound absorbed is governed by the acoustic impedances of both media and is a function of frequency and the incident angle.



              In general, soft, pliable, or porous materials (like cloths) serve as good acoustic insulators - absorbing most sound, whereas dense, hard, impenetrable materials (such as metals) reflect most.




              So, walls will reflect the sound waves, as well as absorb them. The effectiveness of this depends on the material properties of the wall, as well as the frequency of the sound (low frequencies travel much easier through plywood, for instance).






              share|cite|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.






              $endgroup$

















                3












                $begingroup$

                Sound waves are just pressure oscillations; when they strike a surface they are either reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. When they're transmitted, you'll hear them on the other side.



                According to Wikipedia, regarding acoustic absorption:




                Deformation causes mechanical losses via conversion of part of the sound energy into heat, resulting in acoustic attenuation, mostly due to the wall's viscosity.



                The fraction of sound absorbed is governed by the acoustic impedances of both media and is a function of frequency and the incident angle.



                In general, soft, pliable, or porous materials (like cloths) serve as good acoustic insulators - absorbing most sound, whereas dense, hard, impenetrable materials (such as metals) reflect most.




                So, walls will reflect the sound waves, as well as absorb them. The effectiveness of this depends on the material properties of the wall, as well as the frequency of the sound (low frequencies travel much easier through plywood, for instance).






                share|cite|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                $endgroup$















                  3












                  3








                  3





                  $begingroup$

                  Sound waves are just pressure oscillations; when they strike a surface they are either reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. When they're transmitted, you'll hear them on the other side.



                  According to Wikipedia, regarding acoustic absorption:




                  Deformation causes mechanical losses via conversion of part of the sound energy into heat, resulting in acoustic attenuation, mostly due to the wall's viscosity.



                  The fraction of sound absorbed is governed by the acoustic impedances of both media and is a function of frequency and the incident angle.



                  In general, soft, pliable, or porous materials (like cloths) serve as good acoustic insulators - absorbing most sound, whereas dense, hard, impenetrable materials (such as metals) reflect most.




                  So, walls will reflect the sound waves, as well as absorb them. The effectiveness of this depends on the material properties of the wall, as well as the frequency of the sound (low frequencies travel much easier through plywood, for instance).






                  share|cite|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  $endgroup$



                  Sound waves are just pressure oscillations; when they strike a surface they are either reflected, transmitted, or absorbed. When they're transmitted, you'll hear them on the other side.



                  According to Wikipedia, regarding acoustic absorption:




                  Deformation causes mechanical losses via conversion of part of the sound energy into heat, resulting in acoustic attenuation, mostly due to the wall's viscosity.



                  The fraction of sound absorbed is governed by the acoustic impedances of both media and is a function of frequency and the incident angle.



                  In general, soft, pliable, or porous materials (like cloths) serve as good acoustic insulators - absorbing most sound, whereas dense, hard, impenetrable materials (such as metals) reflect most.




                  So, walls will reflect the sound waves, as well as absorb them. The effectiveness of this depends on the material properties of the wall, as well as the frequency of the sound (low frequencies travel much easier through plywood, for instance).







                  share|cite|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered 1 hour ago









                  Will CharbonneauWill Charbonneau

                  311




                  311




                  New contributor




                  Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  Will Charbonneau is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.



























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