Quote:
Originally Posted by thedoc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragar
It depends very carefully on the geometry of the problem. You can still arrange for a region of silence from a source emitting waves. I guess bending is a fine enough term for it, but refracts is better as it includes a whole slew of subtleties.
"...though it does have some wavelike properties that means it refracts around the edge of an object."
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And if I am not mistaken this is a result of sound waves cancelling each other as opposed to the sound waves not getting there, though the effect is the same. However I'm sure there are techniques to block or mask the sound from teaching an area. I have also heard of architecture or geometry that can create a spot where other sounds are clearly audible. Acoustics can have some interesting effects sometimes unintentional. |
Sometimes (though really they're the same thing, not just in their effect!).
But refraction has a limit, and it really is the case that you won't always have sound waves refract around something.
And as I realised above, this only happens for sound and not light because the wavelength for light is quite large. For very low wavelength noises (high pitched), you'll actually struggle for any refraction to take place at all around a large object. You can have a 'shadow' for a sound source, just as for a light source.