You are standing at the midpoint between two speakers, a distance D away from each. The speakers are playing the exact same soun

Question

2 months ago

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You are standing at the midpoint between two speakers, a distance D away from each. The speakers are playing the exact same soun

d of frequency 170 Hz in phase with each other. Describe what happens when you walk 1.5 m directly toward one of the speakers. Assume the speed of sound is 340 m/s. Also assume you can't hear any sounds except those produced by the speakers.
A. You begin by hearing a loud sound that gets quieter until you can't hear it anymore. Then it gets louder again until it is as loud as where you started. Then it gets quieter again until you can't hear it anymore.
B. You begin by hearing nothing, but the sound gets louder.
C. You begin by hearing nothing, but the sound gets louder. Then it gets quieter again until you can't hear it anymore.
D. You begin by hearing a loud sound that gets quieter until you can't hear it anymore.
E.You begin by hearing a loud sound that gets quieter until you can't hear it anymore. Then it gets louder again until it is as loud as where you started.
F. You begin by hearing nothing, but the sound gets louder. Then it gets quieter again until you can't hear it anymore. Then it gets louder again.

Physics

1 answer:

ValentinkaMS [3.4K] · Answer 1 · 2026-03-06T14:51:16+03:00

Answer:

Explanation:

The wavelength of sound can be calculated using the formula: wavelength = velocity / frequency.

Thus, it becomes:

λ = 340 / 170

λ = 2 m.

When the person stands ideally in the center between the speakers, the sound waves reaching him are perfectly aligned (no path difference), resulting in maximum sound intensity.

As he moves closer to one of the speakers, his proximity to that speaker increases while the distance to the other speaker decreases, creating a path difference in the sound waves reaching his ears.

If he walks 0.5 m toward one speaker, the created path difference becomes:

0.5 x 2 = 1 m.

This path difference equals λ / 2, leading to destructive interference, resulting in minimal sound being audible.

As he continues walking a full 1 m, the created path difference totals 2 m.

This corresponds to a path difference of λ, causing constructive interference and maximum sound perception.

Finally, if he moves an additional 1.5 m, the resulting path difference increases to 3 m.

Thus, we arrive at a path difference of 3 λ / 2, producing destructive interference once more, leading to minimum sound being perceived again.

In summary, the man begins at a maximum intensity point, moves to minimum intensity, then back to a maximum, and ultimately ends at another minimum sound intensity position.