The Behavior of Sound Waves

What we interpret as sound is actually a collectionball on the break. As the cue ball strikes the front
of systematic vibrations which travel fromball, energy transfers from ball to ball, resulting in
molecule to molecule through practically anytheir movement. This structure borne transfer of
medium. If you have ever been to an indoor rockenergy mirrors the behavior of sound waves as
concert, you have probably physically felt thesevibrations travel among the molecules in a
vibrations as they traveled through the moleculesmolecular structure.
in the floor and resonated from all of the surfacesWhen sound waves traveling through air reach a
in the arena. When a sound wave travels throughdenser medium, such as a wall, some of the
the air and reaches your ear, the eardrumenergy will pass through the wall structure into
vibrates at the same resonance as the soundthe adjoining room, while the balance of the wave
wave, and the resulting energy is interpreted bywill reflect off of the structure and remain within
the brain as sound. The intensity of soundthe room. Sound energy passing to the next
reaching your ear, the background noise in aroom is sound transmission, and energy reflecting
crowded room and the vibrations you feel at aback into the room is called sound reflection.
rock concert are all results of the behavior ofWhen you are in a crowded room and must raise
sound waves. Let us take a look at somethe level of your voice in order to be heard, you
characteristics of sound wave behavior in orderare actually speaking louder to overcome the
to gain a better understanding of the sounds wejumble of sound reflections caused by other
hear every day.voices and sounds within the room. Sound
Any source of sound, whether it is a personreflection is the reason many restaurants and
talking, a drum beat or a clock ticking, producesother establishments implement sound reduction
vibrations, which create the fluctuations in thetreatments aimed at the absorption of sound
atmosphere known as sound waves. Not actuallyvibrations, resulting in less background noise and a
waves, the vibrations which make up soundmore pleasant atmosphere.
waves travel over distance and time and throughSolutions supplied by companies specializing in
most any medium. Though it may be tempting tosound reduction and soundproofing treatments
assume that noise would be contained within theare often aimed at containing sound waves within
four walls of a standard room, the walls, ceilinga desired area and reducing their ability to
and floor actually serve as ideal means throughresonate and create unwanted background noise.
which sound vibrations can travel. In fact, soundIt is advised to consult with a professional
travels about nineteen times faster throughsoundproofing company prior to attempting a
drywall than it does through air!soundproofing treatment in order to ensure that
Imagine for a moment the behavior of a set ofall variables of your application are considered.
racked billiard balls as they are struck by a cue