when at a pool music playing on a loud speaker sounds louder underwater than above water
This phenomenon occurs because sound waves travel differently in water compared to air. When music is played on a loudspeaker near a pool, the sound waves propagate through the air and reach our ears. However, when we enter the water, the sound waves reach our ears through both the water and the air trapped between our ears and the water surface.
Water is a denser medium compared to air, and sound travels faster and more efficiently through it. As a result, the sound waves are better transmitted through the water, causing the music to sound louder when we are underwater. Additionally, water can also amplify certain frequencies of sound, further enhancing the perceived volume.
On the other hand, sound waves in the air diminish before reaching our ears underwater, as they are reflected, absorbed, and scattered by the water-air interface. This reduction in sound intensity in the air above the water surface contributes to the perception of the music being quieter outside the pool compared to when submerged.