A sound wave travels in air at a frequency of 500 Hz. If part of the wave travels from air into water, does its frequency change? Does its wavelength change? Note that the speed of sound in air is about 340 m/s, whereas the speed of sound in water is about 1500 m/s.
When a sound wave travels from one medium to another, such as from air to water, its behavior is governed by the principles of wave propagation and the properties of the respective mediums involved.
Regarding the frequency of the sound wave, it remains constant when it crosses the boundary between air and water. The frequency of a sound wave is determined by the source that produces it and remains the same regardless of the medium through which it travels. So, in this case, the frequency of the sound wave will still be 500 Hz after it enters the water.
However, the wavelength of the sound wave does change as it crosses the air-water boundary. The wavelength is inversely proportional to the speed of sound in the medium it is traveling through. Since the speed of sound in water is higher than in air (1500 m/s compared to 340 m/s), the wavelength of the sound wave when it passes from air to water will decrease. This phenomenon is known as wavelength compression.
It's important to note that the frequency and wavelength of a sound wave are related through the equation: v = fλ, where "v" represents the velocity or speed of sound, "f" represents the frequency, and "λ" represents the wavelength. So, while the frequency remains constant, the decrease in the wavelength will compensate for the increase in the speed of sound, ensuring that the equation is balanced.
In summary, when a sound wave travels from air to water, its frequency remains unchanged, but its wavelength decreases due to the higher speed of sound in water compared to air.