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Chapter 16: Problem 17

The Moon has no atmosphere. Is it possible to generate sound waves on the Moon?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Yes, sound waves can be generated on the Moon. Although there is no atmosphere for sound waves to propagate through the air, they can propagate through the Moon's surface and subsurface. An astronaut on the Moon can perceive these sound waves when the vibrations are transmitted through their spacesuit, which acts as a medium allowing the sound to reach their ears.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Sound Waves

Sound waves are longitudinal waves that propagate through a medium by transferring the energy of particle-to-particle through vibrations. These vibrations cause the particles to compress and expand, creating areas of high and low pressure known as compressions and rarefactions.
02

Propagation medium

A medium is necessary for sound waves to propagate. In the case of Earth, the medium is generally air but sound can also propagate through liquids like water, and solids like metal and earth. The presence of a medium allows for the particles to vibrate and transfer energy from one particle to another.
03

The Moon's lack of atmosphere

Since it has already been mentioned that the Moon has no atmosphere, this eliminates the possibility of sound waves propagation through the air on the Moon. However, we should explore the potential of other mediums to transmit sound waves on the Moon.
04

Surface and subsurface as a medium

Although the Moon doesn't have an atmosphere, it does have a solid surface and subsurface comprised of rock and soil, known as regolith. Sound waves could potentially propagate through the Moon's surface and subsurface, as they would in Earth's solid ground.
05

Transmission through a spacesuit

An astronaut on the surface of the Moon could also perceive sound waves generated in the Moon's surface and subsurface when these vibrations reach their spacesuit. Since a spacesuit is a sealed environment with air inside, it acts as a medium through which sound waves can propagate and reach the astronaut's ears.
06

Conclusion

In conclusion, although there is no atmosphere on the Moon to facilitate the propagation of sound waves through the air, sound waves can still be generated and propagate through the Moon's surface and subsurface. Furthermore, an astronaut on the surface of the Moon can perceive these sound waves when the vibrations are transmitted through their spacesuit, allowing them to hear the sound.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A meteorite hits the surface of the ocean at a speed of \(8800 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\). What are the shock wave angles it produces (a) in the air just before hitting the ocean surface, and (b) in the ocean just after entering? Assume the speed of sound in air and in water is \(343 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\) and \(1560 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\), respectively.

A bugle can be represented by a cylindrical pipe of length \(L=1.35 \mathrm{~m} .\) Since the ends are open, the standing waves produced in the bugle have antinodes at the open ends, where the air molecules move back and forth the most. Calculate the longest three wavelengths of standing waves inside the bugle. Also calculate the three lowest frequencies and the three longest wavelengths of the sound that is produced in the air around the bugle.

A soprano sings the note \(C 6(1046 \mathrm{~Hz})\) across the mouth of a soda bottle. To excite a fundamental frequency in the soda bottle equal to this note, describe how far the top of the liquid must be below the top of the bottle.

You are playing a note that has a fundamental frequency of \(400 .\) Hz on a guitar string of length \(50.0 \mathrm{~cm}\). At the same time, your friend plays a fundamental note on an open organ pipe, and 4 beats per seconds are heard. The mass per unit length of the string is \(2.00 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{m}\). Assume the velocity of sound is \(343 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\). a) What are the possible frequencies of the open organ pipe? b) When the guitar string is tightened, the beat frequency decreases. Find the original tension in the string. c) What is the length of the organ pipe?

Two trains are traveling toward each other in still air at \(25.0 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\) relative to the ground. One train is blowing a whistle at \(300 .\) Hz. The speed of sound is \(343 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\). a) What frequency is heard by a man on the ground facing the whistle-blowing train? b) What frequency is heard by a man on the other train?
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