Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Shock Waves01:16

Shock Waves

While deriving the Doppler formula for the observed frequency of a sound wave, it is assumed that the speed of sound in the medium is greater than the source's speed through it. When this condition is breached, a shock wave occurs.
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high pressures...
Sound as Pressure Waves01:17

Sound as Pressure Waves

Sound waves, which are longitudinal waves, can be modeled as the displacement amplitude varying as a function of the spatial and temporal coordinates. As a column of the medium is displaced, its successive columns are also displaced. As the successive displacements differ relatively, a pressure difference with the surrounding pressure is created. The gauge pressure varies across the medium.
The pressure fluctuation depends on the difference in displacements between the successive points in the...
Sound Waves: Resonance01:14

Sound Waves: Resonance

Resonance is produced depending on the boundary conditions imposed on a wave. Resonance can be produced in a string under tension with symmetrical boundary conditions (i.e., has a node at each end). A node is defined as a fixed point where the string does not move. The symmetrical boundary conditions result in some frequencies resonating and producing standing waves, while other frequencies interfere destructively. Sound waves can resonate in a hollow tube, and the frequencies of the sound...
Sound Waves: Interference00:53

Sound Waves: Interference

Sound waves can be modeled either as longitudinal waves, wherein the molecules of the medium oscillate around an equilibrium position, or as pressure waves. When two identical waves from the same source superimpose on each other, the combination of two crests or two troughs results in amplitude reinforcement known as constructive interference. If two identical waves, that are initially in phase, become out of phase because of different path lengths, the combination of crests with troughs...
Intensity and Pressure of Sound Waves01:05

Intensity and Pressure of Sound Waves

The intensity of sound waves can be related to displacement and pressure amplitudes by using their wave expressions and the definition of intensity. The critical step to achieve this is to write the power delivered by the particles on the wave as the product of force and velocity and simplify the force per unit area as the pressure. The velocity of the medium's particles can be derived from the displacement.
Unlike the time average of a sinusoidal term, which is zero since it is positive and...
Perception of Sound Waves01:01

Perception of Sound Waves

The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mount st. Helens eruption of 18 may 1980: air waves and explosive yield.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1981
Same author

Explosive cenozoic volcanism and climatic implications.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1976
Same author

Meteor-generated infrasound.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1975
Same author

Meteors and meteorites detected by infrasound.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1974
Same author

Sound from apollo rockets in space.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1971
Same author

Milankovitch radiation variations: a quantitative evaluation.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1968

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

The Measurement of Unsteady Surface Pressure Using a Remote Microphone Probe
08:53

The Measurement of Unsteady Surface Pressure Using a Remote Microphone Probe

Published on: December 3, 2016

Concorde sonic booms as an atmospheric probe.

N K Balachandran, W L Donn, D H Rind

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |July 1, 1977
    PubMed
    Summary

    Sonic booms from Concorde supersonic transport reveal atmospheric conditions. Infrasound signals provide temperature and wind data from stratospheric and thermospheric levels.

    Area of Science:

    • Atmospheric science
    • Acoustics
    • Geophysics

    Background:

    • Infrasound waves generated by supersonic aircraft can travel long distances.
    • Atmospheric conditions significantly influence the propagation and characteristics of sound waves.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze infrasound signals from Concorde sonic booms.
    • To investigate the relationship between signal frequency and atmospheric reflection levels.
    • To determine if sonic booms can be used to derive atmospheric temperature and wind parameters.

    Main Methods:

    • Recording infrasound impulses from Concorde sonic booms at Palisades, New York.
    • Analyzing signal refraction due to temperature and wind conditions at stratospheric and thermospheric altitudes.
    • Correlating signal frequency with atmospheric reflection levels and acoustic velocity.

    More Related Videos

    Thermocapillary Convection Space Experiment on the SJ-10 Recoverable Satellite
    07:00

    Thermocapillary Convection Space Experiment on the SJ-10 Recoverable Satellite

    Published on: March 11, 2020

    Laboratory Scale Slow Cook-Off Testing of Rocket Propellants: The Combustion Rate Analysis of a Slowly Heated Propellant (CRASH-P) Test
    06:52

    Laboratory Scale Slow Cook-Off Testing of Rocket Propellants: The Combustion Rate Analysis of a Slowly Heated Propellant (CRASH-P) Test

    Published on: February 6, 2021

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

    The Measurement of Unsteady Surface Pressure Using a Remote Microphone Probe
    08:53

    The Measurement of Unsteady Surface Pressure Using a Remote Microphone Probe

    Published on: December 3, 2016

    Thermocapillary Convection Space Experiment on the SJ-10 Recoverable Satellite
    07:00

    Thermocapillary Convection Space Experiment on the SJ-10 Recoverable Satellite

    Published on: March 11, 2020

    Laboratory Scale Slow Cook-Off Testing of Rocket Propellants: The Combustion Rate Analysis of a Slowly Heated Propellant (CRASH-P) Test
    06:52

    Laboratory Scale Slow Cook-Off Testing of Rocket Propellants: The Combustion Rate Analysis of a Slowly Heated Propellant (CRASH-P) Test

    Published on: February 6, 2021

    Main Results:

    • Infrasound signals were recorded from distances up to 1000 km.
    • Signal frequency was found to be dependent on the reflection altitude, decreasing with atmospheric rarefaction.
    • Horizontal trace velocity matched acoustic velocity at the reflection level.
    • Daily signal variations indicated significant atmospheric parameter fluctuations.

    Conclusions:

    • Concorde sonic booms generate infrasound that can be used to probe the upper atmosphere.
    • Signal frequency and velocity provide data on temperature and wind at stratospheric and thermospheric levels.
    • Observed daily variations highlight the dynamic nature of these atmospheric parameters.