Question

Dolphins make soundsin air and water. What is the ratio of the wavelength of their sound in air to its wavelength in water? The speed sound in air is 343 m/s and in water is 1540 m/s.

Answer 1

When a wave changes medium,its frequency doesn't change as frequency depends on source not on the properties of the media,

Now,we know the relationship between wavelength `lambda` , velocity `v` and frequency `nu` of a wave as,

`v=nulambda`

Or, `nu= v/lambda`

Or,`v/lambda =` constant

So,let velocity of sound in air is `v_1` with wavelength `lambda_1` and that of `v_2` and `lambda_2` in water,

So,we can write,

`lambda_1/lambda_2 =v_1/v_2=343/1540=0.23`