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.

1 Answer
Mar 14, 2018

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#