Thread: Sound waves

In class our teacher said that sound waves transmits better through materials such as a table,water,...
And it doesn't transmit through air as well as through materials.

Now my question is, if the above is true, how do ear plugs work?

your ears are adapted to 'hearing' through air. If you put some solid in the way it distorts the sound's form such that it is not as comprehensible to your ear, in the case of earplugs this means shortening the amplitude.

Originally Posted by JekPorkins

your ears are adapted to 'hearing' through air. If you put some solid in the way it distorts the sound's form such that it is not as comprehensible to your ear, in the case of earplugs this means shortening the amplitude.

Plus, ear plugs are usually made of a foamy material which absorb the waves, converting most of the energy into heat.

Sound may travel better through denser materials, but at the same time, it doesn't travel well across the interface between two materials. (Consider trying to listen to something on the other side of a wall.) Second, earplugs are made from a material that isn't very good at transmitting sound, despite being a solid.

Very interesting, i now see why these earplugs work.

Thank's a lot for your help!