Sound and distance
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Electricity
Sound
States of matter
Living things and their habitats
Animals, including humans
Explainer Video
Summary
Sound and distance
In a nutshell
A sound source is an object that produces a sound. Sounds get quieter as you move further away from the sound source.
Sound source
Definition
A sound source is an object that is producing a sound.
Example
For music playing from a radio, the radio speakers are the sound source.
When speaking, your vocal cords are the sound source.
Sound and distance
Sounds get fainter as you move away from the source of the sound. As the sound wave travels through more and more particles it loses energy. This makes the vibrations weaker as the distance from the sound source increases.
Sound also get fainter because some of the vibrations are absorbed by the obstacles they meet.
Example
You have to shout to get the attention of someone far away. But you can talk at a normal volume to someone standing next to you.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Why does volume decrease with distance?
Volume of a sound decreases because the sound wave loses energy as it travels.
Does the pitch of a sound change with distance?
The pitch of the sound does not change with distance as it depends how the speed of vibrations and not the strength.
How does sound decrease with distance?
Sounds get fainter as you move away from the source of the sound.