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Explain why it is possible to hear around corners but not to see around corners. - Leaving Cert Physics - Question (g) - 2019
Question (g)
Explain why it is possible to hear around corners but not to see around corners.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain why it is possible to hear around corners but not to see around corners. - Leaving Cert Physics - Question (g) - 2019
Step 1
Explain why it is possible to hear around corners
Answer
Sound waves are capable of diffracting, which means they can bend around obstacles due to their relatively long wavelengths. This diffraction allows us to perceive sounds from sources that are not directly in our line of sight. The ability to hear around corners is primarily attributed to the properties of sound, which has a larger wavelength compared to visible light.
In practice, this means that when a sound is produced, it can travel in various directions. As it encounters edges or corners, the sound waves can bend around these obstacles, enabling us to hear sounds originating from around corners.
Step 2
Explain why it is not possible to see around corners
Answer
In contrast, visible light consists of much shorter wavelengths than sound waves. Light travels in straight lines unless it interacts with a transparent medium or reflectors. When light reaches a corner or an obstacle, it cannot bend around it in the same manner that sound waves can. As a result, we are unable to see objects that are located around corners because the light from these objects cannot reach our eyes. This fundamental difference in wave behavior between sound and light explains why hearing is possible in such scenarios, while seeing is not.