7.4 If the sound waves were to travol the same dlstance through AIR instead of water, how would this affect each of the following? Choose from: INCREASE, DECREASE or REMAINS THE SAME

To determine how sound waves behave when traveling the same distance through **air** instead of **water**, we'll consider several key properties of sound. Here's an analysis based on the typical differences between these two mediums: 1. **Speed of Sound** - **Decreases** - **Explanation:** Sound travels faster in water (~1,480 m/s) than in air (~343 m/s) at room temperature. 2. **Wavelength** - **Decreases** - **Explanation:** Wavelength (\( \lambda \)) is related to speed (\( v \)) and frequency (\( f \)) by the equation \( \lambda = \frac{v}{f} \). If the speed decreases while the frequency remains the same, the wavelength must decrease. 3. **Frequency** - **Remains the Same** - **Explanation:** The frequency of the sound is determined by the source and doesn't change when transitioning between mediums. 4. **Time Taken to Travel the Distance** - **Increases** - **Explanation:** Since the speed of sound is slower in air, it takes more time to cover the same distance compared to water. 5. **Intensity (Loudness)** - **Decreases** - **Explanation:** Sound attenuates more in air than in water due to factors like higher absorption and scattering, leading to a decrease in intensity over the same distance. 6. **Energy Transmission** - **Decreases** - **Explanation:** Less energy is transmitted through air compared to water over the same distance because air is a less efficient medium for conducting sound energy. 7. **Attenuation (Loss of Signal Strength)** - **Increases** - **Explanation:** Sound waves lose more energy in air, leading to greater attenuation over the same distance. 8. **Pitch Perception** - **Remains the Same** - **Explanation:** Since frequency remains unchanged, the perceived pitch by a listener also remains the same, assuming no Doppler effect is involved. **Summary Table:** | **Property** | **Change When Moving to Air** | |--------------------------------|-------------------------------| | Speed of Sound | Decreases | | Wavelength | Decreases | | Frequency | Remains the Same | | Time Taken to Travel Distance | Increases | | Intensity (Loudness) | Decreases | | Energy Transmission | Decreases | | Attenuation | Increases | | Pitch Perception | Remains the Same | **Note:** These changes are based on typical conditions and may vary with specific environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and pressure.