eli5 : Why does 2 identical sounds heard at the same time sounds louder ?
In: Physics
The fancy word for it is constructive interference. Sound is particles getting pushed together and spreading apart creating pressure waves (sound). If two things make the same sound (frequency) at the same time then they can push on the air twice and make it louder. You can also have sounds produced at weird distances apart (half a wavelength) then the air will be pushing and expanding at the same time and the wave cancels out, making it quieter. This can happen when sounds bounce off walls or on purpose with sound cancelling headphones.
Sound is an oscillating pressure wave propagating through a medium, such as air. If you have two identical sounds hitting your ears at the same time, you have twice the energy being transferred to your eardrums.
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