When out and about in public, how do sounds not cancel each other out?

1.06K viewsOtherPhysics

I get constructive and deconstructive, but those are usually in the context of being the same frequency and just being out of phase. I’m talking like…you and your bud having a conversation in a restaurant, with music playing, convos around you, sound of wait staff, etc. If a waiter drops a plate, how does that sound transit through at that higher, unique frequency through all the other noise so that all can hear it?

Thank you for your time!

In: Physics

24 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

>If a waiter drops a plate, how does that sound transit through at that higher, unique frequency through all the other noise so that all can hear it?

Sound is a wave. It is a known fact in physics that waves pass through each other undisturbed.

Simple proof: light, too, is a wave. Take two flashlights and cross their beams. One beam can pass through the other beam like it’s not even there. QED, waves can pass through each other without issues.

You are viewing 1 out of 24 answers, click here to view all answers.