why do different materials make different sounds when banged together? Eg silicon spoons make no sound but metal ones *clink* when they touch.
In: Physics
In short and simple terms, it has to do with the physical properties of the materials. Sound is caused by vibrations in materials and through the air. Density, hardness, elasticity, and many other factors affect the way that materials vibrate, and thus affect the sounds they produce when hit.
Sound is dispersed through vibrations; and soft materials (like silicone) absorb vibrations. An example related to this is when a city is covered by snow. The typically loud city’s echoes will be muffled when the snowfall absorbs the noisy vibrations. There’s also an episode of Storybots on Netflix that explains sound in a way that is very basic
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