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Is it possible to send modulated ultrasound wave from underwater to air?
In case of radio frequency it is refraction loss at the surface between water and air. Is it something similar for ultrasound wave in water-air medium?

For instance if I have one ultrasound communication system above 30kHz and transmitter is underwater(about 2m) and receiver is over a dozen cm above water surface, can it work?

Thanks

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Yes. a wave created with a certain frequency in the water remains the same even if the medium is changed. The only thing that is important in here is the amplitude of our wave.

When the sound wave from inside of water hit the surface, some of the wave reflect back into the water and a lower amplitude wave is continued in the air. so the energy of the wave must be enough so the wave stay detectable outside of the water.

Frequency is a property of source and will not change even if the medium is changed.

EDIT: since the refraction is requested, I add this here:

The refraction in the sound wave is just like the refraction in any wave behavioral phenomena. and it can be calculated this way:

$$\frac{n_{Air}} {n_{Water}} = \frac{v_1}{v_2} = \frac{n_2}{n_1} $$

in this way you can calculate the placement of receiver.

Power $(E/t)$ created by any sound source is calculated this way:

$P=2\pi^2A^2f^2\mu v$

(Usually wave sources provides you the power of machine, no need to calculate it)

Then you can calculate the Intensity of the wave around the source (In the water) with this equation:

$I=\frac{p}{4\pi r^2}$

when r is the distance from the source.

so you can calculate the amount of energy at the surface, and the angle that it refracts. and remember the point at the mediums border act like a sound source it self. it seems like the point is creating another wave trough the air with another wavelength. and the new wavelength is calculated with the new speed (since the frequency doesn't change. it's the same as the sound source in the water, 30 KHZ)

$\lambda = \frac{v}{f}$

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for answer. How I can figure out a equation of refraction loss for ultrasound wave in water-air medium? $\endgroup$ – Tom33 Apr 9 '15 at 14:38
  • $\begingroup$ I wonder whether the OP is asking about the possibility of Total Internal Reflection. (i.e., will any of the acoustic energy be coupled to air, and if so, how much?) It's probably more of an engineering question than a science question. $\endgroup$ – Solomon Slow Apr 9 '15 at 14:39
  • $\begingroup$ @Tom33 Here you go. I edited the answer. if anything else come up, just ask. $\endgroup$ – Mobin Apr 9 '15 at 15:36

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