1
$\begingroup$

Since sound waves travel in straight lines, is it possible to generate sound such that it can only be heard in a specific direction away from it's source? Normally when we generate a sound, for example when we say something, the sound we make can be heard all around us. The person left and the person right to us can hear us when we say something. I assume this is because when we say something we don't generate a disturbance on one particular particle that propagates the disturbance, but we do this on many particles in many different directions. So I was wondering if it is theoretically (or even practically) possible to make a sound (obviously by a machine and not our voice) that can be heard only for example in front of the source in a specific radius?

EDIT: I assume it is not possible because particles aren't perfectly lined up, so when they hit each other and propagate the disturbance the direction of the sound wave gets deflected. But then again, I read that sound waves travel in straight lines, so what does this mean exactly?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ Your best bet is probably standing sound waves in a tube or tunnel. The maxima would be audibly at some repetitive distances and inaudible in the minima. $\endgroup$
    – Gert
    Commented Dec 5, 2021 at 20:47
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ the answer is yes, and it is commercial see holosonics.com $\endgroup$
    – anna v
    Commented Dec 5, 2021 at 20:53
  • $\begingroup$ @annav amazing! do you have any article suggestions to read up on this technique? Do you know why my intuition was wrong that it is not possible because particles are not perfectly lined up? $\endgroup$
    – timtam
    Commented Dec 5, 2021 at 21:05
  • $\begingroup$ just found it by google "directed sound". I knew of the technology of using reflected sound in open air theaters and clubs ( I live in Greece) so that the sound does not propagate outside and disturb neighbors. Sound is modeled with wave equations, the same as light, so it makes sense that a beam can be constructed. $\endgroup$
    – anna v
    Commented Dec 5, 2021 at 21:22
  • $\begingroup$ I haven't looked further into holosonic's technology but to my knowledge there are two quite prominent ways to create a narrow (sound) beam. One is already touched upon by Niels Nielsen and can be found in various "flavours". For more information on it you can look for terms like "phased arrays" and "beamforming". The other way is to use modulated ultrasounds. Since ultrasounds can be very directive, you can combine them (pretty much like creating a beating effect) to create modulation in some audible frequencies. Again, I am not sure which one (or if it's a different one) holosonics use. $\endgroup$
    – ZaellixA
    Commented Dec 6, 2021 at 23:43

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$

Yes, as Anna V points out. the fundamentals of this process are as follows:

Imagine we have two sound sources near each other, side by side. if we feed them with exactly the same signal, then something resembling a flattish sound wave is set up by the two of them which radiates away. Now if we introduce a slight phase delay between the two sources, there will be zones in front of the sources where the waves cancel and other zones where the waves reinforce themselves. By changing the phase delay you can then make the apparent source of the sound sweep back and forth across the room.

Adding more such sources in a line results in the creation of something called a phased array in which a narrow beam of sound can be formed and then aimed at a wide array of different angles, without having to mechanically swivel the whole array back and forth to aim it in different directions.

This principle also applies to electromagnetic waves and is used to make a steerable, sweeping beam of radar waves from an enormous antenna array which is far too large to be mechanically steered.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.