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Can we Hear sound in Space?

I  have little fantasy about space ! Can we hear sound in space?

 

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Tags: Universe, sound, Space, hearing.

 

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rob.stass says:

No. Sound that we hear is as a result of air oscillating as a longitudinal wave. In space there is (practically) no air because it's a near perfect vacuum. No air = no sound. "In space, no-one can hear you scream!"

sssss
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Tags: Universe, sound, Space, hearing.

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posted on 2010-11-11 17:25:18 | Report abuse


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Jon-Richfield says:

The question is not clear. If it assumes that we are in a space suit, then we are not properly in space, just near to it. If we actually are in space, we will be dead too soon to to care, even if our eardrums don't burst.

Or should the question be "Can sound travel through space?" Well, it would not be much good shouting at someone a metre away, because, as Rob said, sound need a medium that will transmit longitudinal vibrations, and space certainly will not do that.

But what about transmitting sound vibrations through space by other means than vibrating air molecules? Of course we could do so electronically by radio waves or light signals etc, but most people see that as cheating. It is not really direct transmission of vibrations, but transmission of information that can be used to generate  sound vibrations.

However, I still disagree with Rob in his denial. Consider certain options for direct transmission of sound waves.You and I are in spacesuits. Our radio is not to be used. I go to you and press my helmet against your helmet. I shout: "Mr Watson. Come here; I want to see you." And you hear me clearly; the sound vibrations conduct through the helmet material.

But Rob might object that with the helmets in contact the sound did not really travel through vacuum. OK, but then I try something different. Onto each helmet, with no electronic kit in sight, I fasten either an opposing powerful magnet, or electret. We then approach each other until the fields of the magnets or the electrets permit us to get no closer. Now I speak again. This time the vibrations of the one charged device affect the other one, and again I can hear the sound, even though there was no air or physical contact between us, and yet the longitudinal vibration was transmitted between us without any special electronics or anything.

That is sound isn't it? After all, those magnets or electrets repel each in much the same way as gas molecules do when they transmit sound vibrations.

 

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posted on 2010-11-11 18:49:31 | Report abuse


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shovancurious says:

NO, because in space and all the Universe, (excluding bodies with an atmosphere) there is Vacuum, vacuum and vacuum and sound can't travel throgh vacuum. 

sssss
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posted on 2010-11-12 13:21:55 | Report abuse


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csimpson says:

Sound is a mechanical wave, that is, it moves by vibrations and changes in pressure in a medium, usually a fluid. Space is mostly a vacuum, so contains almost not matter. There is no matter to act as a medium for sound in space, so sound can not travel.

sssss
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posted on 2010-11-12 22:03:05 | Report abuse


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StevieBlunder says:

Yes, we could hear sound in space if there was sound to hear.  I think your question would be better phrased as "can sound travel in the vacuum of space"  or a question I would like to know "is the perception of sound dependent on an atmosphere"? - would we "hear" anything in a vacuum ?  Perhaps our eardrum exploding or our cochlear freezing, or would we "hear" some type of artifac?.  You have probably noticed that even in a very quiet room you can hear a buzzing or humming noise.

 

sssss
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posted on 2010-11-13 07:47:26 | Report abuse


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