What happens when two sound waves collide?

Answer 1

Nothing. Sound waves are mechanical waves and light waves are electromagnetic waves. The two do not affect each other. Note that electromagnetic waves do not require a medium through which to travel. Sound waves (or any other mechanical waves) require a medium for transmission. And the medium through which a mechanical wave travels will affect an electromagnetic wave.

Answer 2

Ummmmm, NO.

Ignore that.

This describes an Echo.

Assuming a perfectly smooth surface, the reflected wave travels away from the reflector in accordance with the usual angle of incidence = angle of reflection, diminishing with the square of the distance.

Not all the energy is reflected fully. Some is scattered or absorbed by the reflecting surface.

If the sound is reflected back and forth in a chaotic overlap the result is reverberation, as in a cathedral or in the ocean.

In the sea reverberation gives whale calls that plangent "singing" quality, from what are really only squawks and grunts.

Answer 3

They collide and travel together, producing high crests and deep troughs. This is called "constructive inference". If the crests align with troughs and troughs with crests, "destructive inference" occurs. The waves are now "out of phase" and their wave heights are subtracted from one another, producing smalls crests and troughs or even briefly cancelling out the waves completely.

Sound waves don't interact much with each other at all. The constructive and destructive interference mentioned above will be percieved by your ears or a microphone though. You can't effectively cancel two sound waves by shooting them at each other.

Answer 4

When two sound waves collide, they can interfere with each other in a phenomenon known as superposition. Depending on whether the waves are in-phase or out-of-phase, they can either reinforce each other (constructive interference) or cancel each other out (destructive interference). This interaction can result in changes to the overall amplitude and frequency of the sound waves at the collision point.

Answer 5

Sound waves from two distinct sources pass through each other. It's just that simple.

Answer 6

Friends with benefits