Dolphins make sounds in air and water. What is the ratio of the wavelength of a sound in air to its wavelength in seawater if the speed of sound in water at that specific location is 1540 m/s and the air temperature is 20.00°C?

ratio of air to sea water is 49 / 220 = 0.22272

Explanation:

given data

speed of sound in water = 1540 m/s

air temperature = 20°C

to find out

ratio of wavelength of sound in air to seawater

solution

we know here that speed of sound is different in air and water so wavelength will also be different and velocity of sound is equal to produce wavelength and frequency in medium and

we know that speed of sound air at 20°C = approx 343 m/s

and

speed = frequency * wavelength ... 1

so

for air wavelength = 343 / f

for water wavelength = 1540 / f

so ratio of air to sea water = (343 / f) / (1540 / f)

ratio of air to sea water = 343 / 1540

ratio of air to sea water is 49 / 220 = 0.22272