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omega-centauri
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Do sound waves increase the temperature of the medium they are traveling through?
omega-centauri said:Does it have to do with the frequency of the wave and also the natural frequency of the medium (is there such a thing?)
Reasonable argument.jon connell said:Reminds me of an engineering question I often raise without answer: Topic - Absorbed light eventually ends up as phonons: Any thoughts on the truth of the following please?
Waste-heat generated by lighting fixtures and electronic control equipment within a space:
Engineers regularly claim a reduced HVAC cooling load arising from efficient electronic conversion systems - meaning more light + less waste heat (as control equipment losses) produces a lowered thermal load on a spaces HVAC system - and is therefore a more cost effective equipment solution.
However, it has always struck me that (in some theoretical perfectly closed space), all light bouncing from walls eventually is eventually 100% absorbed by the reflective surfaces - and in turn eventually ends up as phonons in those floors and walls - which at some point (as above, sound=heat) presents as thermal energy in that same space. (Ignoring thermal conduction loss to outside of the space)
So, imho a theoretical 100 Watts of electrical energy input to a given closed space should all end up as thermal energy in that space regardless of what form it takes in the interim. Or, [light plus waste heat == phonons plus waste heat], literally 100W Energy in=100W Heat out.
All things being equal, the only difference in the room's ambient temperature (whether using efficient or inefficient electronic conversion equipment) would only be in the time taken for each respective means to reach thermal equilibrium. Efficient conversion gear would only change the timing of events. Claim then: Conversion efficiency of electronic equipment changes only the energy path, not the destination. (Again, in a thought experiment and hypothetical perfectly closed space)
Yes, sound waves can increase temperature through a process called acoustic heating. When sound waves travel through a medium, they cause the molecules in the medium to vibrate, which in turn generates heat. This increase in heat can be measured and observed.
Acoustic heating occurs when sound waves pass through a medium and cause the molecules in the medium to vibrate. As the molecules vibrate, they collide with each other and generate heat. This process is similar to the way friction generates heat.
The amount of temperature increase from sound waves depends on several factors, including the intensity and frequency of the sound waves, the properties of the medium (such as density and compressibility), and the duration of exposure to the sound waves.
Yes, sound waves can increase temperature in all materials, but the amount of temperature increase may vary depending on the properties of the material. For example, materials with higher densities and lower compressibility are more likely to experience a greater temperature increase from sound waves.
No, acoustic heating is not a significant source of temperature increase in everyday life. The amount of heat generated from sound waves is usually minimal and does not have a noticeable effect on the overall temperature of a system. However, in certain industrial processes, acoustic heating is used intentionally for heating and drying purposes.