Sound waves travel through a medium by causing particles in the medium to vibrate, creating a series of compressions and rarefactions that propagate as a wave.
The speed of sound waves is affected by the density, temperature, and elasticity of the medium through which they are traveling. Generally, sound travels faster in denser, warmer, and more elastic mediums.
To measure the distance using sound waves, you can use a technique called echo ranging. This involves sending out a sound wave and measuring the time it takes for the wave to reflect off an object and return to the source. The distance can then be calculated using the speed of sound and the time it took for the wave to travel.
Yes, sound waves can be used to measure distances in both air and water. However, the speed of sound differs in these two mediums, so different calculations must be used to determine distance. Additionally, factors such as temperature, salinity, and depth can affect the speed of sound in water, making distance measurements more complex.
There are a few limitations to using sound waves to measure distance. For one, sound waves can only travel through mediums, so they cannot be used to measure distances in a vacuum. Additionally, sound waves can be affected by external factors such as wind or obstacles in the medium, which can alter their speed and make distance measurements less accurate.