Discussion Questions: Dead Sea

Please read all FOUR essays and write an paragraph about each one telling what you liked about it, if you have any questions, and make sure you understand the physics involved.

Every type of mechanical wave is associated with some sort of medium or material. The speed and distance traveled by the wave depends on the mechanical properties of the medium. There are a few key terms that are needed to understand wavelengths. This will be described by the relationship that exists within these key terms (speed, wavelength, period, frequency). The wave advances a distance of one wavelength(Λ) during one period(T) so the wave speed(v) is given by v=Λ/T because frequency is given by f=1/T of the wave also equals the product of the wavelength and the frequency . Our ears interpret longitudinal waves as sound; loudness is given by amplitude, and frequency is given by pitch (the higher the pitch the greater the frequency). The above formula holds for longitudinal waves.

Whale sounds are interesting for a few reasons; there are two majors types of whale calls "songs" and "social sounds". Social sounds are done by both males and females, often on the mating ground. Songs are done exclusively by males often when they are escorting a female and their calf. In different depths or parts of the world, these calls sounds have different frequencies and speeds. This could be attributed to water temperature which could easily effect the speed of the waves, depth, and etc. However there are also theories that at different parts of the world animals speak in different languages or dialogues.