Low-pitch sounds, also known as low-frequency sounds, tend to propagate through water more effectively than high-pitch sounds due to several factors:
Wavelength: The wavelength of a sound wave is inversely proportional to its frequency. Low-frequency sounds have longer wavelengths, which allows them to interact more efficiently with water molecules. Water molecules are closely packed, and the longer wavelength of low-frequency sounds allows them to interact with a larger number of molecules, leading to better transmission.
Absorption: Water has certain absorption properties that affect sound propagation. Higher-frequency sounds are more prone to absorption as they interact with water molecules, causing the sound energy to dissipate more quickly. Low-frequency sounds, on the other hand, are less absorbed by water molecules and can travel longer distances without losing as much energy.
Scattering: Scattering occurs when sound waves encounter particles or obstacles in their path, causing the waves to change direction. In water, the scattering of sound waves is influenced by the size of the particles or impurities in the water. Since low-frequency sounds have longer wavelengths, they can diffract around or pass through particles more effectively than high-frequency sounds, resulting in less scattering and better propagation.
Background noise: In underwater environments, there is often a significant amount of ambient noise, including biological sounds, ship noise, and water turbulence. Low-frequency sounds have a better chance of penetrating through this background noise, as they can be less affected by competing sounds and disturbances.
Due to these factors, low-pitch sounds can propagate more efficiently through water, making them suitable for long-range underwater communication, marine mammal vocalizations, and sonar applications.