Question :

When a sound is reflected from a distinct object, an echo is produced. Let the distance between the reflecting surface and the source of sound production remains the same. Do you hear echo sound on a hotter day?
Submitted on 2/2/2024 | Answered by Vandana Rana

Answer :

Velocity of sound increases with temperature. Thus velocity of sound in air increases in the hotter day. Hence the time difference between the incident wave and the reflected wave decreases.



Now a human ear requires a minimum time interval of 1/10th of a second to hear an echo.



Thus, if the time interval is greater than 0.1 second on the hotter day, then an echo can be heard.



But, on a hotter day, the time gap between the incidence of original and reflected sound is less than 0.1 s due to higher velocity of sound. So, chances of hearing echo is less.