Whales and dolphins both use sound underwater. Dolphins use high-frequency sounds to locate objects. These waves can travel a few hundred meters. Whales use low‑frequency sounds to communicate. These waves can travel hundreds of kilometers. Why might these sounds travel different distances?
Group of answer choices
Water absorbs high-frequency sounds more than low-frequency sounds.
Whales are better than dolphins at producing sounds.
Whale sounds are hundreds of times louder than the sounds made by dolphins.
Whales are larger than dolphins so their sounds travel farther in water.
1 answer
The correct answer is:
Water absorbs high-frequency sounds more than low-frequency sounds.
In underwater environments, high-frequency sounds tend to be absorbed more quickly than low-frequency sounds. This is because high-frequency waves have shorter wavelengths, which leads to greater attenuation as they travel through the medium. In contrast, low-frequency sounds can travel longer distances with less absorption, allowing them to propagate further in the ocean.
