Question
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?
• 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.
• Water absorbs high-frequency sounds more than low-frequency sounds.
• Whales are better than dolphins at producing sounds.
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?
• 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.
• Water absorbs high-frequency sounds more than low-frequency sounds.
• Whales are better than dolphins at producing sounds.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The primary reason that sounds travel different distances for whales and dolphins is:
**Water absorbs high-frequency sounds more than low-frequency sounds.**
High-frequency sounds, like those used by dolphins, are more easily absorbed by water, which limits their range. In contrast, low-frequency sounds, like those made by whales, can travel much farther because they are less affected by absorption in water. This allows whale sounds to travel hundreds of kilometers, while dolphin sounds only travel a few hundred meters.
**Water absorbs high-frequency sounds more than low-frequency sounds.**
High-frequency sounds, like those used by dolphins, are more easily absorbed by water, which limits their range. In contrast, low-frequency sounds, like those made by whales, can travel much farther because they are less affected by absorption in water. This allows whale sounds to travel hundreds of kilometers, while dolphin sounds only travel a few hundred meters.