+36 A sound signal of an explosion captured through a microphone and sent to a speaker a few kilometers away reaches faster than the actual sound wave, amirite?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's a problem in smaller situations than this! It also affects concerts!

by Lkrajcik 1 week ago

If you watch the Queen's Radio Ga Ga performance at Live Aid, you can see the speed of sound represented by the audience clapping.

by Status_Cockroach_881 1 week ago

I have worked live sound reinforcement. The effect is noticeable in even very small venues. It takes so much less time for the signal to go the length of the venue to the sound board, be processed (adds delay), go to the amps, go to the speakers, and come out again that the sound from the speakers can hit parts of the audience before the initial sound does.

by No_Wing1190 1 week ago

I have experienced this in real life. I used to grade tank gunnery. We had a live broadcast of their intercom traffic so we could grade their procedures. Some times the tanks would over a mile away from the observation tower and I could hear the main gun fire on the intercom a few seconds before I heard the actual sound wave.

by swiftalphonso 1 week ago

A gunshot is often incorrect in movies because of this. When someone far away fires at you, you'll first see the flash of the muzzle, then the bullet hits, then you hear the gunshot.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I'm pretty sure we got uploaded videos of the Beirut blast before the pressure wave had been detected around the world (iirc the after pressure of that blast was detected worldwide)

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Recorded sounds of actual explosions actually sound rather weak and timid. If you ever had the old and television game with the dungeons & dragons cartridge, when the bomb would go off, in the game, that sounded a lot like what I was able to record with microphones and firecrackers.

by Mariliekling 1 week ago

The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound you say? Wow, thanks. 🙄

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I suppose if you're using fiberoptics, but even then the signal processing will add delay. Electrical signals travel slower than c though..

by Anonymous 1 week ago

No, electrical signals and light in fiber optics travel about the same speed, roughly 2/3 c

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I rounded. Electrical signals travel about 2/3c Closer to C than it is to the speed of sound by far. I believe I made my point

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I rounded. Electrical signals travel about 2/3c Closer to C than it is to the speed of sound by far. I made my point I think

by Anonymous 1 week ago