novel

Waves and sound
Sound is a longitudinal wave; as such it demonstrates the properties of waves. That is it is reflected, refracted, it interferes and it experiences diffraction.
Reflection
Like most waves when sound encounters a suitable surface i.e. a hard one, it is reflected and the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. This causes the phenomenon of echoes, when designing a building where the sound properties are important it is important also to consider how sound will be reflected. Designers try to reflect sound so that the low frequency and high frequency notes are heard with equal clarity and volume but the echoes which are time delayed are absorbed. So you tend to find reflectors above orchestras to reflect sound that escapes above out into the audience.
Refraction
The speed of sound depends on the elasticity and density of the medium it is travelling in. when these properties change so does the speed if sound. Passing from a slower to a faster medium or v...