Long and Short Sound Waves

Author: N.H. Crowhurst

Many rooms do not permit a complete cycle of low frequency

As a result of the tremendous differences in wavelength, the low frequencies may not even have one complete wave in an average-sized room at the same instant, whereas a high-frequency sound will have many complete waves in the room traveling in a number of directions at the same time.

Because of its size, a low-frequency wave can hardly be recognized as such in a comparatively small room - it is more like a fluctuating pressure throughout the whole room at the same time. For this reason, it will fill the room, regardless of the room's shape. The higher frequencies, however, since they are smaller than most objects, such as walls and furniture, will be reflected whenever they strike a surface. For this reason, you may miss some of the high frequencies, not because they are not present, but because you happen to be sitting in a shadow zone.

High frequencies can produce a shadow zone