Which wavelengths will exhibit less diffraction?

Prepare for the Hearing Instrument Specialist Exam. Study with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions designed to test your knowledge. Enhance your readiness and ensure success!

The correct choice indicates that high-pitched sounds exhibit less diffraction than other types of sounds. This is based on the principle of diffraction, which describes how waves bend around obstacles or spread out as they pass through openings. The amount of diffraction is inversely related to the wavelength of the sound.

Higher-frequency sounds, such as high-pitched ones, have shorter wavelengths. Because shorter wavelengths encounter obstacles in a way that limits their ability to bend and spread out, they exhibit less diffraction. Conversely, lower-frequency sounds, which have longer wavelengths, are able to bend around obstacles more readily, thus exhibiting greater diffraction.

This is why high-pitched sounds stand out as exhibiting less diffraction compared to low-pitched sounds, infrasonic wavelengths, or audible wavelengths. When waves from low-pitched sounds interact with surfaces or barriers, they tend to spread out more significantly, highlighting the overall impact of wavelength on diffraction effects.

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