acoustical shadow
Quick Summary
An acoustic shadow is an area where sounds from a nearby source cannot be heard due to factors like topography and wind. This phenomenon is related to diffraction, which is the spreading of waves around obstacles.12
When sound waves encounter an obstacle, they can bend and spread into the area behind it. This bending is more pronounced when the wavelength of the sound is similar in size to the obstacle. In the case of sound, this diffraction means that sharp shadows are not formed, and certain frequencies can be attenuated in specific regions, creating an acoustic shadow. This is why lower frequencies of a voice bend around corners more easily than higher frequencies.234
Acoustic shadows can be a concern in architectural acoustics, particularly in the design of concert halls and auditoriums, where they can affect sound quality.35
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