Wonderfull of Physics: Physics Facts

Sound Facts

Sound comes from vibrations. These vibrations create sound waves which move through mediums such as air and water before reaching our ears.
Our ears vibrate in a similar way to the original source of the vibration, allowing us to hear many different sounds.
Dogs can hear sound at a higher frequency than humans, allowing them to hear noises that we can’t.
Sound is used by many animals to detect danger, warning them of possible attacks before they happen.
Sound can’t travel through a vacuum (an area empty of matter).
The speed of sound is around 767 miles per hour (1,230 kilometres per hour).
The loud noise you create by cracking a whip occurs because the tip is moving so fast it breaks the speed of sound!
When traveling through water, sound moves around four times faster than when it travels through air.
The scientific study of sound waves is known as acoustics.
Although music can be hard to define, it is often described as a pleasing or meaningful arrangement of sounds.
The sound of thunder is produced by rapidly heated air surrounding lightning which expands faster than the speed of sound.

Magma is the hot liquid rock under the surface of the Earth, it is known as lava after it comes out of a volcano. .
Natural gas doesn't have an odour, strong smells are added to it by humans so it can be detected when there are leaks.
Hawaii is moving towards Japan at the speed of 10cm a year. This is because they are on different tectonic plates.
The worlds largest desert is the Sahara, it covers about one third of Africa!
Stretching out to an impressive length of 6696 kilometres (4160 miles) long, the Nile River is the longest river on earth.
The volcanic rock known as pumice is the only rock that can float in water.
Mt Everest is the highest mountain on earth, its peak reaches 8,848 metres (29029 feet) above sea level.
On average the Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest of Earth’s major oceans. .

Earthquakes that occur out at sea can cause huge tsunamis capable of reaching land and endangering people.
Metamorphic rocks are formed by extreme pressure and heat.

The Earth isn't perfectly round, it is slightly flattened at the north and south poles.
Scared of the Bermuda Triangle? Despite its reputation it is actually part of a common sailed shipping route.

Talc is the softest mineral found on Earth, reaching just 1 on Mohs scale of hardness, it is often used to make talcum powder.

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest living structure in the world.

Although earthquakes can be deadly, most are very small and not even felt by humans.