Sound and Cold Weather

[Beverly]

Was just out on my balcony having my first cigarette of the day (ya, bad me ). Temp is -34. Ambient street sounds sounded very loud and crisp. I know there is a reason sound travels differently in the cold, I can't remember why, though. Can anyone explain?

[mr_alberta]

The air molecules move around more slowly and are closer together so sound is transmitted better.

[Dez]

It's minus 34? I guess I should be dressing warm today. I'm outside most of the day. But I gues I'll hear really well

des

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by Dez

It's minus 34?

Des,

Yes, -34 with a wind speed of 9 km/hr, going up to a balmy -27 Don't know what the windchill factor is, but long johns will definitely be in order

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Was just out on my balcony having my first cigarette of the day (ya, bad me ). Temp is -34. Ambient street sounds sounded very loud and crisp. I know there is a reason sound travels differently in the cold, I can't remember why, though. Can anyone explain?

I am not sure about the physics of sound. I do know, however, that when I stopped smoking 30 years ago, there were no restrictions on where you could smoke. Therefore I am happy I stopped, so I don't have to go out in -34 degree weather to indulge in that silliness.

[Delphinus]

Air density is greater when cold, and sound waves travel faster through denser objects.

My favourite is listening to an airplane overhead when it's this cold. It sounds like it's barely 30 feet off the ground!!!

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by Bob_I

I do know, however, that when I stopped smoking 30 years ago, there were no restrictions on where you could smoke. Therefore I am happy I stopped, so I don't have to go out in -34 degree weather to indulge in that silliness.

There isn't anything silly about addiction. Tobacco addiction is said to be as strong as addiction to cocaine I've had a couple of 10 year periods smoke-free, so I know how difficult it is to quit and how wonderful it is to not be under the awful control of this addiction.

Smoking outside is a self-imposed rule. I'm sure all my tanks, birds, snake and resident humans appreciate that I smoke outdoors, -34 or not. Just glad we have indoor plumbing, though

[G1GY]

Originally Posted by Beverly

There isn't anything silly about addiction. Tobacco addiction is said to be as strong as addiction to cocaine I've had a couple of 10 year periods smoke-free, so I know how difficult it is to quit and how wonderful it is to not be under the awful control of this addiction.

Smoking outside is a self-imposed rule. I'm sure all my tanks, birds, snake and resident humans appreciate that I smoke outdoors, -34 or not. Just glad we have indoor plumbing, though

Well put Bev!

I'm also a smoker who Doesn't impose my habbit on those who don't smoke.(I did quit for 9 months a couple of years back though.)

I should stop smoking again.

[Dabbler]

Both me and my wife (Doublette) smoke. and 99% of the time we do smoke out side but when it gets this cold I relax the rules a little and have a few at night but thats all the rest of the time it is out side (like tonight I think I will be smokin in side) brrrrr

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Beverly

There isn't anything silly about addiction. Tobacco addiction is said to be as strong as addiction to cocaine

You mean the Tobacco Companies LIED to us Say it isn't so. If you can't trust the TOBACCO COMPANIES, who can you trust

My dad was a 2 pack/day smoker (from Malaysia where almost everyone smokes) until his doctor showed him X-rays of his lungs & told him to say "good-bye" to his family because he'd be dead in 6 months. Quit Cold Turkey right there & then. That was when I was in Gr. 9 & I had just taken Consumer Ed so I wrote out a contract between him & the rest of the family that if any of us ever caught him near a cigarette, even if he was "just holding it for a friend", Dad would have to buy each of us a new car of our choice. Bad news is I never got that new car (@ age 13 ), but the best news is he stuck it out.

A month after he quit, we had a dinner party & my uncles came over. I asked my uncle (the Doctor) if he could refrain from smoking around my dad since he was trying to quit & it was literally a life-or-death situation. My #$#@ uncle took out a cigarette, lit it & blew smoke in my face (I guess he didn't think I had the right to tell him what to do). As a less-than-angelic teen, I got out & filled my water pistol (if only they had SuperSoakers back then) & put out his cigarette for him That was the most worth-while spanking I ever got

Anthony