Why is there a squeaky popping noise when you skim stones on a frozen lake?
The speed of sound is different in different materials. In ice, the speed of sound is faster than in air. When the stone impacts the ice, the wavefront spreads out, and continually transfers to the air, so you'll actually hear the sound from the ice right next to you, before you hear the sound fr…
The Short Answer
The speed of sound is different in different materials. In ice, the speed of sound is faster than in air. When the stone impacts the ice, the wavefront spreads out, and continually transfers to the air, so you'll actually hear the sound from the ice right next to you, before you hear the sound from the impact, all the way out there. Because of this, the sound gets spread out – anything that would be a single sharp crack passes from the ice to the air to your ears in an expanding circle from the point of impact. Because of this, rather than getting a "crack", you get a "piuw"-sound.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Sound, speed, different
This explanation focuses on sound, speed, different and spans 111 words across 5 sentences. At 56% above the average Nature explanation (71 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “The speed of sound is different in different materials.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in Nature
Ranked #88 of 500 Nature questions by answer depth (top 18%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why there a squeaky popping noise when you skim stones on a frozen lake?
The speed of sound is different in different materials. In ice, the speed of sound is faster than in air. When the stone impacts the ice, the wavefront spreads out, and continually transfers to the air, so you'll actually hear the sound from the ice…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Nature questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 111 words, ranked #88 of 500 Nature questions by depth. The key concepts covered are sound, speed, different.
What approach does this answer take to explain there a squeaky popping noise when you skim stones on a froz?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 111 words. It is categorized under Nature and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.