Definition of Stokes's law of sound attenuation
In acoustics, Stokes's law of sound attenuation is a formula for the attenuation of sound in a Newtonian fluid, such as water or air, due to the fluid's viscosity. It states that the amplitude of a plane wave decreases exponentially with distance traveled, at a rate α given by
{\displaystyle \alpha ={\frac {2\eta \omega ^{2}}{3\rho V^{3}}}}
where η is the dynamic viscosity coefficient of the fluid, ω is the sound's angular frequency, ρ is the fluid density, and V is the speed of sound in the medium.
Terms mentioned above
Related terms
Acoustic attenuation
In acoustics, acoustic attenuation is a measure of the energy loss of sound propagation…
Acoustic theory
Acoustic theory is a scientific field that relates to the description of sound waves. It…
Underwater acoustics
Underwater acoustics (also known as hydroacoustics) is the study of the propagation of…
Sound pressure
In acoustics, sound pressure or acoustic pressure is the pressure difference between the…
Violin acoustics
Violin acoustics is an area of study within musical acoustics concerned with how the…
Sound speed profile
A sound speed profile shows the speed of sound in water at different vertical levels. It…
Loudspeaker acoustics
Loudspeaker acoustics is a subfield of acoustical engineering concerned with the design…
Acoustic streaming
Acoustic streaming is a steady flow in a fluid driven by the absorption of…
Absorption (acoustics)
In acoustics, absorption refers to the process by which a material, structure, or…
Frequently asked questions
What is Stokes's law of sound attenuation?
In acoustics, Stokes's law of sound attenuation is a formula for the attenuation of sound in a Newtonian fluid, such as water or air, due to the fluid's viscosity.