Flat surfaces reflect low-frequency sound specularly but scatter high-frequency sound
Evidence
Diffuse surfaces, on the other hand, scatter sound in other directions than the specular. In the case of an ideal diffuser, the scattered energy polar pattern would be in the form of a hemisphere. A simple approach to calculating the effect of this can be to model the scattered energy as a source whose initial intensity is given by the incident energy. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2318 (
#contradicts, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Reflecting surfaces can extract wasted energy from an inefficient sound source.; Sharp caustic edges demand frequencies far above human hearing range; Small vibrating objects radiate weak sound because source size is far under one wavelength (+9 more)
Broader Connections
- Diffuse surfaces scatter sound hemispherically rather than mirror-like
#contradicts(0.85) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2318 - Reflection and diffraction of sound both depend on object size relative to wavelength
#expands(0.85) - Regularly spaced surface bumps diffuse sound only at specific frequencies
#qualifies(0.82)