On some days, air nearest the ground is colder than air that is higher up. On one of these days, sound waves
A) travel without refraction.
B) tend to be refracted downward.
C) tend to be refracted upward.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the air near the ground is colder than the air higher up, sound waves tend to be refracted downward. This is because sound waves travel faster in warmer air than in colder air. As a result, sound waves that are traveling near the ground will be refracted downward towards the ground.

On Some Days, Air Nearest the Ground Is Colder Than