You listen to a live orchestra concert from a cheap seat far away,high up in the balcony.The music seems to be a little out of sync with the conductor's beat.Why?
A)The musicians are paying no attention to the conductor.
B)You are noticing a time lag due to the finite speed of sound.
C)The orchestra is not very good.
D)The viola section is dragging.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distance between the stage and the cheap seat in the balcony is quite far. The sound travels at a finite speed, so there will be a slight delay between the time when the conductor signals a beat and when the sound of the music reaches your ear. This difference in timing can create the illusion of the music being out of sync with the conductor's beat.

You Listen to a Live Orchestra Concert from a Cheap