On days when the air nearest the ground is colder than air above, sound waves
A)tend to be refracted upward.
B)tend to be refracted downward.
C)travel without refraction.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the air near the ground is colder than the air above, sound waves will encounter a decrease in the speed of sound closer to the ground. This change in the speed of sound causes the sound waves to bend downward, leading to refraction of the sound waves towards the ground. Therefore, the correct choice is B, i.e., sound waves tend to be refracted downward on such days.

On Days When the Air Nearest the Ground Is Colder