Could Sound Make You Levitate?

Quick Overview

A person can theoretically swim faster than a shark using specialized acoustic levitation technology that manipulates the air pressure around the swimmer, though the current experimental setup requires the person to wear a wetsuit to protect against the high sound intensity necessary for levitation.

Key Points: A person could potentially swim faster than a shark by using acoustic levitation to create a low-resistance environment, though current technology is not yet practical for this application. The current acoustic levitator device uses 72 small transducers to create focused sound waves, generating air pressure waves that can levitate lightweight objects like Styrofoam beads. The sound frequency required for levitation is around 22,000 Hz (ultrasonic), which is too high for most adults to hear, though young children might perceive it. The intensity needed for this levitation can reach 120 decibels, which is loud enough to cause organ and joint damage if not mitigated, such as by wearing a wetsuit. Professor Hannah Fry's colleague, Matthew Nethercott, developed the device, which works by creating a pressure gradient around an object, effectively creating a pocket of lower air pressure. The experiment demonstrated that the device can successfully levitate small polystyrene beads (0.5mm) and even manipulate liquid drops. The fastest shark, the Mako, swims at about 31 to 36 miles per hour (or 1.34 to 1.6 meters per second).

Context: The video features a discussion between Michael Stevens and Professor Hannah Fry about the theoretical possibility of using acoustic levitation to help a human swim faster than a shark. The conversation centers on the physics of acoustic levitation, which involves creating standing sound waves with high intensity to generate pressure pockets that can counteract gravity or other forces. They discuss a specific experimental device built by Professor Fry's colleague, Matthew Nethercott, which uses ultrasonic frequencies to levitate small objects.