Difference Between Echo And Reverberation

Echo and reverberation are two distinct acoustic phenomena that occur when sound waves are reflected off of surfaces in an enclosed space. Echo is the result of a single reflection of a sound wave off of a surface, while reverberation is the result of multiple reflections of a sound wave off of multiple surfaces.

Echo occurs when a sound wave reflects off of a single surface, such as a wall or a cliff face. The reflected sound wave will reach the listener at a later time than the original sound wave, and the listener will hear a distinct 'echo' of the original sound. The delay between the original sound wave and the reflected sound wave is dependent on the distance between the source of the sound and the reflecting surface.

Reverberation, on the other hand, is the result of multiple reflections of a sound wave off of multiple surfaces. The sound wave will bounce off of multiple surfaces in the enclosed space, and the listener will hear a longer, sustained sound. This is because the multiple reflections of the sound wave occur at different times, resulting in a longer, sustained sound that gradually fades away.

In conclusion, echo is the result of a single reflection of a sound wave off of a single surface, while reverberation is the result of multiple reflections of a sound wave off of multiple surfaces.