Which type of sound do elephants use to communicate over distances as far as 6 km?

• A. High-pitched vocalizations
• B. Ultrasonic sound waves
• C. Visible light signals
• D. Infrasonic sound waves

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of sound waves and their frequency ranges. Sound waves are categorized based on their frequency: infrasonic (below 20 Hz), audible (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz), and ultrasonic (above 20,000 Hz).
2. Recognize that infrasonic sound waves have low frequencies and long wavelengths, which allow them to travel over long distances without significant loss of energy.
3. Learn that elephants use infrasonic sound waves for communication because these low-frequency sounds can propagate through the ground and air effectively, covering distances as far as 6 km.
4. Compare the options provided: High-pitched vocalizations are in the audible range and do not travel as far; ultrasonic sound waves are high-frequency and are used by animals like bats for echolocation; visible light signals are not sound waves and are irrelevant to this context.
5. Conclude that infrasonic sound waves are the correct answer because they are specifically adapted for long-distance communication in elephants.