Final answer:
The rule is likely meant to prevent unnecessary blowing of the whistle, which maintains order during a game. The synchronized swim team experiences difficulty outside water because sound and movement differ in air than in water. Helium changes voice pitch due to its effects on sound speed, and sonic range finders use time delay for distance and need temperature for accurate readings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main reason for the rule mentioned is probably to prevent unnecessary blowing of the whistle. Blowing a whistle when it is not needed can disrupt the flow of a game, lead to confusion, or simply cause irritation due to the noise. The rules in most sports aim to create a structured and fair environment, where the whistle is used to start or stop play, signal a foul, or indicate other specific events within the game. Excessive or unnecessary use of the whistle would counteract these objectives.
Regarding the synchronized swim team's difficulty in practicing on a mat, it may be because they rely on the properties of sound underwater. Water transmits sound differently than air, potentially making the music clearer and more direct, which can be easier to hear with earplugs. Without the buoyancy and resistance of water, the swimmers might also have a harder time performing movements that are designed specifically for an aquatic environment.
For your additional information about sound, a popular trick is to inhale helium and speak, resulting in a high-frequency voice due to helium's lower density compared to air, changing the speed of sound through the vocal tract. Sonic range finders operate on the principle of measuring the time it takes for a sound to bounce back from an object. Room temperature is important during calibration because the speed of sound is temperature-dependent. Changes in air temperature can alter the speed of sound, affecting the accuracy of distance measurements.