Final answer:
The sound of a person's voice sounds different underwater compared to speaking in air due to the difference in speed of sound waves in the two mediums. Water is denser than air, causing sound waves to travel faster underwater. Additionally, the different properties of water can further alter how a person's voice is perceived.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person's voice is heard underwater, it sounds different than when they are speaking in air due to the difference in the speed of sound waves in the two mediums. Sound waves travel faster through water than through air because water is denser, with particles that are closer together. This difference in the speed of sound waves leads to a change in how the voice is perceived.
When sound waves travel through air, they encounter a medium where the particles are more spread out. This causes the waves to travel slower compared to when they travel through water where the particles are closer together. As a result, the sound of a person's voice is distorted underwater.
In addition to the difference in speed, water also has a different acoustic environment compared to air. The different properties of water, such as its density and temperature, can affect the transmission of sound waves and can further alter the way a person's voice sounds when heard underwater.