Why do different rooms sound different?

Answer: Surfaces bounce and soak up sound differently

Air temperature varies from room to room — Wrong. While temperature does affect sound speed slightly (sound travels about 0.6 m/s faster per degree Celsius), this isn't why rooms sound different acoustically. The main factors are surface materials, room geometry, and objects in the space that absorb or reflect sound waves.

Surfaces bounce and soak up sound differently ✓ — Correct! Different surfaces bounce and soak up sound differently. Hard surfaces (tile, concrete, glass) bounce sound back, creating echoes and reverb. Soft surfaces (carpet, curtains, furniture) soak sound up, reducing echoes. Concert halls place acoustic panels strategically. Empty rooms sound 'hollow' because hard walls bounce sound back; furnished rooms sound 'warmer' because objects soak sound up.

Room size has no effect on sound — Wrong. Room size significantly affects acoustics through resonance and reflection patterns. Large rooms create longer echo delays and can resonate at lower frequencies. Small rooms have shorter echoes and resonate at higher frequencies. Cathedral acoustics differ dramatically from bathroom acoustics precisely because of size differences.