How do whispering galleries work?

Answer: Curved walls focus sound waves

Curved walls focus sound waves ✓ — Correct! Whispering galleries (like in domes) have curved walls that reflect and focus sound waves. When you whisper at one focal point, the sound waves travel along the curved wall to another focal point across the room. This creates the effect of hearing a whisper clearly from far away.

Dome shape filters out noise — Wrong. The dome doesn't filter noise—it focuses sound. The curved shape directs sound waves along specific paths to focal points.

Air pressure carries whispers far — Wrong. Air pressure doesn't change significantly in these chambers. The effect comes from sound wave reflection and focusing by curved walls.