Sound
What is Sound?
Sound is a form of energy which travels in the form of a pressure wave created by a
vibrating object in a medium. Vibration is a rapid to and fro movement of any object.
Sound travels in the form of a longitudinal wave.
What is a longitudinal and transverse wave?
Longitudinal waves are the waves that travel in the direction of the movement of the
particles. Whereas, transverse waves are the waves that travel in the direction
perpendicular to the movement of the particles.
How sound propagates?
Sound propagates as a series of compressions (C) and rarefactions (R) where
compressions are the region of high pressure/density and rarefactions are the regions of
low pressure/density.
How do we hear sound?
Pinna : Ear Flap that collects the sound from the surroundings and redirects the waves to
the ear canal/ auditory canal
Eardrum : Thin Membrane that vibrates as per the sound pressure waves received.
Hammer, Anvil, Stirrup : Three bones that amplify the vibrations of the eardrums.
Cochlea : Pressure variations are converted into electrical signals and sent to brain via
auditory nerve.
Characteristics of a Wave
WAVELENGTH ( λ : 𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑑𝑎 ) : Distance between two consecutive crest or distance
between two consecutive trough.
SI Unit = meters (m)
AMPLITUDE ( A ) : Magnitude of maximum distance.
SI Unit = meters (m)
CREST : Peak of the wave
TROUGH : Valley of the wave
FREQUENCY ( ν : 𝑛𝑢 ):
SI Unit = Hertz (Hz)
TIME PERIOD ( T ) :
SI Unit = seconds (s)
INTENSITY ( I ) : Pressure per unit area.
2
SI Unit = Watt per square meter (𝑊/𝑚 )
Characteristics of Sound
LOUDNESS / SOFTNESS : More is the amplitude, more is the loudness. Less amplitude
wave appears to be soft sound.
SI Unit = Decibels (Db)
PITCH : Higher the frequency, higher is the pitch
TIMBER : Quality or richness of the sound
TONE : Sound composed of single frequency
NOTE : Sound composed of multiple frequencies that is pleasant to our ears
NOISE : Sound composed of multiple frequencies that is unpleasant to our ears
Speed of Sound ( v ) = Frequency (ν) X Wavelength (λ)
ν = 1/T
Speed of sound in a medium depends on the characteristics of the medium and
temperature. Speed of sound in air > Speed of sound in water > Speed of sound in solid
REFLECTION OF SOUND
Echo : Reflection of sound heard distinctly after 0.1s
Reverberation : Persistence of sound caused due to multiple reflection of sound.
If the distance between the source and reflecting surface is ‘d’ and the speed of sound in
the medium is ‘v’, then the source hears the sound after ‘t’ seconds.
v = 2d/t
Uses of Multiple Reflection of Sound
1. Musical Instruments like shehnai, trumpets, horns etc to guide the sound waves
2. Stethoscope
3. Curved Ceiling of cinema halls for even spread of sound
SPECTRUM
Human Audible Range : 20 Hz to 20000 Hz
APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASOUND
1. Clean parts in hard to reach places
2. Detect Cracks/ Flames in metal blocks
3. SONAR (SOund NAvigation and Ranging)
4. Welding
5. Cutting metals in different shapes
6. Echolocation used by bats
ASSIGNMENT
QUESTION 1: Calculate the wavelength of the sound whose frequency is 220Hz and
speed is 440m/s in a given medium.
QUESTION 2: A person is listening to a tone of 500Hz sitting at a distance of 450m from
the source of the sound. What is the time interval between successive compressions
from the source?
QUESTION 3 : A cork on the surface of water moves up and down completing five
vibrations in 4 seconds. The waves travel from the cork to the shore 20 meters away in
10s. Calculate (i) speed of wave (ii) Frequency (iii) Wavelength
QUESTION 4 : The linear distance between the compression and next rarefaction is
0.8m. What is the wavelength?
QUESTION 5 : A SONAR receives ultrasonic waves after 3 s when they are sent inside
sea water. If the speed of sound in water is 1500m/s, what is the depth of the reflecting
surface?
QUESTION 6 : A person is performing an experiment to measure the speed of sound in
air. She stands 90 m away from a wall and bangs 2 iron rods together. At the instant
she hears the echo, she bangs them together again. He does this activity 36 times. The
time taken for 36 bangs is 20s. Calculate the speed of air.
