SHRI RAM GLOBAL SCHOOL, GREATER NOIDA
CLASS IX
CH 11 SOUND (CLASS NOTES)
1. Sound
Sound is a form of energy that is produced by vibrating objects and travels through a medium like air,
water, or solids in the form of waves.
2. Longitudinal wave
A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate back and forth along the direction of the wave's
motion. Sound waves are an example of longitudinal waves.
3. Transverse wave
A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave's motion.
Light waves are an example of transverse waves.
4. Medium
A substance (like air, water, or solids) through which sound or other waves can travel.
Speed of sound is maximum in solid and minimum in air.
5. Compression
The region of a longitudinal wave where particles of the medium are closely packed together, creating
high pressure.
6. Rarefaction
The region of a longitudinal wave where particles of the medium are spread apart, creating low pressure.
7. Amplitude
The maximum distance that particles of the medium move from their rest position when a wave passes.
It determines the loudness of sound.
8. Wavelength(λ)
The distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions in a sound wave. SI unit is m.
9. Time period(T)
The time taken by one complete wave to pass a point. It is the reciprocal of frequency. SI init is second.
10. Frequency
The number of waves that pass a point in one second. It is measured in Hertz (Hz).
1
Frequency (f)=
Time Period(T )
Relation between frequency, speed and wavelength
11. Pitch
The quality of sound that makes it high or low, depending on the frequency of the sound wave. Higher
frequency means higher pitch.
12. Quality
The property of sound that helps to distinguish between two sounds of the same pitch and loudness but
produced by different sources.
13. Timbre
The characteristic or unique sound of a musical instrument or voice, which depends on its quality.
14. Note
A musical sound of a specific pitch and duration.
15. Audible sound
Sound waves that can be heard by humans, typically in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
16. Inaudible sound
Sound waves that cannot be heard by humans, either because they are too high or too low in frequency.
17. Ultrasonic waves
Sound waves with frequencies above 20,000 Hz, which are inaudible to humans. Eg-sound produced by
bat.
18. Infrasonic waves
Sound waves with frequencies below 20 Hz, which are inaudible to humans. Eg Waves produced during
earthquake.
19. Echo
The reflection of sound when it bounces off a surface and is heard after a delay.
20. Reverberation
The persistence of sound in an enclosed space due to repeated reflections from walls, ceilings, and other
surfaces.
21. Echolocation
The method used by certain animals (like bats and dolphins) to locate objects by emitting sound waves
and interpreting their echoes.
22. Reflection of sound
When sound waves strike a surface, they bounce back. This phenomenon is known as the reflection of
sound and is responsible for echoes.
Law of Reflection
a. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
b. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the reflecting surface all lie in the same
plane.
23. Conditions Required to Hear an Echo
a. Distance: The reflecting surface must be at least 17.2 meters away from the source of sound to
allow the echo to be heard separately from the original sound.
b. Medium: The medium (air, water, etc.) must allow the sound to travel.
c. Surface: The reflecting surface should be hard, such as a wall or mountain, to effectively reflect
sound waves.
d. Time Gap: The time gap between the original sound and the reflected sound must be at least 0.1
seconds for the echo to be distinguishable.
24. Applications of Ultrasonic Waves
a. Medical Imaging: Used in ultrasound scanning to visualize internal organs and monitor
pregnancies.
b. Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging): Used by ships and submarines to detect underwater
objects, measure depth, or navigate.
c. Industrial Cleaning: Used to clean delicate or intricate parts by breaking down dirt with high-
frequency vibrations.
d. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Detects cracks or flaws in materials without causing damage.
e. Animal Communication: Some animals like bats and dolphins use ultrasonic waves for
echolocation.
25. What is a Supersonic Wave?
A supersonic wave refers to a sound wave or an object that travels at a speed faster than the speed of
sound in a medium (approximately 343 m/s in air at room temperature). Examples include:
Supersonic jets and missiles, which create a sonic boom when traveling faster than sound.
