SOUND
Definition:
Sounds are a form of energy produced by rapidly vibrating objects.
Examples:
Musical instruments like flute, table, harmonium, veena etc…,
Sound produced by a vibrating body:
Strings, tuning fork, parts of your throat – vocal cord, rubber band, Jal Tarang
Natural sound:
Waterfall, animal sounds, rain falling, a rushing river etc…,
Wind and water sounds are often heard in combination in nature.
Vibration:
To and fro motion of an object that is repeated over and over with same time interval.
Types of Vibration:
Transverse vibration
Longitudinal vibration
Tangential vibration
Transverse vibration:
When an object vibrates perpendicular to its axis at the normal rest position.
Example: Child swinging on a swing.
Longitudinal vibration:
When an object vibrates parallel to its axis at the rest position.
Examples: Oscillating spring supporting a vehicle.
Torsional vibration:
When an object twist around its axis at the rest position.
Wave:
A wave is the motion of a disturbance in which particles of medium do not move from one
place to another, but they transfer the pattern of disturbance from one place to another.
Example: Ripple waves created on the surface of water.
Medium:
A physical environment through which a disturbance (or wave) can travel is called medium.
Wave motion:
In sound waves, the vibrations of particles of the medium through which it travels are
parallel to the direction of travel of the wave.
Thus, we can say that sound waves are longitudinal wave.
Medium of sound (propagation of sound):
SOLID – If we scratch one end of table, it can be heard from another end of table.
If we put our ear on railway tracks, we can hear approaching train even if it is very far
away.
LIQUID – We take jar full of water. We put a bell in it. We place our ear near water
and ring the bell. We are able to hear the bell. This shows sound can travel through
water.
GASES – If 2 people talk, sound travels through air, so we are able to hear.
Sound cannot travel through VACUUM.
Sound waves propagate in three dimensions.
Example: Music concert, Theatre.
Sound waves spread out in all directions.
Factors on which speed of sound depends:
Medium (solid, liquid, gas).
Temperature of the medium.
How does speed of sound depend upon temperature?
If we increase temperature, speed of sound increases.
If we decrease the temperature, speed of sound decreases.
AIR TEMPERATURE SPEED OF
SOUND
0 degree 331 m/s
15 degree 340 m/s
20 degree 343 m/s
25 degree 346 m/s
How does speed of sound depend upon humidity?
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air.
More the humidity, more the speed of sound.
Sound travels faster at 100% humidity (very moist) as compared to 0% humidity (completely
dry air).
How to measure speed of sound?
Speed of sound wave = wavelength x Frequency
We know that,
Speed = Distance/Time
Speed = Distance x 1/Time
In case of sound wave,
Distance = Wavelength
1/Time = Frequency
Therefore,
Speed = Wavelength x Frequency
v=λxυ
Difference between Compression and Rarefaction:
Compression Rarefaction
It is a region of High pressure It is a region of low pressure
Air particles are closely packed together Air particles are loosely packed
How does Sound Waves cause Compression and Rarefaction?
When object moves in forward motion it causes nearby air particles to compress. This
creates a region of high pressure called compression.
When object moves back in backward motion it creates a region of low pressure. This
creates a region of low pressure called rarefaction.
Wavelength of Sound wave:
The distance between any two consecutive compressions or rarefactions is called
Wavelength.
SI unit of wavelength is metre (m)
It is denoted by lambda (λ)
Characteristics of sound:
Amplitude
Loudness (Intensity of sound)
Frequency
Pitch
Time period
Quality (timbre)
Amplitude:
It is the distance from the mean position to maximum displacement of a vibrating
particle.
Its SI unit is metre.
The distance from the mean position is more, amplitude is more.
The distance from the mean position is less, amplitude is less.
Intensity of sound:
Sound intensity is energy carried by the sound per unit time per unit area.
Its unit is W/m2.
Loudness:
Loudness is directly proportional to the square of amplitude.
If amplitude becomes double, loudness becomes 4 times.
If amplitude becomes half, loudness becomes ¼ times.
The loudness is expressed in a unit called decibel (dB).
Human ear can hear loudness of 0 – 180 (dB).
Frequency:
The number of oscillations that are taking place per second.
SI unit is hertz (Hz), - Heinrich Hertz was first produced electromagnetic waves in
lab.
More number of oscillations or vibrations, more frequency.
Less number of oscillations or vibrations, less frequency.
Pitch:
The frequency of an audible sound wave determines how high or low we perceive the
sound to be, which is known as pitch.
The frequency determines the shrillness or pitch of a sound.
If the frequency of vibration is lower, we say that the sound ha a lower pitch.
If the frequency of vibration is higher, we say that the sound is shrill and has a higher
pitch.
Time period:
Time taken to complete one cycle or oscillation.
It is measured in seconds.
T = 1/f
F = 1/T
Quality (or timbre):
The property by which two sounds of the same pitch (or frequency) emitted by 2
different sources can be distinguished from each other.
It depends on the waveform of the sound produced by a source.
Difference between amplitude and frequency:
AMPLITUDE FREQUENCY
1. It is maximum displacement of a 1. Number of vibrations made in one
vibrating object from its central second is called frequency of sound.
position.
2. It determines size of waves. 2. It measures number of waves per second.
3. It is measured in metre. 3. I t is measured in Hertz.
4. It measures how loud a sound is 4. It determines shrillness or pitch of sound
5. Higher the amplitude, more loud the 5. Higher the frequency, more shrill or high
sound. pitched is the sound.
Reflection of sound:
When sound wave bounces back from hard surface is called Reflection of sound wave
(Echo).
Dolphins and orca whales rely on the production and reflection of sound to navigate,
communicate and hunt in dark and murky waters.
Echolocation:
The location of an object using reflected sound.
Lower frequency of sound for social communication is 0.5 – 50 kHz.
Higher frequency of sound for echolocation is 40 – 150 kHz.
Reverberation:
It is the persistence of sound due to repeated reflection of sound (multiple reflection).
Reflected sound prolongs the original sound
Hence, Reflected sound becomes part of original sound and we cannot distinguish
between actual and original sound like echo
Reverberation happens when time period between original and reflected sound is less
than 0.1 seconds
Difference between echo and reverberation:
Echo Reverberation
It is Repetition of sound It is persistence of sound
Original and reflected sound can be heard Reflected sound becomes part of original
clearly sound, it prolongs the original sound
There should be atleast 0.1 second time There is usually a gap of less than 0.1
difference for our human ear to hear 2 second
distinct voices or echo
udible and inaudible sounds:
The sounds of frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz that can be detected by the
human ear is called audible sounds.
The sounds of frequencies less than about 20 Hz (Infrasonic sound) and those higher
than 20,000 Hz (Ultrasonic sound) cannot be detected by the human ear. Such
sounds are called Inaudible sounds.
Range of hearing for some animals:
Dogs – 60 Hz to 50,000 Hz
Cat – 60 Hz to 65,000 Hz
Porpoise – 150 Hz to 1,50,000 Hz
Bat – 1000 Hz to 1,20,000 Hz
Uses of ultrasounds:
Detecting cracks in metal blocks
Breaking kidney stones
Ultrasound scanners
SONAR
Echocardiography (ECG)
Cleaning hard to reach parts (ultrasonic cleaning)
