Sound

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 Introduction
We hear sounds from various sources like
humans, birds, bells, machines,vehicles,
television, radios etc.
Sound is a form of energy which produces a
sensation of hearing in our ears.
 Production of Sound
Set a tuning fork vibrating
and bring near your ear. A
sound is heard. Vibrations
are felt when a tuning fork
is touched.
If suspended tennis ball is
brought in contact with a
vibrating tuning fork, it
jumps.
 Production of Sound
Sound can be produced by plucking,
scratching, rubbing, blowing or shaking
different objects.
Vibration means a rapid to and fro motion
of an object.
Sound of human beings is due to vibration
in vocal cords.
 Propagation of Sound
A matter of substance through
which sound is transmitted is
called a medium. It can be a solid,
liquid or a gas.
 Propagation of Sound
A particle in the medium is first displaced
from its equilibrium position. It then exerts
a force on the adjacent particle. As a result
of which the adjacent particle gets displaced
from its position of rest.After displacing the
adjacent particle the first particle comes
back to the original position.This process
continues till the sound reaches your
ear.The disturbance thus created travels
through the medium and not the particles of
the medium.
 Propagation of Sound
This disturbance is called as a wave.
The particles of the medium do not move
forwards themselves but the disturbance is
propagated forwards.
Sound waves are characterised by the
motion of particles in the medium are are
called mechanical waves.
Air is the most common medium of sound
propagation.
 Propagation of Sound
Vibrating object creates compressions and rarefactions.
Compression is area of high pressure and and rarefaction
is area of low pressure.
Pressure is related to more particles of the medium and
hence more density of the medium gives more pressure.
Propagation of sound can be visualised as propagation of
density variations or pressure variations in the medium.
 Sound Needs a Medium to Travel
Sound is a mechanical
wave and needs medium
to propagate. It can not
travel through vacuum.
Bell jar experiment
where the sound of the
bell decreases and
becomes feeble when the
air from the jar is sucked
out by a vacuum pump is
a proof of the above
statement.
 Longitudinal Wave
Sound propagates with series of
compressions and rarefactions. Individual
particles of the medium move in a direction
parallel to the direction of propagation of
sound. The particles do not move but just
oscillate back and forth about their position
of rest.
 Transverse Wave
Individual particles of the medium move in
a direction perpendicular to the direction of
propagation. This type of wave is called a
transverse wave. It is one in which the
individual particles of the medium move
about their mean positions in a direction
perpendicular to the direction of wave
propagation. E.G. Light. ( Light is not a
mechanical wave and oscillations are not of
the medium particles.
Characteristics of Sound Wave
Frequency.
Amplitude.
Speed.
Characteristics of Sound Wave
Density variations

Pressure variations

Crest
A
Average density or pressure
Distance Trough
Characteristics of Sound Wave

Crest
A
Average density or pressure

Distance Trough
 Characteristics of Sound Wave
Compressions are the regions where the particles are
crowded together.Represented by the Upper portion of the
curve. Peak represents maximum compressions.
Compressions are the regions where density as well as the
pressure is high and rarefactions are the regions of low
pressure where the particles are spread apart and are
Distance
represented by a valley. The peak is called the crest and the
valley is called the trough of the wave.
The distance between two consecutive compressions ( C )
or two consecutive rarefactions ( R ) is called the
wavelength and is usually represented by lambda ( ). The
SI unit is meter ( m ).
 Characteristics of Sound Wave
Frequency tells us how frequently an event occurs. If you are beating
a drum then how many times you are beating the drum per unit time
is called the frequency of your beating the drum.
The change of density from the maximum value to the minimum
value and then again to maximum value makes one complete
oscillation. Number of such oscillations per unit time is the frequency
of the sound wave. Usually represented by v ( Greek letter nu ) and its
Distance
SI unit is hertz ( symbol Hz )
Time taken by two consecutive compressions or rarefactions to cross
a fixed point is called the time period of the wave. Represented by T
and the SI units are seconds, s.

So v =/ T
 Characteristics of Sound Wave
The sounds of a violin and flute played together can be differentiated
due to different characteristics associated with these sounds. Pitch is
one of these characteristics. How our brain interprets the frequency
of emitted sound is known as the pitch. Faster the vibration of the
source, higher is the frequency and higher is the pitch. A high pitched
sound corresponds to more number of compressions and rarefactions
passing a fixed point per unit time.
Distance
Time Low pitched sound

High pitched sound

Time
 Characteristics of Sound Wave
The magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium on either
side of the mean value is called the amplitude of the wave. Represented
by letter A. Loudness and softness of the sound depends on amplitude.
If you strike the table lightly we hear a soft sound because we produce
a sound wave of less energy ( amplitude ) and if we hit the table hard,
we hear loud sound. Loud sound can travel larger distances as it is
associated with larger energy. As a sound wave travels its amplitude
decreases.
Distance
Time Soft Sound

Time Loud Sound

Characteristics of Sound Wave
The quality or TIMBER of sounds is that
characteristic which enables us to distinguish one
sound from another having SAME PITCH AND
LOUDNESS. A pleasant sound is said to be of rich
quality.
Sound of SINGLE FREQUENCY is called as a
TONE.
Sound produced by a MIXTURE OF
DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES is called as
NOTE.
Characteristics of Sound Wave
The speed of sound is defined as the distance which a
point on wave, such as compression or rarefaction,
travels per unit time.
Speed v = distance / time = / T
Here is the wavelength of the sound wave. . Its is
Distance
the distance travelled by the sound wave in one
time period T of the wave. So 1 / T =
v=

Speed = wavelength x frequency

Characteristics of Sound Wave

The amount of sound energy passing each

second through unit area is called the
intensity of the sound. Loudness and
intensity are not the same. Loudness is
measure of response of the ear to the sound.
Even when two sounds have equal intensity,
we may hear one louder just because our ear
detects it better.
 Speed of Sound in Different Media
Sound propagates with finite speed.
The speed of sound depends on the properties of
the medium through which it travels.
Speed of sound also depends on the temperature
and pressure of the medium.
Speed of sound decreases from solid to gaseous
state. It increases with rise in temperature of the
medium.
Speed of sound in air at 0oc is 331 m s-1 and at
22oc it is 344 m s-1.
 Sonic Boom
When the speed of an object exceeds the
speed of sound, it is said to be traveling
at supersonic speed. When the source of
sound moves with a speed equal to that
Distance
of sound it produces shock wave which
contains a large amount of energy. This
is called sonic boom.
 Reflection of Sound
Like light sound too follows the same laws
of reflection.
 Reflection of Sound : Echo
If we shout or clap near a tall building or a
mountain, we hear the same sound again a
little later. This sound which we hear is
called an echo.
The sensation of sound persists in our brain
for 0.1 second. So to hear distinct echo, the
time interval between the original sound and
the reflected one must be at least 0.1 second.
 Reflection of Sound : Echo
If speed of sound is taken as 344 m / s at
22oc in air, to get an echo the sound must go
to the obstacle and reach back the ear of the
listener after 0.1 s. Hence the total distance
covered by the sound from point of
generation to the reflecting surface and back
should be ( 344 m/s) x 0.1 s = 34.4 meters.
Thus to get distinct echo, obstacle should be
at half of this distance which is 17.2 meters.
 Reverberation
If speed of sound is taken as 344 m / s at
22oc in air, to get an echo the sound must go
to the obstacle and reach back the ear of the
listener after 0.1 s. Hence the total distance
covered by the sound from point of
generation to the reflecting surface and back
should be ( 344 m/s) x 0.1 s = 34.4 meters.
Thus to get distinct echo, obstacle should be
at half of this distance which is 17.2 meters.
Sound

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