Chapter 13- Sound

What is sound?

Is a form of energy that spreads out through space;

mechanical vibration energy transmitted in a medium.
Origins/sources of sound

All sound originate in the vibrations of material object.

Example:
Piano, violin, guitar sound wave is produced by vibrating
strings.
SOUND & FREQUENCIES

Sound waves with frequencies below 20 hertz are called

INFRASONIC

Sound waves with frequencies above 20000 hertz are called

ULTRASONIC
 Nature of sound

Sound waves are longitudinal waves; as a source of

sound vibrates a series of compressions ( the pulse of
compressed air ) and rarefactions travels outward from
the source.( the pulse of low-pressure air)
For the longitudinal waver are drawn using lines called
wave fronts.
Sound Medium

Sound travels in solids, liquids, and gases.

Transmission of sound requires a medium.
Speed of sound differs in different materials
Speed of sound is fastest in solids than liquids and gases.
Sound travels faster in liquids than gases.
Speed of Sound

Speed of sound in a gas depends on the temperature and

the particles of the gas.
The speed of sound in a material depends on its elasticity.
Temperature increases the speed of sound slightly.
The speed of sound is not affected by pressure.
The speed of sound in a gas depends on the mass of the
particles in the gas.
Speed of sound

Speed of sound = distance travelled/ time taken

Sound speed can be measured by:
Echo Sounder
Electric tape measure
Radar
Determining the speed of
Sound

Speed of sound refers to the distance that the disturbance

travels per unit of time.
1) Connect Microphone A and B to a control unit and digital
time.
2) Place Microphone A and B apart in a straight line.
3) Make a sound by hitting a metal or by speakers.
4) When the sound reaches Microphone A, the timer starts.
5) When the sound reaches Microphone B, the timer stops.
Speed
of sound =

=
Distance measured is 1.00 meters
Clock records 0.010 sec = 100 m/s
Concept question

How far is a storm if you note a 3-second delay between a

lightning and the sound of thunder?

Ans: Speed of sound given as 340 m/s

d = st
= 340 m/s * 3 sec
1020 m
Sound Intensity

Sound intensity is defined as the sound power per unit area.

Decibel (abbreviated dB)

Natural
Frequency, Forced
Vibration &
Resonance
 Natural Frequency

When any object composed

of an elastic material is
disturbed, it vibrates at its
own special set of
frequencies, which together
form its special sound
Natural frequency- the
frequency at which an object
vibrates when it is disturbed
When you drop an object,
you hear distinctly different
sounds
What is Beat?

When two tones of slightly different frequency are sounded

together, a regular fluctuation in the loudness of the
combined sounds is heard.
This periodic variation in the loudness of sound is called
beats.
 Reflection,
Refraction and
Diffraction of Sound
Reflection

When a sound wave reaches a barrier or boundary, it bounces

back into its first medium, creating an echo.
The return of the wave is reflection of sound
The remaining sound energy that isnt reflected is absorbed
or transmitted
Refraction

Sound wave refractions occur when parts of a wave

travel at different speeds.
Sound waves tend to bend away from warm air and
travel faster in warmer air.
Diffraction

Diffraction is the bending of sound waves around an

obstacle or opening.
They can spread through gaps or bend through
obstacles.