ASSIGNMENT -01

BUILDING SERVICES 03

ACOUSTICS

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

AR.SURJEET SINGH PUNEET CHHONKER
B.ARCH,4TH YEAR, 7TH SEM.
 TABLE OF CONTENT

S.No. TOPIC P.No.

01. SOUND 01
02. PRODUCTION OF SOUND 01
03. PROPAGATION OF SOUND 02
04. SOUND NEEDS A MEDIUM TO TRAVEL 03
05. CHARACTERISTICS OF A SOUND WAVE 04-05
06. Reflection of Sound 06
07. ECHO 07
08. REVERBERATION 07
09. USES OF MULTIPLE REFLECTION OF SOUND 08
10. Applications of Ultrasound 09
11. SONAR 09
 SOUND

E v e r y d a y we h e a r s o u n d s f r o m v a r i o u s
so u rces like h u m a n s , birds, bells, ma c h in e s,
vehicles, televisions, ra dios etc. S o u n d is a
form of energy which p ro d u c e s a se n satio n
of he a ring in o u r ea rs . There a re also other
forms of energy like me c ha nica l energy, h e a t
energy, light energy etc. We have talked abo u t
mechan ical energy in th e previous c ha p ters .
You have b een t a u g h t a b o u t conservation of
energ y, w h i ch s t a t e s t h a t we c a n n e i t h e r
c r e a t e n o r d e s t r o y e n e rg y. We c a n j u s t
c h a n g e it from one form to a n o th e r . Wh en
yo u clap , a s o u n d is p r o d u c e d . C a n yo u
produce s o u n d without utilising your energy?
Which form of energy did you u s e to p ro d u ce
Vibrating tuning fork just touching t h e
s o u n d ? In this c h a p te r we a re going to learn s u s p e n d e d table tennis ball.
h o w s o u n d i s p r o d u c e d a n d h o w it i s
t ran s mit ted t h r o u g h a me d i u m a n d received
by o u r ear.

Production of Sound
In t h e fi g u re s we have p ro d u c e d s o u n d
by striking t h e tu n in g fork. We c a n also
pro d u ce s o u n d by plucking, scratching ,
rubbing, blowing or shak ing different objects.
As per t h e above activities w h a t do we do to
t h e objects? We set th e objects vibrating a n d
p ro d u ce s o u n d . Vibration m e a n s a k in d of
rap id to a n d fro motion of a n object. The
s o u n d of th e h u m a n voice is p ro d u ce d d u e
to vibrations in th e vocal cords. Whe n a bird
flaps its wings, do you h e a r an y s o u n d? Think
how th e buzzing s o u n d accompan ying a bee One of the prongs of th e vibrating
tuning fork touching th e w a t e r surface.
is p ro d u c e d. A stre tc h e d r u b b e r b a n d w h e n
 Propagation of Sound
S o u n d is p ro d u c e d by vibrating objects. The
ma t t e r or s u b s t a n c e t h r o u g h which s o u n d
is tra n s mi tted is called a me d iu m . It c a n be
solid, liquid or gas. S o u n d moves th r o u g h a
me d i u m from t h e point of generation to th e
listener. When a n object vibrates, it s e t s t h e
particles of th e me d i u m a r o u n d it vibrating.
The particles do n o t travel all th e way from
t h e vibrating object to t h e ear. A particle of
t h e m e d i u m in c o n ta c t with t h e vibrating
object is first displaced from its equilibrium
position. It t h e n exerts a force o n th e adjacent
particle. As a re su lt of which t h e ad ja cen t
particle gets displaced from its position of
rest. After displacing th e adjacent particle th e
first p a r t i c l e c o m e s b a c k to it s o r ig i n al
p o s i t i o n . T h i s p r o c e s s c o n t i n u e s in t h e
me d i u m till t h e s o u n d re a c h e s your ea r. The Propagation of Sound
d i s t u r b an c e created by a so u rc e of s o u n d in

Can sound make a light spot dance?

Take a tin c a n . Remove b o th e n d s to ma k e it a hollow cylinder. Take a balloon a n d stretch it over th e
c a n , t h e n wrap a r u b b er b a n d a r o u n d t h e balloon. Take a small piece of mirror. Use a drop of glue to
stick th e piece of mirror to th e balloon. Allow t h e light t h r o u g h a slit to fall o n t h e mirror. After
reflection t h e light spot is se e n o n t h e wall, a s s h o w n in Fig.
. Talk or s h o u t directly into t h e o p e n e n d of t h e c a n a n d observe t h e dancing light spot
o n t h e wall. D iscu ss with your friends w h a t m a k e s t h e light sp o t d a n c e.

A b e a m of light from a light source is m a d e to fall on a mirror. The reflected light is falling on the wall.

t h e me d i u m travels t h r o u g h t h e me d i u m a n d n o t t h e particles of t h e me d i u m .
A wave is a d i s t u r b a n c e t h a t m o v e s t h r o u g h a me d i u m w h en t h e particles of th e m e d i u m s e t
n e i g h b o u r i n g p a r t i c l e s i n t o motion. They in t u r n p ro d u ce similar motion in others. The particles of th e
me d i u m do n o t m o v e f o r w a r d t h e m s e l v e s , b u t t h e d is tu rb an ce is carried forward. This is w h a t
h a p p e n s d u rin g propag ation of s o u n d in a med iu m, h e n c e s o u n d c a n be visualised a s a wave. S o u n d
waves are ch aracterise d by t h e motion of particles in t h e me d i u m a n d are called me c h a n ic al waves.
Air is t h e mo s t co mmo n me d i u m t h r o u g h which s o u n d travels. When a vibrating object moves forward,
it p u s h e s a n d compresses th e
air in front of it creating a region of h ig h p ressu re . This region is called a comp res sion (C), This
co mp ressio n st ar t s to move away from th e vibrating object. W he n th e vibrating object moves b a c k wa rd s,
it c r e a t e s a region of low p r e s s u r e called rarefaction (R). As t h e object moves b a c k a n d forth rapidly, a
series of co mp ressio n s a n d rarefactions is created in t h e air.
 SOUND NEEDS A MEDIUM TO
TRAVEL
S o u n d is a mec h a n ic al wave a n d n e e d s a
material me d i u m like air, water, steel etc. for
its p r o p a g a t i o n . It c a n n o t travel t h r o u g h
v a c u u m, which c a n be d e mo n st ra t e d by t h e
following experiment.
Take a n electric bell a n d a n airtight glass
bell jar. The electric bell is s u s p e n d e d inside
t h e airtight bell jar. The bell jar is c on nected
to a v a c u u m p u m p , a s s h o w n in Fig. If you
p re s s t h e switch you will be able to h e a r th e A vibrating object creating a s e ri e s of
bell. Now s t a r t th e v a c u u m p u m p . Wh en compressions (C) a n d rarefactions (R) in
t h e air in th e jar is p u m p e d o u t gradually, the medium.
t h e s o u n d b ec o me s fainter, a l t h o u g h t h e
s a m e c u r r e n t is p a ss in g t h r o u g h t h e bell.
After so me time w h e n less air is left inside
t h e bell jar you will h e a r a very feeble s o u n d .
W h a t will h a p p e n if t h e a i r is r e m o v e d
completely? Will you still be able to h e a r t h e
s o u n d of t h e bell?

(a)

Bell jar experiment s h o w i ng s o u n d cannot

Longitudinal w a v e in a slinky. travel in v a c u u m .

The regions where th e coils become closer are called co mp ressio n s (C) a n d th e regions where t h e
coils are fu rth er a p a r t a re called rarefactions (R). As we already know, s o u n d p r o p a g a t e s in t h e
m e d i u m a s a se rie s of co mp re ssion s a n d rarefactions. Now, we c a n co mp are t h e propagation of
d i stu rb an ce in a slinky with t h e s o u n d p ro p ag at io n in t h e med iu m. These waves are called
longitudinal
waves. In th ese waves th e individual particles of th e me d i u m move in a direction parallel to t h e
d i r e c t i o n of p r o p a g a t i o n of t h e d istu rb an ce . The particles do n o t move from one place to
an o th e r b u t they simply oscillate b a c k a n d forth a b o u t their position of rest. This is exactly how a
s o u n d wave propagates, h e n c e s o u n d waves are longitudinal waves.
There is also a n o th e r type of wave, called a t r a n s v e r s e wave. In a t r a n s v e r s e wave particles do
n o t oscillate along t h e line of wave propagatio n b u t oscillate u p a n d down about their mean position
a s the wave travels. T h u s a tran sve rse wave is t h e one in which t h e individual particles of th e
me d i u m move a b o u t th eir m e a n positions in a direction p e r p e n d i c u l a r to t h e d i r e c t i o n of w a v e
propagation . Light is a tran sve rse wave b u t for ligh t, t h e o sc ill atio n s a r e n o t of t h e me d i u m
particles or their p r e s s u r e or density
– it is n o t a mech an ical wave. You will come to k n o w mo r e a b o u t t r a n s v e r s e waves i n highe r
classes .
.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SOUND WAVE

We c a n describe a s o u n d wave by its
 frequency
 amp litu d e a n d
 speed.
A s o u n d wave in graphic form is s h o w n in Fig., which rep resen ts how density a n d p r e s s u r e
c h a n g e w h e n t h e s o u n d wave moves in t h e me d i u m. The density a s well a s t h e p r e s s u r e of t h e
me d i u m a t a given time varies with d istan ce, above a n d below t h e a v e r a g e v a l u e of d e n s i t y a n d
pressure.

S o u n d propagates a s d e n s i t y or p r e s s u r e variations a s s h o w n in (a) a n d (b), (c) r e p r e s e n ts

graphically the d e n s i t y a n d pressure variations.

F r e q u e n c y tells u s h o w freq uently a n

Heinrich Rudolph Hertz
wa s b o r n o n 2 2 Fe b ru ary
1857 in Hamburg,
G e r ma n y a n d e d u c a te d a t
t h e University of Berlin. He
confir med J . C . Maxwell’s
electromagnetic theory by
his experiments. He laid the
H. R. Hertz
f o u n d a t i o n fo r f u t u r e
development of radio, telephone, telegraph
a n d even television. He also discovered th e
p h o t o e l e c t r i c e f fe c t w h i c h w a s l a t e r
explained by Albert Einstein. The SI u n it
of frequency wa s n a m e d a s hertz in his
honour.
event o c c u r s . S u p p o s e yo u a r e b ea tin g a
d r u m . How m a n y times you are beating th e
d r u m p e r u n i t time is called th e frequency of
you r beating t h e d r u m . We know t h a t wh e n
s o u n d is p ro pag ated th r o u g h a me d iu m, th e
density of th e me d i u m oscillates between a
m a x i m u m value a n d a m i n i m u m value. The
c h a n g e in density from th e m a x i m u m value to
the min i mu m value, again to th e max i mu m
value, m a k e s one complete oscillation. The
n u m b e r of s u c h oscillations per u n it time is th e
frequency of th e s o u n d wave. If we c a n c o u n t
the number of th e co mp ressio n s or
rarefactions t h a t cro ss u s p e r u n i t time, we
will get t h e frequency of th e s o u n d wave. It is
u sually rep resen ted by  (Greek letter, nu). Its
SI u n i t is hertz (symbol, Hz).

A violin a n d a flute ma y b o th be played
a t t h e s a m e t i me i n a n o r c h e s t r a . B o t h
s o u n d s travel t h r o u g h t h e s a m e me d i u m ,
t h a t is, air a n d arrive a t o u r ea r a t th e s a m e
time. Both s o u n d s travel a t th e s a m e speed
irrespective of th e source . B u t th e s o u n d s
we receive a re different. This is d u e to th e
different characteristic s associated with t h e
s o u n d . Pitch is one of t h e characteristics .
How t h e b ra in in te rp re ts t h e frequency of
a n emitted s o u n d is called its pitch. The faster
t h e vib ration of t h e s o u rc e , t h e h ig h e r is
t h e frequenc y a n d t h e h ig he r is t h e p itch ,
a s s h o w n in Fig. T h u s , a h ig h p itch
s o u n d c o r r e s p o n d s t o m o r e n u m b e r of
c o m p r e s s i o n s a n d r a re fa c t io n s p a s s i n g a
fixed p o in t p e r u n i t time.
Objects of different sizes a n d conditions
vibrate a t different frequencies to p ro d u ce
s o u n d s of different pitch.
Low pitch s o u n d h a s low frequency
a n d high pitch of s o u n d h a s high
frequency.
T h e m a g n i t u d e of t h e m a x i m u m
d i stu rb an ce in th e me d i u m o n either side of
t h e m e a n value is called th e amplitu de of th e
wave. It is u su ally rep resen ted by th e letter
A, a s sh o wn in Fig. For s o u n d its u n i t will
be t h a t of density or p r e s s u re .
The lo u d n e s s or softness of a s o u n d is
d etermin ed basically by its amp litud e . The
amp litud e of th e s o u n d wave d e p e n d s u p o n
t h e force with which a n object is ma d e to
vibrate. If we strike a table lightly, we h e a r a
soft s o u n d b ecau se we p roduce a s o u n d wave
of less energy (amplitude). If we hit th e table
h a r d we h e ar a loud s o u n d . C a n you tell why?
Loud s o u n d c a n travel a larger d istance a s it
is associated with higher energy. A s o u n d
wave s p read s o u t from its source. As it moves
away from t h e s o u rc e its amp litude a s well
a s its lo u d n e s s decreases. Fig. sh o ws t h e
wave s h a p e s of a loud a n d a soft s o u n d of
t h e s a m e frequency.
Soft s o u n d h a s small a m p l it ude a n d
louder s o u n d h a s large amplitude.
The quality or timb e r of s o u n d is t h a t
characteristic which enables u s to
distinguish one s o u n d from an o t h e r having
t h e s a m e p itch a n d l o u d n e s s .
Speed of sound in different
media at 25 ºC
Reflection of Sound
S o u n d b o u nces off a solid or a liquid like a
rubber ball bounces off a wall. Like light, sou nd
gets reflected a t th e surface of a solid or liquid
a n d follows th e s a me laws of reflection a s you
have studied in earlier classes. The directions
in which the s o u n d is incident a n d is reflected
ma k e equal angles with th e n o r ma l to th e
reflecting surface a t the point of incidence, a n d
the three are in the s a me plane. An obstacle of
large size which ma y be polished or rou gh is
needed for th e reflection of s o u n d waves.
Reflection of s o u n d
Sonic boom: W hen t h e sp eed of a n y object
exceed s t h e s p e e d of s o u n d it is s a i d to b e
travelling a t s u p e r s o n i c sp eed . Bullets, jet
aircraft s etc. often travel a t s u p e r s o n i c
s p e e d s . W h e n a s o u n d , p ro d ucing s o u r c e
moves with a s p e e d higher t h a n t h a t of
s o u n d , it p r o d u c e s s h o c k waves in air.
T hese s h o c k waves car r y a large a m o u n t
of e n e r g y . T h e a i r p r e s s u r e v a r i a t i o n
asso ciated with t h i s type of s h o c k waves
p r o d u c e s a very s h a r p a n d l o u d s o u n d
called t h e “sonic boom”. The s h o c k waves
p r o d u c e d by a s u p e r s o n i c aircraft h a v e
e n o u g h energy to s h a t t e r glass a n d even
d a ma g e buildings
 E CHO
If we s h o u t or clap n e a r a suitable reflecting
REVERBERATION
object s u c h a s a tall building or a mo u n t a in , A s o u n d created in a big hall will persist by
we will h e a r th e s a m e s o u n d again a little repeated reflection from th e walls un til it is
later. This s o u n d which we h e a r is called a n r e d u c e d to a valu e w h e r e it is n o lon ge r
echo. The sen sa tio n of s o u n d p e rsists in o u r audible. The rep ea te d reflection t h a t resu lts
brain for a b o u t 0 . 1 s. To h e a r a distinct echo i n t h i s p e r s i s t e n c e of s o u n d i s c a l l e d
t h e time interval between t h e original s o u n d reverberation. In a n au d ito riu m or big hall
a n d th e reflected one m u s t be a t least 0 .1 s.
If we take th e spe ed of s o u n d to be 3 4 4 m / s
a t a given t e mp e ra tu re , sa y a t 2 2 º C in air,
t h e s o u n d m u s t go to th e obstacle a n d reach
b ac k th e e a r of t h e listener o n reflection after
0.1s. Hence, th e total distance covered by th e
s o u n d from t h e point of generation to t h e
reflecting surface a n d b a c k sh o u ld be a t least
(344 m / s )  0 .1 s = 3 4 . 4 m. T h u s, for h earin g
distinct echoes, th e mi n i m u m distance of th e
obstacle from th e so u rc e of s o u n d m u s t be
half of this distance, t h a t is, 1 7 . 2 m. This
d istance will c h a n g e with t h e te mp e ra tu re of
air. Echo es ma y be h e a r d mo re t h a n once
d u e to successive or multiple reflections. The
rolling of t h u n d e r is d u e to th e successive
reflections of t h e s o u n d from a n u m b e r of
reflecting surfaces, s u c h a s t h e clouds a n d
t h e lan d .
 USES OF MULTIPLE REFLECTION OF SOUND

1. M e g a p h o n e s or l o u d h a i le r s , h o r n s ,
musical in stru me n ts s u c h a s tru mp ets
a n d s h e h a n a i s , a r e all d e si g n ed to
s e n d s o u n d in a particular direction
without spreading it in all directions,
a s s h o w n in Fig .

Megaphone

Horn A m e g a p h o n e a n d a horn.
In th e se i n s tr u me n ts , a t u b e followed
by a conical opening reflects s o u n d
successively to guide mo st of th e so u n d
waves from t h e sou rce in th e forward
direction towards t h e audience.
2. Stethoscope is a medical i n s t r u me n t
u s e d for listening to s o u n d s p ro du ced
within t h e body, chiefly in th e h ear t or
lungs. In stethoscopes th e s o u n d of the
patient’s heartbeat reaches the doctor’s
e a rs by multiple reflection of s o u n d , a s
s h o w n in Fig.

Curved ceiling of a conference

hall.

Fig.12.13: Stethoscope

3. Generally t h e ceilings of concert halls,

conference halls a n d cin e ma halls are
curved so t h a t s o u n d after reflection
reaches all corners of the hall, a s shown
in Fig . S o m e t i m e s a c u r v e d

s o u n d b o a r d ma y be placed b e h in d th e
stage so t h a t th e so u n d , after reflecting
from t h e s o u n d board, s p re a d s evenly
across th e width of th e hall . S o u n d board u s e d in a big hall.
Applications of Ultrasound SONAR
U ltra so u n d s are high frequency waves. T h e a c r o n y m SONAR s t a n d s for S O u n d
U l t r a s o u n d s ar e able to travel along well-
Navigation And Ranging. S o n ar is a device
d e f i n e d p a t h s e v e n i n t h e p r e s e n c e of
t h a t u s e s ultrasonic waves to m e a s u r e th e
obstacles. U lt ra so u n d s a re u s e d extensively
distance, direction a n d sp eed of u n d e r wa te r
in in d u stries a n d for medical p u r p o se s .
objects. How d oes t h e s o n a r work? S o n a r
 U ltraso u n d is generally u s e d to clean consists of a tran smitter a n d a detector a n d is
p a r t s located in h ard -to -reach places, installed in a b o a t or a sh ip , a s s h o w n in Fig.
for example, spiral tu b e , o dd s h a p e d
p a r t s , el e c t ro n i c c o m p o n e n t s e t c .
Objects to be cleaned are placed in a
cleaning solution a n d ultrasonic
waves are s e n t into th e solution. D u e
to t h e high frequency, th e particles of
d u s t, grease a n d dirt get d etach ed a n d
drop out. The objects t h u s get
thoroughly cleaned.
 U l t r a s o u n d s c a n be u s e d to de te c t
c r a c k s a n d flaws in me t a l b l o c k s .
Metallic c o m p o n e n t s a r e g ene rally
u s e d in construction of big s t r u c t u r e s
like buildings, bridges, ma c h i n e s a n d
also scientific eq u ip me n t. The c rac k s Ultrasound s e n t b y the transmitter a n d
or holes inside the metal blocks, which received b y the detector.
are invisible from ou tside re d u c e s th e
s t ren g th of t h e s tr u c tu r e . Ultrasonic
waves are allowed to p a s s t h ro u g h th e
The t ran s mi tte r p ro d u ces a n d t r a n s mi t s
metal block a n d detectors a re u s e d to
ultrasonic waves. These waves travel th ro u g h
detect th e t ra n s mitt e d waves. If th e re
water a n d after striking t h e object o n th e
is even a small defect, th e u l t r a s o u n d
seabed , get reflected b a c k a n d are s e n s e d
g e t s reflecte d b a c k i n d i c a t i n g t h e by t h e detector. The detector converts t h e
presence of the flaw or defect, a s shown ultrasonic waves into electrical signals which
in Fig. are appropriately interpreted. The dista nce
of t h e object t h a t reflected th e s o u n d wave
c a n be calculated by knowing th e speed of
s o u n d in water a n d t h e time interval between
t r a n s m i s s i o n a n d r e c e p t i o n of t h e
u l t r a s o u n d . Let t h e time interval b etwe e n
t r a n s mi s s i o n a n d reception of u l t r a s o u n d
signal be t a n d th e speed of s o u n d t h r o u g h
seawater be v. The total distance, 2 d travelled
by t h e u l t r a s o u n d is t h e n , 2 d = v  t.
The above meth o d is called echo-ranging.
The s o n a r technique is u s e d to determine th e
d e p t h of th e s e a a n d to locate u n d er wa te r
hills, valleys, s u b ma r i n e , icebergs, s u n k e n
Ultrasound is reflected b a c k from t h e sh ip etc.
defective locations inside a metal block.