Topic 1: What is Sound?

1. Definition of Sound
Sound is a form of energy that produces the sensation of hearing in our ears.

Sound is produced due to the vibration of objects and is transmitted through a medium
in the form of waves.

2. Sound is Produced by Vibrations

When an object vibrates, it disturbs the surrounding particles of the medium (air,
water, or solid).
These disturbances travel in the form of sound waves and reach our ears, producing
sound.

Examples:
• Plucking a guitar string produces sound due to vibration.
• Beating a drum produces sound due to vibration of the drum membrane.
• Ringing of a bell produces sound due to vibration of the bell.
• Human voice is produced due to vibration of vocal cords.

3. Sound Needs a Medium to Travel

Sound cannot travel in vacuum.
It needs a material medium such as:
• Solid
• Liquid
• Gas

Sound travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases.

Example:

An electric bell experiment in a vacuum jar shows that as air is removed, sound
becomes fainter and finally cannot be heard, proving that sound needs a medium to
travel.

4. Sound Travels in the Form of Waves

Sound travels as a mechanical wave through a medium.
These waves are produced due to the vibration of particles of the medium.

Sound waves are longitudinal waves, in which particles of the medium move back and
forth in the same direction as the wave travels.
 5. Sound is a Mechanical Wave
Sound is called a mechanical wave because:
• It requires a material medium to travel.
• It is produced due to mechanical vibrations.
• It cannot travel in vacuum.

6. Sound and Energy

Sound carries energy from one place to another without transporting matter
permanently.

For example:
When a drum is beaten, energy is transferred from the drum to the surrounding air in
the form of sound waves.

7. Audible and Inaudible Sound (Introduction)

Human beings can hear sound only within a certain range of frequency:
• Audible sound: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
• Below 20 Hz → Infrasonic sound
• Above 20,000 Hz → Ultrasonic sound

(This will be studied in detail in later topics.)

Topic 2: Production of Sound

1. Meaning of Production of Sound
Sound is produced when an object vibrates.
Vibration means the to and fro (back and forth) motion of an object about its mean
position.

Whenever an object vibrates, it sets the surrounding particles of the medium (air,
water, etc.) into vibration, and sound is produced.

2. Vibration – The Main Cause of Sound

All sounds are produced due to vibrations.

Examples:
• A plucked guitar string vibrates and produces sound.
• A tuning fork vibrates and produces sound.
• A drum membrane vibrates and produces sound.
• A bell vibrates and produces sound.
• Human voice is produced by vibration of vocal cords.
 3. Production of Sound by Different Objects
(a) Sound from a Tuning Fork

When a tuning fork is struck:

• Its prongs vibrate rapidly.
• These vibrations produce sound waves in air.
• If the vibrating tuning fork is dipped in water, splashes are seen, showing
vibration.

(b) Sound from a Bell

When a bell is struck:

• The metal body of the bell vibrates.
• These vibrations produce sound.

(c) Sound from a Drum

When a drum is beaten:

• The stretched membrane vibrates.
• These vibrations produce sound.

(d) Sound from Guitar or String Instrument

When a string is plucked:

• The string vibrates.
• The vibration produces sound.

4. Production of Sound in Human Voice

Sound in humans is produced by the vocal cords present in the larynx (voice box).

Process:
1. Air from lungs passes through the vocal cords.
2. The vocal cords vibrate.
3. These vibrations produce sound.
4. Different sounds are produced by changing the tension and thickness of vocal
cords.

5. Sound Stops When Vibration Stops

If the vibrating object stops vibrating, sound also stops.

Example:
When a bell is touched after ringing, its vibration stops and sound stops.
 6. Sound Needs a Medium After Production
After production, sound travels through a medium such as:
• Air
• Water
• Solid

But sound cannot travel in vacuum.

7. Experiment to Show That Sound is Produced by

Vibration
Experiment: Tuning Fork and Water
1. Strike a tuning fork on a rubber pad.
2. Bring it near your ear → sound is heard.
3. Dip the vibrating tuning fork in water.
4. Water splashes are seen.

Conclusion:
Sound is produced due to vibration of the tuning fork.

Topic 3: Propagation of Sound

1. Meaning of Propagation of Sound
Propagation of sound means the way sound travels from the source to the listener
through a medium.

Sound travels through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) in the form of waves produced by
vibrating objects.

2. Sound Requires a Medium to Travel

Sound cannot travel in vacuum.
It needs a material medium such as:
• Solids
• Liquids
• Gases

Sound travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases.

3. Sound Travels as a Longitudinal Wave

Sound propagates in the form of longitudinal waves.
In longitudinal waves:
• Particles of the medium vibrate back and forth.
• The vibration is in the same direction as the direction of wave travel.

4. Compression and Rarefaction

When a vibrating object moves forward and backward, it produces alternate regions of:

(a) Compression (C)

• Region of high pressure and high density.
• Particles are close together.

(b) Rarefaction (R)

• Region of low pressure and low density.
• Particles are far apart.

Sound wave consists of a series of compressions and rarefactions.

5. How Sound Travels in Air (Step-by-Step)

1. A vibrating source (like a tuning fork) moves forward.
2. It pushes air particles, creating compression.
3. When it moves backward, rarefaction is formed.
4. This chain of compressions and rarefactions travels through the medium.
5. Energy is transferred, not the particles themselves.

6. Sound is a Mechanical Wave

Sound is called a mechanical wave because:
• It requires a material medium.
• It is produced by vibration of particles.
• It cannot travel in vacuum.

7. Sound Propagation in Different Media

Medium Speed of Sound
Solids Fastest
Liquids Slower
Gases Slowest
Reason:
Particles are closest in solids and farthest in gases.

8. Graphical Representation of Sound Wave

A sound wave can be represented by a graph between:
• Pressure or density vs distance
or
 • Displacement vs distance

The graph shows alternate compressions and rarefactions.

9. Experiment: Bell Jar Experiment

Aim:

To show that sound needs a medium to travel.

Procedure:
• Place an electric bell inside a glass jar.
• Remove air using a vacuum pump.
• Sound becomes weaker and finally disappears.

Conclusion:

Sound cannot travel in vacuum.

Topic 4: Characteristics of Sound Waves

Sound waves have certain important properties called characteristics of sound waves.
These are:

1. Wavelength (λ)
Definition:
The distance between two consecutive compressions or two consecutive rarefactions is
called wavelength.
• Symbol: λ
• SI unit: metre (m)

Relation with sound:

Greater wavelength → lower frequency
Smaller wavelength → higher frequency

2. Frequency (f)
Definition:
The number of vibrations (oscillations) per second is called frequency.
• Symbol: f
• SI unit: hertz (Hz)

Relation with pitch:

Higher frequency → higher pitch
Lower frequency → lower pitch
 3. Time Period (T)
Definition:
The time taken to complete one vibration is called time period.
• Symbol: T
• SI unit: second (s)

Relation with frequency:

T = \frac{1}{f}

4. Amplitude (A)
Definition:
The maximum displacement of particles of the medium from their mean position is
called amplitude.
• Symbol: A
• Unit: metre (m)

Relation with loudness:

Greater amplitude → louder sound
Smaller amplitude → softer sound

5. Velocity (Speed) of Sound Wave (v)

Definition:
The distance travelled by the sound wave per second is called velocity of sound.
• Symbol: v
• SI unit: m/s

Formula:
v = f \times \lambda

Where:
v = velocity
f = frequency
λ = wavelength

6. Pitch and Loudness

Pitch:
• Depends on frequency
• High frequency = high pitch
• Low frequency = low pitch

Loudness:
• Depends on amplitude
• High amplitude = loud sound
 • Low amplitude = soft sound

Topic 5: Speed of Sound

1. Speed of Sound
Definition:
The distance travelled by sound per second in a given medium is called speed of sound.
• SI unit: m/s

At 20°C in air, speed of sound ≈ 343 m/s

2. Speed of Sound in Different Media

Medium Speed
Solids Fastest
Liquids Moderate
Gases Slowest
Reason:
Particles are closest in solids and farthest in gases.

3. Factors Affecting Speed of Sound

(a) Effect of Medium

Speed depends on nature of medium (solid, liquid, gas).

(b) Effect of Temperature (in gases)

As temperature increases, speed of sound increases.

(c) Effect of Humidity (in air)

Greater humidity → greater speed of sound.

4. Speed of Sound Does Not Depend on:

• Loudness
• Amplitude
• Pitch

5. Numerical Formula
v = f \lambda

This formula is used to calculate:

• Velocity
 • Frequency
• Wavelength

Topic 6: Reflection of Sound

1. Meaning of Reflection of Sound
When sound waves strike a hard surface and return back into the same medium, this
phenomenon is called reflection of sound.

Sound follows the same laws of reflection as light.

2. Laws of Reflection of Sound

1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
2. The incident sound wave, reflected sound wave, and the normal all lie in the
same plane.

3. Echo
Echo is the repetition of sound caused by reflection of sound waves from a distant hard
surface.

Conditions for Hearing Echo:

• Minimum distance between source and reflecting surface = 17.2 m
• Time gap between original sound and echo ≥ 0.1 second
• Reflecting surface should be hard and large

4. Uses of Echo
• Measuring distance of a cliff or building
• SONAR
• Detecting obstacles

5. Reverberation
Reverberation is the persistence of sound in an enclosed space due to repeated
reflections from walls, ceiling, and floor.

Example:
• Sound in a big hall or empty room continues even after the source stops.

6. Disadvantages of Reverberation
• Makes sound unclear
• Causes noise
• Disturbs communication
 7. Reduction of Reverberation
Reverberation can be reduced by:
• Covering walls with sound-absorbing materials
• Using curtains, carpets, and fibre boards
• Acoustic panels

Topic 7: Range of Hearing

1. Range of Hearing in Humans
The human ear can hear sounds having frequency between:

20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz)

This range is called the audible range.

2. Infrasonic Sound
Sounds having frequency less than 20 Hz are called infrasonic sounds.

Examples:
• Earthquakes
• Whales and elephants produce infrasonic sounds

Humans cannot hear infrasonic sounds.

3. Ultrasonic Sound
Sounds having frequency greater than 20,000 Hz are called ultrasonic sounds.

Examples:
• Bats use ultrasonic sound for navigation
• Dogs can hear ultrasonic sound
• SONAR uses ultrasonic waves

Humans cannot hear ultrasonic sounds.

4. Hearing Range of Different Animals

Animal Range of Hearing
Humans 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Dogs Up to 45 kHz
Bats Up to 120 kHz
Elephants Infrasonic

Topic 8: Applications of Ultrasound

 1. What is Ultrasound?
Ultrasound refers to sound waves having frequency greater than 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).
Humans cannot hear ultrasonic sound.

2. Uses / Applications of Ultrasound

(a) SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging)
• Used to measure the depth of sea.
• Used to locate underwater objects like submarines and rocks.
• Works on the principle of echo.

(b) Medical Imaging (Ultrasonography)

• Used to see internal organs.
• Used to examine fetus in mother’s womb.
• Helps in detecting kidney stones, tumors, etc.

(c) Cleaning of Objects

Ultrasound is used to clean:

• Electronic components
• Jewellery
• Machine parts

Ultrasonic waves remove dust and grease from small holes and corners.

(d) Detecting Cracks in Metals

Ultrasound is used to detect internal cracks in:

• Railway tracks
• Bridges
• Aircraft parts

(e) Breaking Kidney Stones (Lithotripsy)

High-intensity ultrasound waves are used to break kidney stones into small pieces.

Topic 9: Structure of Human Ear

1. Function of Human Ear
The human ear:
• Collects sound waves
• Converts them into electrical signals
• Sends them to the brain
The ear has three main parts:
1. Outer ear
2. Middle ear
3. Inner ear

2. Outer Ear
Parts:
• Pinna
• Ear canal

Functions:
• Collects sound waves
• Directs them into ear canal

3. Middle Ear
Parts:
• Eardrum (tympanic membrane)
• Three bones:
o Hammer (malleus)
o Anvil (incus)
o Stirrup (stapes)

Functions:
• Eardrum vibrates when sound hits it
• Bones amplify the vibrations

4. Inner Ear
Parts:
• Cochlea
• Auditory nerve

Functions:
• Cochlea converts vibrations into electrical signals
• Auditory nerve sends signals to brain

5. Working of Human Ear (Step-by-Step)

1. Sound waves enter through pinna.
2. Sound reaches eardrum and makes it vibrate.
3. Vibrations pass through middle ear bones.
4. Cochlea converts vibrations into electrical signals.
5. Brain interprets these signals as sound.

Topic 10: Noise and Music

 1. Noise
Noise is an unpleasant, harsh, and unwanted sound.

Examples:
• Traffic sound
• Loudspeakers
• Factory machines

2. Music
Music is a pleasant sound that is produced by regular vibrations and is pleasing to the
ear.

Examples:
• Singing
• Playing instruments

3. Difference between Noise and Music

Noise Music
Unpleasant sound Pleasant sound
Irregular vibrations Regular vibrations
Causes discomfort Gives pleasure

4. Harmful Effects of Noise (Noise Pollution)

• Lack of sleep
• Headache
• Stress
• Hearing loss
• High blood pressure

5. Prevention of Noise Pollution

• Avoid unnecessary honking
• Use soundproof rooms
• Plant trees
• Use silencers in machines
• Limit loudspeaker use