Sound Class 8 Notes - Chapter 13
Sound plays an important role in our life. It is through sound we know that a period in school is
over or if someone is approaching you by just listening to the footsteps. Vibrating objects
produce sound. Vibration is the to and fro or back and forth movement of an object. Sound needs
a medium to travel. Hence, it cannot travel in a vacuum.
For More Information On Sound, Watch The Below Video:
Introduction to Sound
Introduction to waves
The sound is produced by vibrating objects.
They travel from one place to another in the form of waves. Hence, the name sound
waves.
Wave and particle motion of waves
Mechanical waves are waves that travel through a material medium.
It is of two types: depending on the direction of motion of the particle of the medium and
the wave propagation:
*Transverse
*longitudinal
Transverse waves
Particle motion is to perpendicular the direction of wave motion.
This type of wave is a mechanical wave called a transverse wave. E.g.: Light, or even
Mexican wave in a stadium.
Longitudinal waves
When the particles of the medium travel parallel to the direction of the wave motion by
means of successive compression or rarefaction.
It is also a mechanical wave.
Example: slinky
To know more about Sound Waves.
Sound Properties
Introduction to sound waves
– Sound needs a medium to propagate. The matter or material through which sounds
propagates is called a medium.
– Sound cannot travel in a vacuum. The moon does not have an atmosphere; hence, you can
hear on the moon.
Sounds by Humans
How do humans produce sound?
The sound produced in the voice box called larynx located at the upper end of the
windpipe.
2 vocal cords get stretched across in the voice box. Has a slit, through which air is forced
out by the lungs.
Muscles attached to vocal cords make it tight or loose.
Hearing
Human ear
Outer ear = pinna: collects sound from the surroundings.
Sound passes through a tube called an auditory canal.
Eardrum (tympanic membrane) → vibrates when the sound incident.
Vibrations are sent to the inner ear, from there it goes to the brain as signals via the
auditory nerve.
Amplitude, Time Period and Frequency
Amplitude, frequency, and time period of vibrations
The magnitude of disturbance in the medium on either side of the mean value is called
as Amplitude(A). Larger the amplitude, louder the sound.
The number of oscillations per second is called frequency. Expressed in Hertz (Hz).
Time taken for one complete oscillation to travel across a point. T = 1/f. (Seconds)
Loudness and Pitch
Volume or loudness of a sound depends on the amplitude. The force with which an object
is made to vibrate gives the loudness.
The number of oscillations per unit time. Directly proportional to frequency.
Audible and inaudible sounds
Audible range = 20Hz to 20kHz known as the Sonic range.
Below 20 Hz (inaudible) → infrasonic range
Above 20 kHz (inaudible) → Ultrasonic range
Noise Pollution
Noise and music
– Sounds with the same pitch and loudness can be distinguished based on the quality. Music is
pleasant to the ears while noise is not.
– Unpleasant sounds are called as noise.
Noise pollution and measures to control it
– Presence of excessive unwanted noise in our surroundings is called as noise pollution.
– Can cause hearing impairment, sleeplessness and also hypertension.
– Must be minimised by reducing noisy operations and honking in residential areas. Planting
trees along roads also cut down the noise.