Chapter - 13: Sound
Sound is a form of energy.
Sound is produced by a vibrating body.
To and fro or back and forth motion of an object is
called vibration.
Sound is produced by humans through the voice box
or the larynx. It is situated at the upper end of the wind
pipe. Two vocal cords, are stretched across the voice
box and have a narrow slit between them. When the
lungs force air through the slit, the vocal cords vibrate
and produce sound.
Sound needs a medium for propagation.
We hear sound through our ears. Know the Terms
Amplitude is the maximum distance from mean
position. Loudness of sound depends upon its
amplitude.
Time period: The time taken by a vibrating body to
complete one oscillation.
Frequency is the number of oscillations per second.
The SI unit of frequency is Hertz. The frequency
determines the shrillness or pitch of a sound. Usually
male has low pitched (bass) sound and female has high
pitched sound (Shrill).
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz is audible sound for human
beings. Sound less than 20 Hz frequency is called
infrasonic sound and sound more than 20 kHz is called
ultrasonic sound.
Unpleasant sound called noise may cause health
problems to human’s beings.
Noise pollution: Televisions, transistors, radios at
high volumes, desert coolers, air conditioners, horns of
vehicles etc. cause noise pollution.
Measures to limit noise pollution: Silence devices
must be installed in aircraft engines, transport vehicles
etc. Trees must be planted along the roads and around
buildings to cut down on the sound.
l Outer ear: It has a canal at the end of which is a
stretched membrane called eardrum. The sound waves
pass through ear canal and eardrum to vibrate.
l Middle ear: It has a set of three bones that are linked
together and attached to the eardrum. These bones
receive vibrations from eardrum and pass on to the
inner ear.
l Inner ear: The inner ear receives vibrations from the
middle ear and changes them into nerve impulses that
are interpreted by the brain and we hear the sound.
If υ = velocity of sound wave, n = frequency of sound
wave, λ = wavelength of sound wave. Then υ λ = n
Maximum speed of sound is in solids, followed by
liquids and then in gases.
Musical Sounds: The sounds which produce pleasant
sensation to the ear are termed as musical sounds.
Musical instruments: Musical instruments are
generally of the following types: l String instruments:
The vibration of string produces musical sound as in
sitar. l Wind instruments or reed instruments: The
column of air is vibrated by blowing air directly through
tubes is known as reeds as in Shehnai or Flute.
l Membrane instruments: The musical sound is
produced due to the vibration of skin or membrane
mounted on the instruments such as Tabla.
Ghana vadya : The instruments which are simply
beaten or struck as in the Manjira (cymbals) and Jal
Tarang.
Noise: The sounds which produce unpleasant
sensation to the ears are termed as noise.
Vacuum: When air is removed from a vessel, then it
is called vacuum.
Sound plays an important role in our lives.
We hear a variety of sounds in our surroundings.
Sound is produced by musical instruments like flute
and tabla by vibration.
The vibratory motion is also known as oscillatory
motion.
The unit of frequency is hertz.
Eardrum: When sound enters in outer ear, it travels
down a canal at the end of which a thin membrane is
stretched tightly. It is called eardrum.
Wind pipe: The tube-like vessel through which air
enters in the lungs is called wind pipe.
Noise pollution: The presence of excessive or
unwanted sounds in the environment is called noise
pollution.