Production of sound

Production of sound requires a vibrating source and a

medium.
Sound requires a material medium to travel.
Sound travels fastest in solids, molecules are close so energy
transfer is fast. In gases, molecules are distant so energy
transfer is slow.
Sound is a longitudinal and mechanical wave and hence
produces regions of compression and rarefactions in the
medium.
Propagation of sound wave in air
Sound travels in air in the form of pressure pulses.
Compression
Compression is the region where the particles are close
together and it is a high pressure zone.
Rarefaction
Rarefaction is the region where the particles are further apart
and it is a low pressure zone.

A crest shows a compression while a trough shows a rarefaction

when representing graphically.
Factors effecting the speed of sound in air
Temperature
V ∝ √T
Increasing temperature increases the speed of motion of
molecules of air. Hence, they collide faster and transport
sound energy at a faster speed.
Humidity
Presence of humidity increases the speed of sound in air. The
greater the humidity, the larger are the number of molecules
available to carry energy.
Pressure
Since, V = √P/ρ i.e √pressure/density
Increasing pressure also increases density. Hence, the effect
gets cancelled out and speed stays same.
Audibility Range
Human ear can only hear sounds with a frequency of between
20Hz to 20 000Hz (20Hz to 20kHz). This frequency range is
called range of audible frequencies.
The sound below 20 Hz is called infra sound.
The sound above 20,000 Hz is called ultra sound.
Different mammals have different hearing range,
Elephant: 14 – 12,000 Hz
Dogs: 64 – 45,000 Hz
Cats: 48 – 75,000 Hz
Bats: 7,000 – 200,000 Hz
Sound waves need a material to travel
through: BELL JAR Experiment
A bell jar is used to enclose an electric bell & the container is
sealed. A vacuum pump is connected to the jar. The bell is
switched on & the sound is heard. Now the vacuum pump is
turned on & the air is sucked out of the jar. It is observed that
the amplitude of sound reduces to zero. The bell appears to be
ringing but no sound is heard.

The experiment proves the

following,
1. Sound can travel through air.
2. Sound can travel through glass.
3. Sound cannot travel through
vacuum.
Speed of sound wave
Sound can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. Speed of
sound varies with the medium through which it travels. Sound
travels faster in solids (concrete 5000m/s), then in liquids
(1400m/s in pure water) and then in gases (330m/s in air). High
speeds in solids are due to the strong force of attraction
between molecules. Speed of sounds depends on temperature.
Methods for determining speed of sound in air
Without CRO:
Apparatus needed: stopwatch, source(starting pistol), receiver
and measuring tape (trundle wheel).

A transmitting source could be a man holding a starting pistol.

A receiver could be another person holding the stop watch
standing at a certain distance from the transmission point.
Procedure:
 Student A fires the pistol.
 Student B starts the stop watch on seeing the flash and stops
when sound is heard.
 The distance between A and B is measured using measuring
tape.
 The experiment is repeated and an average value of time is
taken.
 Using the formula,
d
v=
t
Where d is the distance between A and B and t is the average
time.
Precautions: Open environment, large distance between A
and B.
Methods for determining speed of sound in air
With CRO (Cathode Ray Oscilloscope):
Another method involves a loud speaker, two microphones, a
measuring tape / meter rule & a CRO.

1. Microphones are connected to the CRO. The loudspeaker

produces sound.
2. Note the distance between two mics M1 & M2 as d using a
meter rule.
3. The time-base settings are adjusted so that both pulses are
seen side by side.
4. Use time-base settings and formula,
t = (Time-base) x no. of boxes
5. Use the formula,
d
v= , to find wave speed.
t
Precautions: Open environment to avoid multiple peats due
to reflection.

T-base: 5ms/box
5ms x 12
= 60ms
Echo sound
The reflection of sound from an obstacle is called an
echo.
Multiple echoes are called “ Reverberations”.
2d
Formula: v=
t
2d because sound travels the same distance twice
during echo.

To reduce echo,
 Use Cushion material (foamy seats)
 Use of carpets & curtains
 Architecture design
Measuring the Speed of sound
Indirect Method (Echo Method)
1. Without CRO:

The process uses two people for the experiment

standing at the same point.
i. Two students A & B stands at the same point, one
with a stop watch and other with a starting pistol.
ii. Student A fires the pistol & student B starts the stop
watch simultaneously.
iii. Student B stops the stop watch when the echo is
heard.
iv. Distance between wall and student A & B is
measured using measuring tape/trundle wheel.
v. Experiment is repeated multiple times and average
time is noted.
2d
vi. Use the formula, v=
t

Precautions: Open environment with no other reflecting

surfaces.
Measuring the Speed of sound
Direct Method (Echo Method)
2. With CRO:
d
1

1 t 2

1 t 2

t = from Mic to metal plate & back

to Mic.
i. Signal generator is used to produce sound through a loud
speaker.
ii. As pulse cross mic, a pulse is produced on CRO.
iii. As reflected pulse crosses mic, a second pulse is produced on
CRO.
The reflected pulse has a smaller amplitude than initial pulse,
a. Energy lost during travel from mic to plate and back.
b. Energy lost during reflection at plate.
iv. Set the Time-base settings so that both pulses are visible on
screen.
v. Use Time-base settings and the number of boxes to find the
time (t). t = (Time-base) x no. of boxes
vi. Use the formula,
2d
v=
t
Characteristics of sound
The characteristics of sound can be shown by connecting sound
producing source to C.R.O.
Loudness
The loudness of a sound wave depends upon the amplitude of
the wave.
A sound wave with a larger amplitude contains more energy
and is therefore louder.
Pitch
It tells about the sharpness. The pitch of a sound wave depends
on the frequency of the wave.
Sound of higher frequency (shorter wavelength) has a
higher pitch and hence sharper the sound.
Sound quality (timber)
The quality of the sound depends on the shape of the waveform
and hence also depends upon the instrument/source from which
sound is produced.
Trumpet Piano

Flute
Ultrasound
The sounds above the range of audible frequency (20Hz to 20
kHz) are called ultrasounds.

Uses of ultrasound
• Doctors use ultrasounds to examine the inside of human
bodies, for e.g. observing the development of an unborn
baby.
• It is also used for cleaning delicate (sensitive) machinery. The
machinery is immersed in tank of liquid, then the vibration of
high power ultrasound are used to dislodge (remove) the bits
of dirt’s and grease.

• Ultrasonic pulses are used to smash kidney stones.

• Ultrasound is also used to quality control (detect flaws in
metals). The echo sounding principle can be used to detect
flaws in metals. A pulse of ultrasound is sent through the
metal, if there is a flaw (tiny gap) in the metal, the reflected
pulses are picked up by the detector and shown on C.R.O
screen.
• Ships use echo – sounders to measure the depth of water
beneath them. An echo – sounder sends pulses of ultra sound
downwards towards the seabed, then measures the time taken
for each echo (reflected sound) to return. The longer the time,
the deeper the sea.
• Bat uses ultrasound to find insects and other
things in front of it. It send out ultra sound pulses
and use its specially shaped ears to pick up the
reflections.