SOUND

Sound : Sound is a form of energy which produces the sensation of hearing in our ears.
Wave: The movement of disturbance through a medium due to the repeated periodic motion
of the particles of the medium about their mean position is known as a wave.
Mechanical Wave: Waves that require material medium to travel for their propagation are
called mechanical waves. Sound waves are mechanical waves.
Production of sound: Sound is produced by the vibrating objects or bodies.
Examples: 1. When we strike tuning fork on rubber pad, the prongs of the tuning fork vibrate
and produce sound.
2. If we put the palm of our hand on our throat and speak, we feel vibrations.
Propagation of sound: When an object vibrates, the particles around it also start vibrating.
The particles do not travel all the way from the vibrating body to the ear. Particles of the
medium in contact with the vibrating object are first displaced from their equilibrium
position. They then exert a force on the adjacent particles. As a result, the adjacent particles
also get displaced from their position of rest. After displacing the adjacent particles, they
come back to their original position. This process continues in the medium until the sound
reaches the listener.

Transverse waves: If the particles of the medium vibrate about their mean positions in a
direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave, the wave is called
transverse wave. e.g. water waves, waves produced in a slinky etc.
When transverse waves travel through a medium, crests and troughs are produced.
Longitudional waves: If the particles of the medium vibrate about their mean positions in the
direction of propagation of waves, waves are called longitudional waves. e.g. sound waves.
When longitudional waves travel through a medium, compressions and rarefactions are
produced.

Characteristics of Sound Waves

1. Amplitude (a): The maximum displacement of a vibrating body or particle from its
mean position is called amplitude. Its SI unit is metre (m).
2. Wavelength (ℷ): The distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions
is called wavelength. Its SI unit is metre (m).
3. Frequency (ᶹ): The number of vibrations produced in one second is called frequency.
Its SI unit is Hertz. (Hz).
4. Time Period (T): The time taken to complete one vibration is called time period. Its
SI unit is seconds (s).
Note: Frequency = 1/ Time period
Loudness : Loudness is that characteristic of sound that depends on the amplitude of
sound wave. Higher the amplitude, louder the sound.
Loudness is a subjective quantity. It depends upon the sensitivity of the human ear. It
cannot be measured as a physical quantity as it is a sensation which can only be felt.

Pitch: It is a characteristic of sound which depends on the frequency of the sound

wave. Higher the frequency, higher the pitch.

Timber or Quality: It is a characteristic of sound which enables us to distinguish

between the sounds of same pitch and loudness.

Sound of single frequency is called tone and sound of several frequencies is called
note.

Intensity of sound is defined as the sound energy transferred per unit time through a
unit area placed perpendicular to the direction of propagation of sound. It is an
objective quantity, it does not depend on the sensitivity of human ear and can be
measured.

Relation between speed, wavelength and Frequency

Speed of sound, v = Distance/time = s/t

Therefore, v = ℷ/t
But 1/t = ᶹ
So v = ᶹℷ

Sound Needs a medium to travel

Put an electric bell inside a closed jar connected with a vacuum pump. Initially, the air
from the jar is not taken out. Connect the electric bell with a battery. It rings and the
sound produced by it is heard by us.
Now start evacuating the air from the jar using a vacuum pump, we will hear less and
less sound i.e the loudness of the sound decreases. When there is no air in the glass
jar, we donot hear sound. This activity shows that the sound waves need material
medium to travel.
Note: Speed of sound in solids is more than in liquids and least in gases.
Speed of sound increases with increase in temperature.
Speed of sound in air at 200C is 343 m/s.

Laws of Reflection of Sound

1. The incident sound, reflected sound and the normal at the point of incidence all lie
in the same plane.
2. Angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Echo: Echo is the repetition of sound due to the reflection of sound from a large and
hard obstacle.

Conditions for the production of echo:

1. The time gap between the original sound and the reflected sound should be atleast
1/10 or 0.1 s. This is called persistence of hearing.
2. The minimum distance between the source of sound and the obstacle must be
atleast 17.2 m.
3. Size of the obstacle must be large.
4. Obstacle must be hard.

Reverberation: When echo follows so closely behind the original sound that the
original sound appears to be prolonged even when the source of sound stop producing
sound, it is called reverberation.

How do we decrease Reverberation?

• By using sound absorbing materials in the auditorium such as the ceiling of the
sudatorium is made of soft material.
• The windows should be covered with heavy curtains.
• The flooring is done by using special tiles called acoustic tiles.
• Padded chairs are arranged in the halls.

Uses of multiple reflection

1. Stethoscope: It is a device used by doctors to listen to the sound produced by
heart and lungs.
Sound produced by heart and lungs of a patient reaches the ears of the doctor
due to multiple reflection of sound.
2. The ceilings of concert halls and auditoriums are made curved. This is done so
that the sound reaches all the parts of the hall after reflection from the
ceiling(these ceilings are made up of sound absorbing materials to reduce
reverberation).
3. Megaphone: It is a device used to address public meetings. It is horn shaped.
When we speak through megaphone, sound waves are reflected by the
megaphone and these reflected waves are directed towards the people without
much spreading.

Range of Hearing
The waves having frequency between 20 Hz and 20000 Hz are known as
sound waves. Thus the audible range of frequency is 20 Hz to 20000 Hz.
Infrasonics or Infrasound
The waves of frequency less than 20 Hz are known as infrasonic waves.
The infrasonic waves are produced by large vibrating bodies e.g. infrasonic
waves are produced by the vibrations of earth’s surface during the earthquake.
Some animals like elephants, rhinoceros and whales etc also produce
infrasonic waves.
These waves are not audible to human ears.
It has been observed that animals behaviour becomes unusual before the
tremor is felt. This is because these animals have the ability to detect
infrasonic waves produced at the time of tremor.

Ultrasonics or Ultrasound
The waves of frequency greater than 20000 Hz are known as ultrasonic waves
or ultrasound. These waves are not audible to human ears but they can be
heard by some animals and birds.
Bats can produce ultrasonic waves by flapping their wings. The ultrasonic
waves produced by bats after reflection from the obstacles guide them to
remain away from the obstacles during their flight. Hence they can fly during
night without hitting the obstacles.
Dolphins also produce ultrasonic waves. They can also detect ultrasonic
waves. They catch their prey like a fish due to their ability to detect the
ultrasonic waves reaching them after reflecting from a fish.

Applications of Ultrasound
Industrial Uses
1. Ultrasonic waves are used to clean objects like electronic components. The
components to be cleaned are kept in a cleaning solution and ultrasonic
waves are sent into the solution. Due to the high frequency, the dirt
particles get detatched from the components.
2. Ultrasonic waves are used to detect cracks in metal blocks. Ultrasonic
waves are sent through the metal blocks and if there are cracks, the waves
are reflected back and the cracks can be detected.

Medical Uses
1. Ultrasonic waves are used to diagnose the diseases in the human body.
2. They are used to examine the foetus during pregnancy.
3. They are used to construct the image of the heart and the technique is
called echocardiography.
4. They are used to break the small stones formed in the kidneys into fine
grains. These grains later get flushed out with urine.