Ch-8
Sound
Sound
• Introduction
• Types of Waves
(i) Mechanical waves: A wave is said to be
mechanical if a material medium is essential for
its propagation. Ex. water waves, waves along a
stretched string, seismic waves, sound waves
etc.
Sound
(ii) EM waves: These are generated due to
periodic vibrations in electric and magnetic
fields. These waves can propagate through
material media, however material medium is
not essential for their propagation.
Sound
(iii) Matter waves: There is always a wave
associated with any object if it is in motion. Such
waves are matter waves.
Sound
• Common Properties of all Waves:
1) Amplitude (A): Amplitude of a wave motion is
the largest displacement of a particle of the
medium through which the wave is propagating,
from its rest position. SI unit-metre
2) Wavelength (l): Wavelength is the distance
between two successive particles which are in
the same state of vibration. SI unit- metre.
Sound
3) Period (T): Time required to complete one
vibration by a particle of the medium is the period T
of the wave. SI unit- seconds.
4) Double periodicity: Waves possess double
periodicity. At every location the wave motion
repeats itself at equal intervals of time, hence it is
periodic in time. Similarly, at any given instant, the
form of wave repeats at equal distances hence, it is
periodic in space. Wave motion is periodic in time
and periodic in space.
Sound
5) Frequency (n): Frequency of a wave is the
number of vibrations performed by a particle
during each second. SI unit - hertz. (Hz)
Frequency is a reciprocal of time period,
i.e., n = 1/T
Sound
6) Velocity (v): The distance covered by a wave
per unit time is called the velocity of the wave.
During the period (T), the wave covers a distance
equal to the wavelength (λ)
Magnitude of velocity = distance/time
V= wavelength/period
v = λ /T
but 1/T = n (frequency)
v= n λ
Sound
7) Phase and phase difference
Sound
• For mechanical waves to propagate through a
medium, the properties of the medium are
i) The medium should be continuous and elastic
so that the medium regains original state after
removal of deforming forces.
ii) The medium should possess inertia.
iii) The frictional resistance of the medium must
be negligible so that the oscillations will not be
damped.
Sound
• Characteristics of progressive wave
1) All vibrating particles of the medium have
same amplitude, period and frequency.
2) State of oscillation i.e., phase changes from
particle to particle.
Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves
Transverse waves Longitudinal waves
A wave in which particles of A wave in which particles
the medium vibrate in a of the medium vibrate in a
direction perpendicular to direction parallel to the
the direction of propagation direction of propagation
of wave is called transverse of wave is called
wave. longitudinal wave.
Ex. Water waves Ex. Sound waves
Characteristics
Transverse waves Longitudinal Waves
1)All particles of the 1) All the particles of
medium in the path of the medium along the path of
wave vibrate in a direction the wave vibrate in a
perpendicular to the direction parallel to the
direction of propagation direction of propagation
of the wave with same of wave with same period
and amplitude.
period and amplitude.
2) When longitudinal
2)When transverse wave wave passes through a
passes through a medium, medium, the medium is
the medium is divided into divided into regions of
alternate the crests and alternate compressions
troughs. and rarefactions.
Characteristics
Transverse waves Longitudinal Waves
3) A crest and an adjacent 3)A compression and
trough form one cycle of a adjacent rarefaction form
transverse wave. The one cycle of longitudinal
distance measured along wave. The distance
the wave between any measured along the wave
two consecutive points in between any two
the same phase (crest or consecutive points having the
trough) is called the same phase is the
wavelength of the wave. wavelength of wave.
Characteristics
Transverse waves Longitudinal Waves
4) Transverse waves can
4) Longitudinal waves can
travel through solids and on
surfaces of liquids only. They travel through solids,Liquids
can not travel through and gases. Longitudinal
liquids and gases. EM waves wave can not travel through
are transverse waves but vacuum or free space.
they do not require material 5) The compression and
medium for propagation. rarefaction advance in the
5) Crests and troughs medium and are responsible
advance in the medium and for transfer of energy.
are responsible for transfer
of energy.
Characteristics
Transverse waves Longitudinal Waves
6)When transverse waves 6)When longitudinal wave
advance through a medium advances through a
there is no change in the medium there are periodic
pressure and density at any variations in pressure and
point of medium, however density along the path of
shape changes periodically. wave and also with time.
7) Transverse wave can be 7) Longitudinal waves can
polarised. not be polarised.