CHAPTER 11
SOUND
SOUND
• Sound is a mechanical energy that produces the sensation of hearing.
Sound is produced due to the vibration of different objects.
• Sound wave propagates as compressions & rarefactions in the medium.
Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
Characteristics of a Sound Wave
Sound waves are produced due to variations in pressure & density of the
medium.
• Compression is the portion of the medium where a temporary increase in
volume & a decrease in density takes place when a sound wave passes
through the medium.
• Rarefaction is the portion of the medium where a temporary decrease in
volume & consequently an increase in density takes place when a sound
wave passes through the medium.
• Crest is the portion of the medium where the density (or pressure) has a
value larger than its average value.
• Trough is the medium portion where the density (or pressure) has a value
smaller than the average value.
• Amplitude is the magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium
on either side of the mean position. It is usually represented by the letter A.
• Oscillation is the change in density (or pressure) from the maximum value
to the minimum value and again to the maximum value.
• Frequency(v) enables us to know how many times a particular event
occur in a given time.
• Time-Period is the time taken for one complete oscillation in density (or
pressure) of the medium.
It is represented by the symbol T. Its SI unit is second (s). Frequency and time-period
are related as follows:
v = 1/T
• Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive compressions or two
consecutive rarefactions. It is represented by the symbol λ. Its SI unit is metre (m).
Characteristics of Sound
• Loudness or intensity
• Pitch or frequency
• Quality or timbre.
• Speed
Loudness: The loudness or softness of a sound is determined basically by
its amplitude. The amplitude of the sound wave depends upon the force with
which an object is made to vibrate.
Intensity: The amount of sound energy passing each second through a unit
area is called the intensity of sound.
Pitch: Pitch can be taken as the measure of sound frequency expressed in
Hertz. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. All kinds of sound
produce some waves that are measured for the frequency it carries. Pitch
can also be expressed as the position of a musical note on a musical scale.
Quality/ timbre: The quality or timber of sound is that characteristic that
enables us to distinguish one sound from another having the same pitch
and loudness. The more pleasant sound is said to be of a rich quality. A
sound of a single frequency is called a tone. The sound produced due to a
mixture of several frequencies is called a note and is pleasant to listen to.
Speed: The speed of sound is defined as the distance at which a point on
a wave, such as a compression or a rarefaction, travels per unit of time.
speed, v = distance / time = λ/T
Here λ is the wavelength of the sound wave. It is the distance travelled by
the sound wave in one time period (T) of the wave.
Thus,
The speed v, frequency ν, and wavelength λ, of sound, are related by the
equation, v = λν.
The speed of sound depends primarily on the transmitting medium's
nature and temperature.
Problem No 1: A sound wave has a frequency of 2 kHz and a wavelength
of 35 cm. How long will it take to travel 1.5 km?
Speed of Sound in different media:
The speed of sound in a medium depends on its temperature. It decreases
when a medium changes from solid to gaseous. However, as the
temperature of any medium increases, the speed of sound increases.
For example, the speed of sound in air is 331 m s–1 at 0 ºC and 344 m s–1
at 22 ºC.
Reflection of Sound
• Law of Reflection of Sound: It states that:
1. The angle of incidence of a sound wave is equal to the angle of
reflection.
Angle of Incidence=Angle of Reflection
2. The incident sound wave, the reflected sound wave, and the normal
(a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of
incidence) all lie in the same plane.
This law is similar to the law of reflection of light and applies to sound
waves reflecting off surfaces such as walls, ceilings, or other objects.
• An Echo is the phenomenon of repetition of the sound of a source by
reflection from an obstacle. The sensation of sound persists in our brain
for about 0.1 seconds. To hear a distinct echo the time interval between the
original sound and the reflected one must be at least 0.1s.
• Reverberation is the persistence of audible sound after the source has
stopped emitting sound.
• Reverberation is reduced by carpeting the floor, upholstering furniture &
covering the walls with some absorbing material like curtains, etc.
Problem 2: A person clapped his hands near a cliff and heard an echo after
2 s. What is the distance of the cliff from the person if the speed of the
sound, v is taken as 346 m s–1?
Problem 3: An echo is heard in 3 s. What is the distance of the reflecting
surface from the source, given that the speed of sound is 342 m s–1?
• Multiple echoes are heard when sound is repeatedly reflected from several
obstacles at a suitable distance.
• Megaphones, stethoscopes, trumpets, hearing aids, etc are based on
the phenomenon of multiple reflections of sound.
Range of Hearing:
• The audible range of hearing of the average human being is in the
frequency range of 20Hz to 20KHz.
• Infrasound has a frequency below 20Hz. Ultrasound has a frequency above
20 kHz.
• Sound waves with frequencies below the audible range are termed
“infrasonic” and those above the audible range are termed “ultrasonic”.
Applications of Ultrasound: Ultrasound finds application in industry,
medical service & communications.