Sound waves are moving very quickly it will take only
fractions of a second to travel short distance
To calculate the speed of sound, we use the speed formula
V = speed
Speed = Distance / time V = d/t D=Distance
T = time
The unit of speed is m/s
If we want to find distance we use this equation: d=v×t
If we want to find time we use this equation : t= d/v
Value of the speed of sound
A The speed of sound in air is approximately 340m/s for
air at 20֯C.
The speed of sound depend on the temperature of the air.
The higher the temperature of the air the faster the sound
travels.
Sound in solids or liquids
We normally hear sounds after the sound waves have
passed through the air.
But sound can also pass through liquids and solids.
Sound in solids or liquids
Sound waves pass through liquids in the same way that
they pass through gasses such air. The vibrations are
passed from particle to particle.
In liquids and solids the particles are much closer together
than in a gas.
Sound in solids or liquids
This means that the vibrations can be passed onwards much
more quickly and so the sound waves travel more quickly
than they would in a gas.
The type of bonding between particles also influenced in
sound waves travel.
Hearing Sounds
We hear sounds when the sound waves reach our ears.
Ears are sensitive organs that convert sound energy into
electrical signals that travel to our brains.
The structure of ears
pinna is the outer part of ear . It is shaped so that it
collects sound energy.
Ear canal the tube that connects the outer part to
middle part of ear.
The eardrum in a thin layer of tissue that separates
the outer parts of the ear from the internal parts. It
transmits the sound onwards and protects the rest
of the ear from infection.
The structure of ears
Beyond the eardrum there are three small bones called the
ossicles. These bones work together to pass the energy of the
sound wave to the cochlea.
The cochlea is a coiled tube filled with a fluid and tiny hair-like
structures. When vibrations reach the cochlea the hairs are moved
backwards and forwards.
The hairs in the cochlea send electrical signals to the brain along
a set of nerves. Our brain interprets these signals as sound.
The structure of ears
The hairs in the cochlea send electrical signals to the brain
along a set of nerves.
Our brain interprets these signals as sound. Ears are also
important in our sense of balance.
Three tubes called semi-circular canals detect how our head
is tilted or if we are rotating. When we spin around, the
fluid in these canals spins. If we spin too much we become
dizzy because the fluid keeps on moving when we stop.
Pairs of air
When you hear a sound you can usually tell which direction the
sound is coming. This is because humans have a pair of ears
one on each side of their heads.
The two ears detect the sound waves arriving at slightly
different times; there is less than 1000th of a second difference.
Our brains can use this timing difference to work out the
direction the sound is coming from.
The Dangers of sounds
Damaged ears : Many parts of
our ears are very small and
delicate. They can be damaged by
sudden, extremely loud noises
such as explosions or very loud
music, which can tear the eardrum.
The Dangers of sounds
Other loud noises can cause damage to our hearing
over longer periods of time. For example, the
ossicles (small bones) can wear out and become less
sensitive as they rub together.
Older people are less sensitive to high frequency
sound because of the processes that damage hearing
over time
Measuring the loudness of sounds
Louder sounds carry more energy.
We can measure the loudness with a
sound meter in a unit called the
decibel (dB).
The greater the decibel reading the
louder the sound is. The decibel
system is quite complicated.
Doubling the energy of the sound
does not double the decibel reading.
Measuring the loudness of sounds
Sounds above 70 dB are usually
annoying. Sounds above 100 dB
will cause permanent damage if
you are exposed for more than
an hour. Sounds above 110 dB
are painful to hear. Anything
louder can rupture your
eardrum very quickly.
Protecting ears from damage
The best way of protecting your ears is to limit
the loudness of the noise around you. If that is not
possible, ear protection should be worn. Ear
protectors insulate your ears from sound. The ear
protectors absorb or reflect the sound energy
before it can reach your eardrum.
Beyond our range of hearing
Our ears can only detect
frequencies from 20Hz up to
20 000 Hz but sound waves
can be produced with much
higher frequencies. These
sound waves are called
ultrasound.
Ultrasound
Ultrasonic waves can be used in medical
examinations.
A transducer sends sound signals into the
body.
The signals reflect off the boundaries
between different types of tissue (e.g.
muscle and bone).
The transducer receives the echoes.
Ultrasound
A computer uses the timings of the echoes to calculate
the positions of the tissue boundaries and then creates
an image of the surfaces.
A similarmethod can be used to detect flaws in metal
objects such as pipes. A crack will cause ultrasonic
echoes that can be detected.
Ultrasonic animals
Animals are able to hear different frequency ranges to
humans. Some are able to hear much higher frequencies
than humans can.
Dolphins and bats can use ultrasound very effectively.
Bats can produce very high frequency pulses of sound
that they send outwards. The sound waves reflect off
obstacles and the bat hears the echo, detecting the object
so that it doesn't fly into it. The sound waves also reflect
off small insects and the bats can find and catch the
insects even in total darkness. This is an example
of echo location.
Ultrasonic animals
Dolphins use echo location
techniques underwater to find fish
and avoid obstacles deep underwater
where there is very little light.
Dolphins can also communicate
effectively through these high
frequency pulses.
End of Chapter