We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4
Sound
SOUND :
Sound is a form of energy which makes us hear and travels in the form of waves.
Sound is produced by various sources. Though sound is mechanical in nature, its
perception is, of course, largely physiological.
PROPAGATION OF SOUND
The sound produced by vibrating objects reaches the listener only when it passes through a
medium which may be a liquid, a solid or a gas. Let us now briefly discuss as to how
sound travels from the source point of generation to the listener.
(i) The vibration of the object sets the particles of the medium around it vibrating.
(ii) The particles do not travel from the vibrating object to the ear. A particle of the
medium in contact with the vibrating object is first displaced from its equilibrium
position as shown in the figure. This particle exerts a force on a neighboring partic
(2) which is displaced from its equilibrium position and also starts moving. After
displacing particle (2), particle (1) comes back to its mean position. This process
continues till the particle near the listener’s ear starts vibrating.
Thus, sound created by the source reaches the listener through the particles of the medium
without any net transport of the medium.
(a) Type of waves on the basis of material medium
(Elastic waves or mechanical waves : Those waves which need a material
medium for their propagation are called elastic waves or
mechanical waves c.g., sound waves and
water waves are elastic or mechanical waves.
(ii) Electromagnetic waves : Those waves which do not need a material medium
for their propagation are called electromagnetic waves. These waves
can travel through vacuum as well as through medium e.g. light waves and
radio waves are electromagnetic waves.
(iii)Seismic waves: The disturbances inside the earth which cause waves moving in
all
direction are called seismic waves. It is these waves which cause earth quakes.
(b) Types of waves on the basis of its direction of propagation
(i) Transverse waves : The waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate
upanddown ‘at right angles’ to the direction in which the
wave is ye
moving, are called transverse waves.
Eg., light waves, radio waves, water waves etc.
‘The water waves (or ripples) formed on the surface of water ina pond particle ».
are transverse waves. This is because of the fact that in a water Propagation
wave, the molecules of water move up and down in the vertical
direction when the wave travels in the horizontal direction
along the water surface. When a stone is dropped in a pond of Down
water, transverse water waves are produced on the surface of water.
The ‘elevation’ or ‘hump’ in a transverse wave is called crest. In other words, a
crest is that part of the transverse wave which is above the line of zero
Direction of wavedisturbance of the medium. In figure, XY is the line of zero disturbance and
A and C are the two crests of the transverse water wav
Crest Crest
Line of
2ero—> X
“isturbance |
Tovah ough
The ‘depression’ or ‘hollow’ in a transverse wave is called trough. In other
words, a trough is that part of the transverse wave (B and D) which is
below the line of zero disturbance.
(ii) Longitudinal waves: A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate
back and
forth in the ‘same direction’ in which the wave is moving, is called longitudinal
wave. Eg. — Sound waves.
Direction of vibrations of particles
AB
att ‘
——<
Direction of wave
Characteristics of a Sound Wave
As already discussed, sound waves are produced due to variations in pressure and density
of the medium. The various other characteristics a
(a) Compression and rarefaction
‘A compression is formed when particles of the medium lie closer to each other whereas a
rarefaction is formed when the particles of the medium lie farther apart than the normal
distance,
(i) Compression : A portion of the medium where a temporary decrease in volume and
consequently a increase in density takes place when a sound wave passes through the
medium, is called a compression or a condensation.
Pressure variations
Erossure verptions
i | i j a
Speaker i) il i
i ll aa ‘|
SL,
(ii) Rarefaction: A portion of the medium where a enporiy increase in volume and
consequently a decrease in density takes place when a sound wave passes through
the medium, is called a rarefaction.(b) Graphical representation of sound wave
The graphical representation of sound wave is given below :
(i) Crest : The portion of the medium where the density (or pressure) has a value larger
than its average value is called a crest.
(ii) Trough : The portion of the medium where the density (or pressure) has a value
smaller than the average value is called a trough.
Density
(Pressure)
¢
+
A
Average t
density (or
Pressure)
Distance
Minimum
deny (or
Pressure) Trough owen Teh
The points of maximum density (or pressure) and minimum density (or pressure) are also
called crests and troughs respectively.
Amplitude (A) : The magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium on
either side of the
mean position is called the amplitude of the wave. It is usually represented by the letter A.
In case of sound, the unit of A is the same as that of density or pressure.
(iv) Oscillation : As is clear from the graph, the density (or pressure) of the medium
oscillates
between a maximum value and a minimum value. The change in density (or pressure) from
maximum value to the minimum value and again to the maximum value is called an
oscillation.
(v) Frequency (v) : The frequency of a sound wave is defined as the number of complete
oscillations
per second. It is denoted by the symbol v (Greek letter, mu). Unit of frequency is cycle per
second (cps) or s~ or hertz (Hz) which is named after Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894).
Bigger units of frequency are kilohertz (kHz, 1 0*Hz) and megahertz (MHz, 10° Hz).
(vi) Time Period (T) : The time taken for one complete oscillation in density (or
pressure) of the
medium is called the time period of the wave.
Time period of the wave is also defined as the time taken by its two consecutive
compressions or rarefactions to cross a fixed point.
(vii) Wavelength (A) : The distance between two consecutive compressions or two
consecutive
rarefactions is called the wavelength of the wave. It is denoted by the symbol & (Greek letter,
lambda). Wavelength of a sound wave is also equal to the distance travelled by it in
its periodic time (T). Unit of wavelength is metre (m).
Pitch or frequencyPitch is that property of sound which Wave disturbance
help in differentiating between a
shrill sound and a grave (flat or Time
dull) sound.
High pitched sounds are called treble Low pitched sound
and low pitched sounds are called
bass. Pitch is directly Time
proportional to the frequency. The
voice of a lady is shriller than that
ofa man because the frequency of
a women’s ordinary voice is
around 280 Hz and that of man is
around 140 Hz.
Quality or timbre
The property of a sound which distinguishes it from another of the same pitch and loudness
is called quality or timbre.
High pitched Sound
Wave disturbance