INDIAN SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE, KUWAIT
Chapter 10 - SOUND
Sound
• Sound is a form of energy that produces sensation of hearing in our ears. It propagates in
a medium in the form of waves.
• Sound is produced due to vibrations of particles in a medium.
• One complete back and forth movement of a particle about its mean position is known as
vibration or oscillation.
Wave
A wave is a vibratory disturbance in a medium which transfers energy from one point to another.
Types of waves
(i) Mechanical waves
• The waves which always require a medium for their propagation are called as mechanical
waves.
• Ex- sound waves, waves over water surface
(ii) Electromagnetic waves
• The waves which do not require any medium for their propagation are called as
electromagnetic waves.
• Ex- light waves, radio waves
Types of Mechanical Waves
(i) Transverse waves
• Transverse waves are waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular
to its direction of propagation of the wave.
• Ex- waves produced on the surface of water, vibrations of stretched strings
• Transverse waves propagate in a medium in the form of crests and troughs.
o Crest : In transverse waves, the point on the medium that exhibits the maximum
amount of positive or upward displacement from rest position.
o Trough : In transverse waves, the point on the medium that exhibits the
maximum amount of negative or downward displacement from rest position.
(ii) Longitudinal waves
• Longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the
direction of propagation of the wave.
• Ex- Sound waves in air, seismic waves
• Longitudinal waves propagate in the form of compressions and rarefactions.
o Compression – A compression is a region in a longitudinal wave where the
particles are closest together. In this region, pressure and density are higher than
normal pressure.
o Rarefaction – A rarefaction is a region in a longitudinal wave where the particles
are farthest apart. In this region, pressure and density are less than normal
pressure.
Propagation of Sound
1. Sound is produced by vibrating objects. The matter or substance through which sound is
transmitted is called a medium like solid, liquid or gas.
2. Sound is a longitudinal mechanical wave. Thus, propagation of sound can be visualized
as propagation of density or pressure variations through a medium.
3. As the sound wave propagates, the molecules themselves do not move from one point to
other (they only vibrate about their mean position), but the disturbance is carried forward.
Characteristics of a Sound Wave
Sound waves are characterized by the following physical quantities:
Amplitude (A)
• The maximum displacement of a vibrating particle from its mean position is known as
amplitude.
• Its SI unit is metre (m).
Time period (T)
• The time taken by a particle to complete one vibration is called its time period.
• Its SI unit is second (s).
Frequency (f or ʋ)
• The number of vibrations made by a particle in one second is called its frequency.
• Its SI unit is hertz (Hz) or s-1
Note: Time period and frequency are inversely proportional to each other.
1 1
𝑇= or ʋ =
ʋ 𝑇
Wavelength (λ)
• The wavelength is the distance between any two consecutive compressions or
rarefactions of a sound wave
OR
It is the distance travelled by the wave during the time a particle of the medium
completes one vibration.
• Its SI unit is metre (m).
Wave speed or Wave velocity (v)
• It is defined as the distance travelled by a wave per unit time.
• SI unit is m/s
Intensity
• Intensity of sound wave is defined as the amount of sound energy transferred per unit
time per unit area in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
• It is a physical quantity.
• It does not depend on the sensitivity of the ear.
Relation between wave velocity (v), frequency (ʋ) and wavelength (λ)
Let us consider a mechanical wave propagating through a medium.
Let the time period of a vibrating particle be ‘T’ seconds which implies that the particle takes ‘T’
seconds to complete one vibration.
⸫ The distance covered by the particles in time, ‘T’ seconds is equal to its wavelength (λ)
Wave speed, v = 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝜆
v=
T
But frequency, ʋ =1
𝑇
⸫ v = ʋλ
Wave speed = frequency x wavelength
Note:
(i) The speed of sound remains almost the same for all frequencies in a given medium under
the same physical conditions.
(ii) Therefore, frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other.
(iii) When a sound wave moves from one medium to the other, the velocity of the sound wave
changes but the frequency does not change because it depends on the source producing
the sound.
Characteristics of sound
Sounds can be distinguished from each other by the following characteristics:
1. Loudness
2. Pitch
3. Quality (timber)
Loudness
• The sensation produced in the ear, which enables us to distinguish between a loud sound
and a faint sound is called loudness.
• It depends on amplitude of vibration. Higher the amplitude of vibration, louder is the
sound and lower the amplitude of vibration fainter is the sound.
Pitch
• Pitch is the characteristics of sound by which we can distinguish between different
sounds of same loudness.
• It depends on frequency of vibration. Higher the frequency of vibration, higher is the
pitch (shrill sound) and lower the frequency of vibration, lower is the pitch (gruff sound).
Quality (Timber)
• Quality is the characteristics of sound which enables us to distinguish two sounds having
the same pitch and loudness.
• It depends on the source producing the sound.
Difference between a Musical Tone and a Musical Note
A sound of single frequency is called a musical tone.
A sound that is produced due to a mixture of several frequencies is called a musical note.
Speed of Sound in Different Media
Sound travels with different speed in different media.
It depends on the nature of material (or media) through which it travels. This is because sound
travels or propagates in the form of vibrations by transferring its energy from one particle to the
other.
The speed of sound is maximum in solids (particles are closely packed). Its moderate in liquids
and least in gases.
Effect of Temperature on the Speed of Sound
The speed of sound increases with increase in temperature.
For every 1°C rise in temperature, the speed of sound increases by 0.61m/s or 61cm/s
Reflection of sound
The bouncing back of sound when it strikes a hard surface is called reflection of sound.
Laws of reflection
i. The incident sound wave, the reflected sound wave and the normal at the point of
incidence lie in the same plane.
ii. The angle of reflection is always equal to the angle of incidence.
Echo
The phenomenon of repetition of sound due to reflection of original sound by hard or rigid obstacle
is known as echo.
The sensation of sound persists in our brain for about 0.1s. This property is called persistence of
hearing.
Conditions for the formation of echo
(i) Time interval between original and reflected sound must be at least 0.1s.
(ii) The minimum distance between the source of sound and the reflecting surface should be
17.2 m so as to hear the echo distinctly.
(iii) Nature of the obstacle - The reflecting obstacle or surface should be rigid and of a large
size like hills, mountains, cliff, etc.
[To calculate the minimum distance between the source of sound and the reflecting surface
to hear an echo:
We know that speed of sound in air = 344m/s
Time for which the sound persists in our brain = 1
10𝑠
⸫To hear a distinct echo, time interval between the original sound and its echo = 1
10𝑠
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
S𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 × 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
1
= 344 × = 34.4𝑚
10
Hence, the total distance covered by the sound from the source to the reflecting surface and back
should be at least 34.4m.
Thus, for hearing distinct echoes, the minimum distance of the reflecting surface from the source
of sound must be half of this distance, i.e. 34.4 = 17.2m]
2
Reverberation
The persistence of audible sound even after the source had stopped emitting sound is known as
reverberation.
OR
The persistence of sound in a big hall due to repeated reflections from the walls, ceiling and floor
of the hall is called reverberation.
Note:
The optimum reverberation of music is 2 to 3s and speech is 1s.
To reduce reverberation, the roof and walls of the auditorium are generally covered with sound
absorbent materials like compressed fibreboard, rough plaster or draperies. The seat materials are
also selected on the basis of their sound absorbing properties.
Uses of Multiple Reflections
The phenomenon of reflection of sound is useful in the working of many simple devices which are
described below:
i. Megaphones or loudhailers, horns, musical instruments such as trumpets and shehnais, are
all designed to send sound in a particular direction without spreading it in all directions.
ii. In stethoscopes, the sound of the patient’s heartbeat reaches the doctor’s ears by multiple
reflection of sound.
iii. The ceilings of concert halls, conference halls and cinema halls are curved so that sound
after reflection reaches all corners of the hall.
iv. A curved soundboard may be placed behind the stage so that the sound, after reflecting
from the sound board, spreads evenly across the width of the hall.
Types of Sound
Audible sound
Sound waves of frequency ranging between 20Hz to 20000Hz (20kHz) is known as Audible
range of human hearing or Audible sound.
Inaudible sound
A sound wave of frequency less than 20 Hz or greater than 20000Hz is known as inaudible
sound.
Types of Inaudible Sound
Infrasonic sound
Sound waves of frequencies less than 20Hz are known infrasonic sound.
Example: Animals like Rhinoceros, whales, elephants can produce infrasonic sound.
Ultrasonic sound
Sound waves o frequencies greater than 20000Hz are known as ultrasonic sound.
Example: Animals like- cats, bats, dogs etc. can produce ultrasonic sound.
Applications of Ultrasound
Ultrasounds are high frequency waves. They are able to travel along well-defined path even in the
presence of obstacles.
I. Cleaning instruments and electronic components
• Ultrasound is generally used to clean parts located in hard to reach places. For
eg.Spiral tube, odd shaped parts, electronic components etc.
• Objects to be cleaned are placed in a cleaning solution and ultrasonic waves
aresent into the solution.
• Due to the high frequency, the particles of dust, grease and dirt get detached
anddrop out. The objects thus get thoroughly cleaned.
II. Detecting flaws and cracks in metal blocks
• Metallic components are generally used in construction of big structures like
buildings, bridges, machines and scientific equipment.
• The cracks or holes inside the metal blocks, which are invisible from
outsidereduces the strength of the structure.
• The ultrasonic waves are allowed to pass through the metal block and detectors
areused to detect the transmitted waves.
• If there is even a small defect, the ultrasound gets reflected back indicating
thepresence of the flaw or defect.
III. Medical uses of Ultrasound
• Echocardiography:
Ultrasonic waves are made to reflect from various parts of the heart and form the
image of the heart. This technique is called Echocardiography.
• Ultrasonography:
Ultrasound scanner is an instrument which uses ultrasonic waves for getting images
of internal organs of the human body. This technique is called ultrasonography.
For example
Ultrasonography is used for examination of the foetus during pregnancy to
detectcongenital defects and growth abnormalities.
Ultrasound may be employed to break small stones formed in the kidneys into
finegrains. These grains later get flushed out with urine.
