Class Notes

Sound

Class 9
 Contents

1) Introduction to mechanical waves

• Transverse wave
• Longitudinal wave

2) Sound as a wave
• Propagation of sound
• Characteristics of a sound wave

3) Reflection of sound waves

• Echo
• Reverberation
• Uses of multiple reflections of sound

4) Human Ear
• Structure of human ear

5) Range of Hearing
• Classification
• Applications of Ultrasound
 MIND MAP

n = 1/T Speed(v) = nλ

Time period(T) Frequency(n) Wavelength(λ) Amplitude(A)

Characteristics of a
sound wave

Propagation
Longitudinal
Wave
Echo

Reflection
Wave

Mechanical Sound Reverberation

Wave

Applications of
Transverse Multiple reflections
Wave
Human Ear

Megaphone Stethoscope

Range of Hearing
< 20 Hz 20 Hz – 20 kHz > 20 kHz

Infrasonic sound Audible sound Ultrasonic sound

Ultrasonic crack Breaking kidney Sound Navigation And

detection stones Ranging (SONAR)

#Learn with BYJUS

 1. Introduction to Waves

Wave:

• A wave is a disturbance in a medium

which moves from one point to another
and carries energy without a net
movement of particles.

1.1 Mechanical Wave

• A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter

and is responsible for the transfer of energy through a medium.

Types

a. Longitudinal Wave b. Transverse Wave

Direction of the wave

X Y X Y

• Particles vibrates in a • Particles vibrates in a

direction parallel to the direction perpendicular to
direction of motion of the the direction of motion of
wave. the wave.

• Contains compressions • Contains crests and

and rarefactions. troughs.
 2. Sound as a wave

2.1 Propagation of Sound

• Sound is produced by vibrating objects.

• Sound requires a medium to be propagated.
• Sound travels longitudinally in liquids and gases.
• In air, sound propagates in the form of
compressions and rarefactions.

Compression Rarefaction

• Region of high pressure • Region of low pressure

and high density. and low density.

Source of
Sound Density
variation
C R C R C R C R

Source of
Sound Pressure
Variation
C R C R C R C R

P Crest
Density or
Avg density or pressure
pressure
Q
Trough
Distance

Special Note:

• Sound waves are longitudinal waves in fluids.

• Through solids, sound can travel both as
longitudinal and transverse waves.
 2.2 Characteristics of Sound

a. Time period b. Frequency

• Number of oscillations per

• Time taken to complete one second.
oscillation. • n =
1

• SI Unit - second (s) T𝑖𝑚𝑒 P𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑

• SI Unit - hertz (Hz)

Displacement

Time

Displacement
Time

Time period
(T)

c. Pitch

• Pitch is the shrillness or acuteness of sound.

• Pitch depends on frequency.

High-pitch Low-pitch

Time Time

• Higher frequency – Higher • Lower frequency – Lower

pitch pitch
 d. Wavelength

wavelength (λ)
• The distance between two

Density or Pressure
successive crests or troughs distance
(or) successive compressions
and rarefactions is called as
wavelength (λ).

e. Amplitude

• It is the maximum
Wave Disturbance
displacement or distance Density or Pressure
Amplitude(A)
moved by a particle from its
mean position on either side.

• It is the Distance between distance

mean position and crest or
trough.

f. Speed of sound

• Sound travels through different media with different speeds.

• It depends on the properties of the medium: pressure, density
and temperature
• Speed of sound:

Solids > Liquids > Gases

• Speed of the sound wave is the product of the wavelength and

the frequency of the waveform.
Medium Speed
• Speed = wavelength x frequency Air 344 m/s
Water 1530 m/s
v=fxλ
Iron 5130 m/s
 3. Reflection of Sound

• Sound Reflects Just Like Light:

1. The incident wave, reflected
wave, and the normal at the
point of incidence lie in the
same plane.

2. The angle of incidence and

angle of reflection are
equal.

3.1 Echo

• Repetition of sound due

Reflected wave (echo)
to reflection of sound
Object waves.

• Time interval between

Sound the original sound and
source
the reflected sound is at
Original wave least 0.1 s.

3.2 Reverberation

• Created by the
superposition of echoes.

• It is the Persistence of Reverberated

sound
sound because of multiple
reflections
Direct sound
• Reflected sound reaches
the listener in less than 0.1 s
after the direct sound.
 3.3 Uses of multiple reflections of sound

Megaphone Stethoscope

• The conical opening reflects • It is used for listening to the

sound successively in the sounds produced by
forward direction towards the amplifying the heartbeat.
audience

4. Human Ear

4.1 Structure of Human Ear

Pinna Middle ear (Anvil, Hammer, Stirrup)

Auditory
nerves
Outer ear

Auditory Cochlea
canal

Inner ear
Eardrum

Outer Ear Middle Ear Inner Ear

Collects the sound. Amplifies and transmits Converts sound into
the sound electrical signals.
 5. Range of Hearing

5.1 Classification

Infrasonic sound Audible sound Ultrasonic sound

Below 20 Hz 20 Hz – 20 kHz Above 20 kHz

5.2 Applications of Ultrasound in Everyday Life

Ultrasonic crack detection Breaking kidney stones

• 2d = v x t

Ultrasonography Sound Navigation And

Ranging (SONAR)
 Question-1

A sound wave travels 10 m in two oscillations (or in 0.1 s).

The wavelength and the frequency of the sound wave
are ______________ and __________________
respectively.
[2 marks]

Crest Wavelength (λ) Crest

Displacement

Amplitude

Distance
Amplitude

Trough Wavelength (λ) Trough

Solution

Finding wavelength:
• Given that the sound travels 10 m in two oscillations.

• This indicates that a one oscillation travels a distance

of 5 m.

• Hence, the wavelength of the sound wave is 5 m.

Finding Frequency: [1 mark]

• It is also given that two oscillations are completed in

0.1 s
• Therefore, in 1 second, the wave completes 20
oscillations.

• Hence the frequency of the sound wave is 20 Hz.

[1 mark]
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question-2

The frequency of a source of sound is 100 Hz. How many

times does it vibrate in a minute?
[2 marks]

Solution

Given:
• Frequency of sound = 100 Hz
• Total time = 1 min = 60 sec

Frequency = (Number of oscillations) / Total time

[1 mark]
• Number of oscillations = Frequency × Total time
= 100 x 60
= 6000 times/min

The source vibrates 6000 times in a minute and produces

a frequency of 100 Hz.
[1 mark]
 Question-3

A person has a hearing range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. What

are the typical wavelengths of sound waves in air
corresponding to these two frequencies? Take the speed
of sound in air as 344 m/s
[3 marks]

Solution

For sound waves,

Speed = Wavelength × frequency

v=λ×n
[1 mark]
Speed of sound wave in air = 344 m/s

a) For n = 20 Hz [1 mark]
λ1 = v/n1
= 344/20
= 17.2 m

b) For n = 20,000 Hz [1 mark]

λ2 = v/n2
= 344/20,000
= 0.0172 m

Therefore, for human beings the hearing wavelength is in

the range of 0.0172 m to 17.2 m
 Question-4

Two children are at opposite ends of an aluminum rod.

One strikes the end of the rod with a stone. Find the ratio of
times taken by the sound wave in the air and in aluminum
to reach the second child.
[4 marks]

Speed = distance/time
Solution
v = d/T
[1 mark]
Consider the length of aluminum rod = d

Aluminum:
• Speed of sound wave at 25° C, VAl = 6420 m/s
• Time taken to reach other end:

TAl = d/ (VAl)
= d/6420 ------ (1) [1 mark]

Air:
• Speed of sound wave at 25° C, VAir = 344 m/s
• Time taken to reach other end:

TAir = d/ (VAir)
= d/344 --------(2) [1 mark]
Ratio:
• The ratio of time taken by sound in aluminum and air:
TAl/ TAir = (d/6420)/(d/344)
= 18.6
[1 mark]
 Question-5

Kevin hears a thunder 8 seconds after the lightning strikes.

How far are the clouds producing the lightning from
Kevin? (speed of sound in air = 340 m/s).
[2 marks]

Solution

• As speed of light (3 x 108 m/s) is very high, the time

taken for lightning strike to reach ground is negligible
and can be considered zero.
[1 mark]

• Distance of the cloud from the earth (H) can be given

by:

D = speed x time

= 340 x 8
[1 mark]
= 2720 m
 Question-6

A stone is dropped from the top of a tower 500 m high into

a pond of water at the base of the tower. When is the
splash heard at the top? Given, g = 10 m/s2 and speed of
sound = 340 m/s.
[4 marks]

Solution

Given:
Height (s) of tower = 500 m
Velocity (v) of sound = 340 m/s [1 mark]
Acceleration (g) due to gravity = 10 m/s
Initial velocity (u) of the stone = 0

Calculating Time (t1) taken by the stone to fall to tower

base:

Using second equation of motion:

s = ut1 + ½ g (t1)2 [1 mark]

500 = 0 x t1 + (½) 10 (t1)2

(t1)2 = 100
t1 = 10 s
Calculating Time (t2) taken by sound to reach top from
tower base
t = d/v [1 mark]
= 500/344
= 1.45 s
Total time (t) = t1 + t2
= 10 + 1.45 [1 mark]
= 11.45 s
 Question-7

A bat echo-locates its prey at 32 m. If the speed of sound

is 328 m/s and the prey is moving away from the bat at a
speed 8 m/s, compute the time required for it to have
located its prey.
[3 marks]

Solution

Given:
• The speed of sound (v) = 328 m/s
• The speed of prey in the direction of propagation of
sound (u) = 8 m/s
• Distance between them is 32 m. [1 mark]

• Relative speed of sound between the bat and its prey

when the sound wave is going to hit the bat.
v - u = 328 - 8 = 320 m

• Time taken by the sound wave to hit the bat:

= 32 / 320 = 0.1 s. [1 mark]
• Now, In 0.1 s, the prey itself moves by 8 m.
• So, just at the time of reflection of sound by the prey,
distance between the bat and the prey is 32 + 8 = 40 m
• Now, after reflection the sound will travel to the bat and
since the bat is at rest, sound will approach 328 m/s.
• Time taken after reflection to reach the bat,
t = 40 /328 = 0.12 s
Total time,
T = 0.1 + 0.12 = 0.22 s [1 mark]
 Question-8

Reverberations in large halls can be reduced using

___________.
[2 marks]
Curved ceilings
prevent multiple Curtains absorb sound
reflections of sound.

Carpets absorb Wooden chairs

sound instead of plastic or
metallic chairs.
Solution

• Excessive reverberation in any auditorium or hall is not

desirable because the sound becomes blurred and
distorted. So the reverberation needs to be reduced.

• The roof and walls of the auditorium or cinema hall are

generally covered with sound-absorbent materials like
draperies, thick curtains, or compressed fiberboard to
reduce reverberation. These materials reduce the
formation of echoes by absorbing sound waves.
[2 marks]
 Question-9

A sonar device on a submarine sends out a signal and

receives an echo 5 s later. Calculate the speed of sound in
water if the distance of the object from the submarine is
3625 m.
[2 marks]

Solution

Given:
Time (t) taken to hear the echo = 5 s
Distance (d) of object from submarine = 3625 m

Sonar:
Total distance travelled by SONAR during reception and
transmission in water = 2d [1 mark]

Velocity (v) of sound in water = 2d/t

= (2 × 3625) / 5

= 1450 m/s

[1 mark]
 Question-10

Explain how defects in a metal block can be detected

using ultrasound.
[2 marks]

Metal
block
Ultrasound Ultrasound
waves detectors

Defect

Solution

• Defective metal blocks will not allow ultrasound to pass

through it and reflect it back.

• This technique is used in detecting defects in metal

blocks. Make a set up as shown in the figure with
ultrasound being passed through one end and
detectors placed on the other end of a metal block.

• Since the defective part of the metal block does not

allow ultrasound to pass through it, it will not be
detected by the detector.

• In this way, defects in metal blocks can be detected

with the help of ultrasound.

[2 marks]