WAVES &
SOUND WAVES
Building
Utilities
3
The Science
of Sound
and Waves
01
Vibration
Vibration is the back-and-forth motion
that creates waves. Without vibration,
no sound!
02
What is a
Wave?
A wave is a disturbance that carries
energy without moving matter.
A disturbance through a MEDIUM,
transporting energy from one location to
the other.
Single Disturbance = Pulse
Continuous = Wave
03
Categories TRANSVERSE WAVE
a wave in which particles of the
of Waves medium move in a direction
perpendicular to direction that the
wave moves
O N T H E
D I R E C T I O N LONGITUDINAL WAVE
O F a wave in which particles of the
M O V E M E N T medium move in a direction parallel to
direction that the wave moves
SURFACE WAVE
a wave in which particles of the
medium undergo a circular motion.
Surface waves are neither longitudinal
nor transverse 04
Categories ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
a wave that is capable of transmitting
of Waves its energy through a vacuum (empty
space); is produced by the vibration of
charged particles of the medium.
O N T H E
A B I L I T Y T O
T R A N S M I T
E N E R G Y MECHANICAL WAVE
T H R O U G H A a wave that is NOT capable of
V A C U U M transmitting its energy through a
vacuum
05
The Properties of a Wave
CREST = high point on a wave
TROUGH = low point on a wave
AMPLITUDE = refers to the max. amount
of displacement of a particle on the
medium from its rest position. From rest to
crest. Abbreviated with the Greek letter λ
(Lambda)
06
The Properties of a Wave
WAVELENGTH = the length of one such
complete spatial repetition, aka, wave
cycle. Crest to crest or Trough to trough
COMPRESSION = a point on a medium
through which a longitudinal wave is
traveling that has the maximum density
RAREFACTION = a point on a medium
through which a longitudinal wave is
traveling that has the minimum density
07
The Properties of a Wave
FREQUENCY = refers to how often the
particles of the medium vibrate when a
wave passes through the medium.
Measured in Hertz (Hz). 1 Hz is eq. to 1
cycle/ second.
PERIOD = the time for a particle on a
medium to make one complete vibrational
cycle. Measured in units of time
(seconds,minutes, hours, etc)
08
09
Sound Properties and
their Perception
-a sound wave, which is not impeded by
another object, spreads out from the source
as a sphere.
-the ability of humans to perceive pith is
associated w/ the frequency of the sound
wave that impinges upon the ear.
High-frequency wave = High-pitched sound
Low-frequency wave = Low-pitched sound
10
Speed of Sound
Inertial Properties- related to material’s
tendency to be sluggish to changes in its state
of motion
Elastic Properties- related to material’s
tendency to maintain its shape and not deform
whenever a force or stress is applied to it
11
Threshold of Hearing
& Decibel Scale
12
The Doppler
Effect
13
Shock Wave
If a moving source of sound moves at the
same speed as sound, then the source will
always be at the leading edge of the waves
that it produces. This phenomenon is known as
a shock wave.
14
Sonic Boom
If a moving source of sound moves faster than
the sound, then the source will always be
ahead of the waves that it produces. A sonic
boom occurs as the result of the piling up of
compressional wavefronts aloing the conical
edge of the wave pattern. These
compressional wavefronts pile up and
interfere to produce a very high-pressure
zone.
15
