CHAPTER : SOUND

Sound : Sound is a form of energy that enables us to hear. Sound is produced when objects vibrate(move to and
fro).The energy required to make an object vibrate and produce sound is provided by some outside source(like our
hand, wind, etc). For example sound of our voice is produced by vibration of two vocal cords in our throat. Sound
of a drum or tabla is produced by vibration of its membrane when struck.

Propagation of Sound : The substance through which sound travels is called a medium. The medium may be
solid, liquid or gas. Sound travels in the form of waves.

Wave : A wave is a vibratory disturbance in a medium which carries energy from one point to another without
there being a direct contact between two points. A wave is produced by the vibrations of the particles of the
medium through which it passes.

Types of waves:

1. Mechanical waves : A mechanical wave is a periodic disturbance which requires a material medium for its
propagation. On the basis of motion of particles the mechanical waves are classified into two parts.
(a) Transverse wave : When the particles of the medium vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the direction
of propagation of the wave, the wave is known as the transverse wave. For example, waves produced in a
stretched string.
A transverse wave travels horizontally in a medium, the particles of the medium vibrate up and down in
the vertical direction.
Crest : The elevation in a transverse wave is called crest.
Trough : The depression in a transverse wave is called trough.

(b) Longitudinal wave : When the particles of the medium vibrate along the direction of propagation of the
wave then the wave is known as the longitudinal wave. For example sound wave in air.
When longitudinal wave travels in a medium, the particles of the medium vibrates back and forth in the
same direction.
Compression : A compression is a part of longitudinal wave in which the particles of the medium are
closer to one another than they normally are.
Rarefaction : A compression is a part of longitudinal wave in which the particles of the medium are
farther apart than they normally are.
2. Electromagnetic waves : The waves which do not require medium for propagation are called electromagnetic
waves these waves can travel through vacuum also. For example, light waves, X-rays.

Characteristics of Sound wave : A sound wave can be completely described through five characteristics.

1. Wavelength : In sound waves the combined length of a compression and an adjacent rarefaction is called
its wavelength. The distance between the centres of two consecutive compressions or two consecutive
rarefactions is also called its wavelength. It is denoted by the Greek letter lambda (λ). Its SI unit is metre

2. Amplitude : The maximum displacement of the particle of the medium from their original undisturbed
position is called amplitude of the wave. Amplitude is denoted by A and its SI unit is metre (m).

3. Time period : time required to produce one complete wave is called time period. It can also be defined as
the time required to complete one vibration. It is denoted by T and its SI unit is seconds.

4. Frequency : The number of complete waves produces in one second is called frequency of the wave. In
other words the number of vibrations per second is called frequency. It is denoted by f. The SI unit of
frequency is Hertz(Hz).

1 hertz is equal to one vibration per second.

1 Kilo Hertz (kHz) = 1000 Hz.

5. Velocity(Speed) of wave : Distance travelled by a wave in one second is called its velocity. SI unit of
velocity of wave is m/s.

Relationship between Velocity, frequency and Wavelength of a wave

⇒ v = λ/T
Velocity = Distance travelled/Time taken

(λ is the wavelength of the waves travelled in one time period T)

v = λf (1/T = f)
So, Velocity = Wavelength × Frequency
This is the wave equation.

Speed of sound : Speed of sound depends on the nature of material through which it travels. It is slowest
in gases, faster in liquids and fastest in solids. Speed of sound depends upon the following factors
1. Density of the medium : Speed of sound increases with density
The order of speed of sound is
Solid > Liquid > Gas
2. Temperature : In any medium the speed of sound increases with rise in temperature.

3. Humidity : Speed of sound increases as humidity of air increases.

The speed of sound in air at temperature of 0֯ C is 332m/s but 344m/s at 20֯ C. Thus we can say that light travels
faster than sound. The speed of sound in water is approximately 5 times the speed of sound in air.

Sound needs a medium to travel. That is why sound waves are called as mechanical waves. Sound cannot travel in
vacuum. Sound cannot be heard on the surface of moon because there is no air on the moon. Astronauts use
wireless sets using radio waves to communicate on moon.

Characteristics of Sound : Sound has three characteristics

1. Loudness : Loudness is the measure of sound energy reaching the ear per second. loudness of sound depends
upon the amplitude of sound waves. If the sound waves have high amplitude, sound will be loud whereas smaller
the amplitude, faint or soft is the sound. Loudness of sound is measured in Decibel(dB) units.

2. Pitch : Pitch is that characteristics of sound by which we can differentiate between sounds of same loudness.
Pitch is directly proportional to the frequency of sound. Greater the frequency of sound, higher will be its pitch.
Shrill notes of sound can be distinguished from flat noted with the help of pitch. A woman’s voice is shrill having
a high pitch while a man’s voice is flat having low pitch.

3. Quality(Timbre): Timbre is the characteristic of musical instruments which enables us to distinguished

between sound of same pitch and loudness produces by different musical instruments. It depends upon the shape of
sound waves produced. Noise is unpleasant to hear while music is pleasant to hear and it is of good quality.

Reflection of sound : The bouncing back of sound when it strikes a hard surface is called reflection of sound.
Hard and solid surfaces are the best reflectors of sound. For example sound is well reflected from a wall, a metal
sheet, hard wood and a cliff.

Sound waves obey the laws of reflection of light.

Good and Bad reflectors of sound :

Hard surfaces are good reflectors of sound. Eg metallic sheets, hard plywood, tiles, marble slabs, smooth walls etc.

Soft and porous surfaces are bas reflectors of sound. Eg clothes, curtains, thermocol, carpets, cork etc.

Bad reflectors of sound are good absorbers of sound. These are used to cover walls, ceilings and floor of
auditorium and cinema halls to reduce reflection of sound.

Echo : The repetition of sound caused by reflection of sound waves from an obstacle is known as an echo. Echo is simply a
reflected sound. When sound is reflected repeatedly from a number of obstacles, multiple echos are formed.

Minimum distance to hear echo :

The human ear can hear two sounds separately only if there is a time interval of 0.1 seconds between the sounds.
Speed of sound in air at 20ᵒ C is 344m/s

We know that ,

Distance = speed x time

= 344X 0.1 m

= 34.4 m
Thus the minimum distance in air between observer and the obstacle for the echo to be heard clearly = 34.4/2 m

= 17.2 m

Reverberation : The persistence of sound in a big hall due to repeated reflections from walls, ceilings and floor
of the hall is called reverberation. If reverberation is too long then the sound becomes blurred, distorted and
confusing due to overlapping of different sounds.

Reverberations can be minimized by

i) Covering ceilings and walls by sound absorbing materials fibre board, rough plaster, perforated
cardboards, etc
ii) By covering the floor with thick and soft carpets
iii) By putting heavy soft curtains
iv) Using sound absorbing materials in seats

Uses of multiple reflection of sound:

1. Stethoscope : It uses multiple reflection of sound. Doctors uses it to listen sound produced inside the body
particularly in the heart and lungs
2. Megahorn : It is a horn shaped tube designed to send amplified sound in a particular direction. It is used to
address small public gathering.
3. Sound board : A sound board is a concave rigid board which is placed behind the speaker in a big hall so
that his words can be heard clearly even by the people sitting away from the stage.

Audible range: The range of frequency from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz is known as audible range for human ear.

Infrasonic : The sounds of frequencies lower than 20 Hz are known as infrasonic sounds. These sounds cannot be
heard by human ears. These sounds are produced by objects which vibrate very slowly eg vibrating pendulum,
earthquakes, etc. some animals like whales, elephants and rhinoceroses also produce infrasonic sounds.

Ultrasonic: The sounds of frequencies more than 20,000 Hz are known as ultrasonic sounds. These sounds
cannot be heard by human ears. Some animals like bats, dogs, dolphins can hear ultrasonic sounds.
Applications of ultrasonic sounds: Ultrasonic sounds have high penetration power due to their high frequency.
Hence it is extensively used in industry and hospitals for medical purposes. A few applications are

1. Used in industries for detecting flaws(cracks) in metal blocks without damaging them.
2. Used in industry to clean hard to reach parts of an object such as spiral tubes, odd-shapped machines and
electric components.
3. For welding purposes
4. Use to investigate the internal organs of human body such as liver, gal bladder, kidney, uterus and heart etc.
5. Used to monitor the development of fetus inside mother’s uterus.
6. In echocardiography to investigate action of heart.
7. To remove kidney stones.
8. For determining depth of a sea
9. For sound navigation and ranging(SONAR)

SONAR: SONAR stands for Sound Navigation And Ranging. Sound ranging is the process of finding the
distance (range) of distant objects by using the property of reflection of ultrasonic sound. This technology is used
to locate shoal of fish, shipwreck, submrines, sea rocks and hidden ice bergs in the sea.