P1 Chapter 2: Sound Question •

Progress •
Succe ed

Knowledge organiser

Properties of waves Sound waves Hearing

A wave is an oscillation or vibration that transfers energy. Sound is produced by vibrations, which make air Your ear is made of many specially adapted structures that detect and
Matter is not transferred. Waves can be longitudinal or transverse. molecules oscillate. transmit sound waves, allowing you to hear noises.
Sound is a longitudinal wave. pinna semi-circular
wavelength
λ peak canals
amplitude fastest in solids (e.g., steel ≈ 5000 m/s) ossicles
speed auditory nerve
of in liquids (e.g., water ≈ 1500 m/s)
trough
sound
one complete wave slowest in gases (e.g., air ≈ 340 m/s)
cochlea
Amplitude – distance from the middle to the top or
bottom of the wave Waves can be reflected from a surface. The wave hitting the surface is
Wavelength – distance between a point on the wave to the incident wave, and the wave bouncing off is the reflected wave.
the same point on the next wave A reflected sound wave is heard as an echo. The time delay of an eardrum oval window
Trough – bottom of the wave Peak – top of the wave echo can be used to work out the distance to an object.
Frequency – how many waves go past a particular point in auditory canal
a second, measured in hertz (Hz) or kHz Ultrasound (waves >20 kHz) is used to make images of unborn Part of
babies, in medical scans, and for underwater (sonar) searches. Structure Function
ear
If waves meet they superpose. This means they add up or cancel pinna directs sound into auditory canal
out, depending on if they are in time with each other or not.
sound travels through it to reach the
auditory canal
Measuring sound outer ear eardrum
vibrates and passes vibrations to the
Oscilloscopes display sound waves. eardrum
Transverse and longitudinal waves a loud and
high-pitched
ossicles
middle
Humans can hear frequencies 20 Hz to ossicles tiny bones that amplify sound
ear
b loud and 20 kHz. Above this is ultrasound. Below filled with thousands of tiny hairs and
Transverse energy low-pitched
this is infrasound.
oscillations liquid – sound makes the hairs move,
waves transfer cochlea
which sends an electrical signal to your
c quiet and Sound volume is measured in decibels inner ear brain
high-pitched
oscillations perpendicular to energy transfer (higher pitch (dB). The decibel scale is not linear – a semi-circular
than a) 10dB increase is 10 times the volume. helps you keep your balance
oscillations parallel canals
rarefactions
to energy transfer
Longitudinal Hearing damage be caused by a number of factors, for example:
waves
energy • a hole in the ear drum (grows back naturally)
oscillations transfer Recording and playing sounds • canal blocked with wax (curable)
In a microphone sound waves hit a diaphragm making it vibrate. • loud sounds or injury, causing damage to the hairs in the
compressions cochlea (permanent).
This produces an electrical signal by moving a coil of wire over
a magnet. Speakers are the opposite to microphones – an electrical
signal is turned into sound by moving a cone backwards and forwards.

Key terms Make sure you can write definitions for these key terms.

amplify        amplitude        auditory canal        auditory nerve        cochlea        compression      decibel        diaphragm        eardrum        frequency        hertz        incident wave        infrasound        longitudinal        oscillation       
oscilloscope        ossicle        oval window        peak        pinna        pitch        rarefaction        reflected          semi-circular canal        superpose        transverse        trough       ultrasound     vibration        wavelength