1.

Introduction to Sound

• De ne Sound: Start with the basic de nition: sound is a vibration that propagates as an
acoustic wave through a medium (air, water, or solids).

Air: The speed of sound in air at room temperature (about 20°C or 68°F) is approximately
343 meters per second (m/s).
Water: In water, sound travels much faster than in air—around 1,480 m/s. Ex:- dolphins ,
Solids: Sound travels fastest in solids, where particles are closely packed. In materials like
steel, it can reach speeds of 5,960 m/s. EX:- Railway tracks

Sound Waves: Explain sound waves as longitudinal waves (compressions and rarefactions).

A sound wave is a longitudinal wave, meaning that the particles of the medium (such as air,
water, or a solid) vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave's propagation. In a longitudinal wave,
the energy travels in compressions and rarefactions:

• Compression- The region in which the particles of the wave are closest to each other is
called compression for longitudinal waves.
• Rarefaction-In longitudinal wave rarefaction takes place when the particles are farthest
apart from each other.
• Wavelength-The distance between two consecutive compression or rarefaction points in a
longitudinal wave is known as wavelength.

Key Properties:

◦ Frequency: Pitch (measured in Hertz, Hz) higher pitch, lower pitch . (Pitch = Fq.)
◦ Amplitude: Loudness (measured in decibels, dB) , amplitude is related to the
loudness of the sound. A higher amplitude means a louder sound,
◦ Velocity: Speed of sound through different mediums (e.g., 343 m/s in air at room
temperature)
◦ Wavelength: Distance between two compressions or rarefactions.

How Sound is Produced

• Vibration: Explain how sound is produced through vibrations (e.g., vocal cords, musical
instruments).
• Source and Medium: Discuss the necessity of a source (sound producer) and a medium
(air, water, solids) for sound transmission.

Activity:

• Use simple materials like a rubber band stretched over a box to demonstrate vibration and
sound production.
• Play different musical instruments to highlight how vibration differs.
fi
fi
Factors Affecting Sound Travel

• Temperature: Higher temperatures increase the speed of sound because particles move
more energetically.
• Altitude: In higher altitudes, the air is thinner (less dense), so sound travels more slowly.
• Wind: Sound can be carried faster or slower depending on the direction of the wind.

different types of sound in audio eld

1.) white noise : this type of noise contains all frequencies at equal intensity , this sound is used in
testing and calibration
2.) Pink Noise : Pink noise has Equal energy per octave, which means it decrease in intensity at
higher frequency . It sound more balance and is often used in audio testing and sound making
3.) brown noise : this sound also known as Red Noise has more energy in low end

BIT RATE & SAMPLE RATE

1.) Bit rate : bit rate refers to the amount of data processed per unit of time in an audio le . It is
usually measured in kilobits per sec

Impact :- a higher bit rate generally means better audio quality because more data is used to
represent the audio
Example :- MP3 les bit rate of 320kbps sound better than 128

2.) Sample Rate : number of samples of audio taken per second during digital recording process it
is measured in Hertz(Hz)

Impact :- the sample rate determines the range of frequencies that can be captured and reproduced.
Common sample rates include 44.1Khz (CD) , 48KHZ(pro audio ) higher sample rate can capture
more details but also they increase the Size of the Files .
fi
fi
fi
 Timbre:

• De nition: Timbre is the quality or "color" of a sound that allows us to distinguish between
different sounds that have the same pitch and loudness. It's what makes a piano sound
different from a violin, even when they play the same note.
• What It Describes: Timbre describes the overall tone of a sound, including all the
complexities that arise from the combination of the sound's fundamental frequency and its
overtones (harmonics and non-harmonics).
• In uencing Factors:
◦ Harmonics (partials or overtones)
◦ Attack, decay, sustain, and release of the sound (envelope)
◦ Noise components or other resonances
• Example: When you hear the same musical note played on a guitar and a trumpet, the pitch
is the same, but the instruments sound distinct because of their different timbres.

Harmonics:

• De nition: Harmonics are speci c frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental
frequency of a sound. They are a series of overtones that occur naturally when an instrument
produces sound.
• What It Describes: Harmonics refer to the frequencies in a sound wave that are integer
multiples of the fundamental frequency (the lowest frequency). Together, these harmonics
create the overall sound that contributes to its timbre.
• Types of Harmonics:
◦ Fundamental Frequency: The base frequency or pitch of the sound (1st harmonic).
◦ Overtones: Higher harmonics, which are multiples of the fundamental frequency
(2nd harmonic is twice the frequency, 3rd harmonic is three times, etc.).
• Example: If a piano key produces a fundamental frequency of 100 Hz, its harmonics might
be at 200 Hz (2nd harmonic), 300 Hz (3rd harmonic), and so on. These harmonics combine
with the fundamental frequency to create the sound's tonal richness.

Key Differences:

• Timbre refers to the overall "character" of a sound, shaped by both harmonics and other
factors like the sound's envelope and noise components.
• Harmonics are speci c frequencies within a sound that help shape the timbre. Harmonics
are more of a technical aspect, while timbre is the perceived quality.
fl
fi
fi
fi
fi