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Sound_Chapter_Notes

Chapter 10 discusses the nature and properties of sound, including its propagation through various media and the distinction between transverse and longitudinal waves. Key concepts such as wavelength, frequency, pitch, amplitude, and the speed of sound are explained, along with phenomena like echo and reverberation. The chapter also outlines the human range of hearing and methods to reduce reverberation in large spaces.

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rishonahtherese
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3 views

Sound_Chapter_Notes

Chapter 10 discusses the nature and properties of sound, including its propagation through various media and the distinction between transverse and longitudinal waves. Key concepts such as wavelength, frequency, pitch, amplitude, and the speed of sound are explained, along with phenomena like echo and reverberation. The chapter also outlines the human range of hearing and methods to reduce reverberation in large spaces.

Uploaded by

rishonahtherese
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 10: Sound

A sound is a form of energy which produces a sensation of hearing in our ears.

Propagation of Sound: Sound is produced by vibrating objects.

Medium: The matter or substance through which sound is transmitted is called a medium. It
can be solid, liquid, or gas. Air is the most common medium for sound propagation.

Wave: A wave is a disturbance that moves through a medium when the particles of the
medium set neighbouring particles into motion.

Transverse Wave: Transverse waves are those waves in which the particles of the medium
move perpendicular to the direction of the propagation of the wave. For example, ripples
formed on the surface of the water are transverse waves.

Longitudinal Wave: Longitudinal waves are those waves in which the particles of the
medium move parallel to the propagation of the wave. For example, sound waves are
longitudinal waves.

When a vibrating object moves forward, it pushes and compresses the air in front of it,
creating a region of high pressure. This region is called a compression. This compression
starts to move away from the vibrating object. When the vibrating object moves backwards,
it creates a region of low pressure called rarefaction (R).

Properties of Sound Waves:

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.

Frequency: The number of oscillations of sound waves is called its frequency. The number
of peaks and troughs per unit of time will give frequency. It is represented by ν (nu) or f,
and its SI unit is Hertz (Hz).

Pitch: The pitch of sound depends on the frequency of sound (vibration). It is directly
proportional to its frequency. Greater the frequency, higher is the pitch, and lesser the
frequency, lower the pitch.
Time Period: The time taken to complete one oscillation is called its time period. Its unit is
second and is represented by T.

Relation of frequency and time period: ν = 1/T

Amplitude: The maximum displacement of the particle of the medium from their original
undisturbed position is called amplitude of the wave. It is usually represented by the letter
A. Its unit is meter.

Loudness of Sound: The loudness of sound is related to the amplitude of the sound wave: a
larger amplitude makes the sound louder, while a smaller amplitude makes it softer.
However, amplitude does not affect the speed at which sound travels.

Speed of sound: It is the distance which compression or a rarefaction travels per unit of
time.

Quality or Timbre: The timbre of a sound depends on the shape of sound wave produced by
it. It is the characteristic of musical sound. It helps us to distinguish between two sounds of
the same pitch & loudness. Sound of single (same) frequency is called tone, while a mixture
of different frequencies is called note.

Noise is unpleasant to hear, while music is pleasant to hear and is of good quality.

Speed = Wavelength × Frequency

The speed of the sound remains almost the same for all frequencies in a given medium
under the same physical condition.

Reflection of Sound: Sound reflects off a surface in the same way as light reflects and follows
the same rules of reflection. The incident sound and the reflected sound make equal angles
with the normal, and all three are in the same plane.

Echo: The repetition of sound caused by the reflection of sound waves is called an echo. We
can hear echo when there is a time gap of 0.1 second in original sound and echo (reflected
sound). Echo is produced when sound reflected from a hard surface (i.e., brick wall,
mountain, etc.) as soft surface tends to absorb sound. As you know speed of sound in air is =
344 m/s, and 344 × 0.1 = 34.4 metre. So, the minimum distance required to hear an echo
from a reflecting wall or surface should be half of 34.4, means it should be 17.2 metres.

Reverberation: Repeated reflections of sound result in persistence of sound and is called


reverberation. If reverberation is too long, sound becomes blurred, distorted, and confusing
due to overlapping of different sound.
Reverberations in large halls or auditoriums can be reduced by:
1. Installing sound-absorbing panels on walls and ceilings to minimize sound reflection.
2. Using carpets on the floor to absorb sound and prevent echoes.
3. Hanging heavy curtains on doors and windows to absorb sound and reduce
reverberations.
4. Using sound-absorbing seats to prevent sound reflection from seating surfaces.

Range of Hearing in Humans:


From 20 Hz to 20000 Hz.
Sounds below 20 Hz are called infrasonic.
Sounds above 20000 Hz are called ultrasonic.

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