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Mushtaq Ahmed MSC Physics

The document discusses the phenomenon of echoes and the reflection of sound. It defines an echo as the repetition of a sound caused by its reflection off a surface. For an echo to be distinct, the time between the original sound and reflected sound must be at least 0.1 seconds, requiring a minimum distance of 17 meters for the reflecting surface. The speed of sound depends on factors like temperature, pressure, and the medium (solid, liquid, gas) with the speed being fastest in solids and liquids. The document also provides an example of using the echo method to measure the speed of sound and calculate the distance of lightning based on the time delay between a flash and thunder.

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Mushtaq Ahmed
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49 views

Mushtaq Ahmed MSC Physics

The document discusses the phenomenon of echoes and the reflection of sound. It defines an echo as the repetition of a sound caused by its reflection off a surface. For an echo to be distinct, the time between the original sound and reflected sound must be at least 0.1 seconds, requiring a minimum distance of 17 meters for the reflecting surface. The speed of sound depends on factors like temperature, pressure, and the medium (solid, liquid, gas) with the speed being fastest in solids and liquids. The document also provides an example of using the echo method to measure the speed of sound and calculate the distance of lightning based on the time delay between a flash and thunder.

Uploaded by

Mushtaq Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mushtaq Ahmed MSc Physics

Echo
•Repetition of same sound again and again is
called Echo
Reflection (echo) of sound

•When we clap or shout near a reflecting


surface such as a tall building or a
mountain, we hear the same sound again a
little later.
Causes
•This sound which we hear is called an echo
•and is a result of reflection of sound from the surface.
definition
•When sound is incident on the surface of a
medium it bounces back into the first
medium. This phenomenon is called echo
or reflection of sound.
Reason
•The sensation of sound persists in our
brain for about 0.1 s.
•To hear a clear echo, the time interval
between our sound and the reflected sound
must be at least 0.1 s.
Calculate the minimum distance for echo
• If we consider speed of sound to be 340 m/s at a normal
temperature in air, we will hear the echo after 0.1 s.
• The total distance covered by the sound from the point of
generation to the reflecting surface and back should be at least
• v= 340 m/s t= 0.1 sec
• S=Vt
• =340 m/ s × 0.1 s = 34.0 m.
•Thus, for hearing distinct echoes, the
minimum distance of the obstacle from the
source of sound must be half of this
distance, i.e., 17 m.
•Echoes may be heard more than once due
to successive or multiple reflections.
Speed of sound

• Sound waves can be transmitted by any


medium containing particles that can
vibrate.
• The speed varies with temperature and
humidity.
The nature of the medium
•The nature of the medium will affect the speed of the
sound waves.
•Liquid
•Solid
•Gases
•They cannot pass through vacuum
Example
•The speed of sound in a liquid is five times that
in gases.
• The speed of sound in solid is about fifteen
times that in gases.
Physical conditions
• The speed of sound in air is affected by changes in some
physical conditions such as
• temperature,
• pressure and
• humidity etc.
• The speed of sound in air is 343 m s at one
atmosphere of pressure and room temperature
(21°C).
•The speed of sound in solids and liquids is
faster than in air.
Equation for speed of sound
Following relation can be used to find the speed
•.

of sound: v = f λ
•where v is the speed, f is the frequency and is
the λ wavelength of sound wave
Example 11.2:
• Calculate
  the frequency of a sound wave of speed 340 m/ s and wavelength 0.5
m.
• Solution: Given that
• speed of waves v = 340 m /s
• Wavelength λ = 0.5 m
• as
• v=fλ
• f=
• =
• =680 m
Measuring Speed of Sound by Echo Method
Apparatus:

•Measuring tape,
• stopwatch,
•flat wall that can produce a good echo.
Procedure:
• 1. Use the tape to measure a distance of 50 metres from the wall.
• 2. Now clap your hands in front of the wall at a distance of 50
metres and check if you can clearly hear an echo from the wall.
• Make sure the echo is not coming from any other wall in the
area.
• The time taken by the sound to travel 100 metres is the time
difference between the clap and the echo.
•3. Now restart the clapping and start the stopwatch at
the first clap.
•Count the number of claps, and stop the clapping and
the stopwatch when you hear the echo of the 10th clap
(say).
• 4. Now find the average time for 10 claps
•After calculating the time interval t between claps and
using the formula S = vt, we can calculate the speed of the
sound.
Example 11.3:

• Flash of lightning is seen 1.5 seconds earlier than the thunder.


How far away is the cloud in which the flash has occurred?
(speed of sound = 332 m /s ).
• Solution:
• Given that, time t = 1.5 s,
• speed of sound v = 332 m /s .
• Therefore, distance of the cloud
• S = vt = 1.5 s × 332 m/ s = 498m.

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