Speed of sound

Air (gas) 330 m/s

Water (Liquid) 1500 m/s
solid (Iron) 5000 m/s

Wave
Transverse
solid
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At the surface of Lighid
can not travel through
medium
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Waves
Longitudinal
can travel Chronge
solid, Liquid 3 grea
.

sound
Reflection of
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Bouncing
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 SOUND
Production of Sound Waves
 Sound is a form of energy that passes from one point to another in the form of a longitudinal wave
 Sound waves are produces by vibrating sources placed in a medium such as air
 When a vibrating source, such as a tuning fork, starts vibrating it passes on the vibrations to the
neighboring molecules/particles of the medium through collisions. This causes the molecules of the
medium to move forwards and backwards setting up a series of compressions and rarefactions
(longitudinal wave)

Example – Tuning Fork

Vibration in the tuning fork produces disturbances in the surrounding air. When the prongs’ movement is
outwards/forward, the prongs push the surrounding air molecules, creating a compression. This disturbance
of air layers is then passed from molecule to molecule by collisions, causing the compression to move
outward/forward.
When the prongs’ movement is inwards/backward a rarefaction
is created. Pressure differences cause the air molecules to rush
back into the region again. This periodic to-and-fro movement of
the prongs creates alternating regions of compressions and
rarefactions.

Longitudinal Nature of Sound Waves

Sound is a longitudinal wave. Particles/molecules of medium
vibrate in a direction parallel to the direction of wave motion

I
Compression: Region where molecules of medium move closer together or Region where pressure
increases

Rarefaction: Region where molecules of medium move further apart or Region where pressure
decreases

Audible Frequency Range

The approximate range of audible frequencies for the healthy human ear is 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz (20 kHZ)

Sound Needs Medium to Travel

Sound needs medium to travel. It cannot pass through vacuum because sound needs matter
(atoms/molcules) that collide with each other to pass on the vibrations (energy) from one point to another.

Experiment to Demonstrate that Sound Needs Medium to

Travel
An electric bell is suspended inside an airtight glass jar. The jar is
connected to a vacuum pump.
The switch of the bell is turned on. Air is removed slowly.
At first the sound of bell is heard clearly. As the air is pumped out,
the sound starts to become feeble/decreases. After the air is
completely removed, no sound is heard.

Method to Determine Speed of Sound in Air:

Method # 1:
 Two persons A and B stand several hundred meters apart (around 1000 m) in an open field such that
there is no obstacle between them. The distance (d) between the two persons is measured using a tape
measure (or trundle wheel or pedometer).
 Person A fires a flare gun and person B on seeing the flash starts a
stop watch stops it on hearing the sound of the gun. The time (t) is
noted.
 Speed can be calculated using the formula: v = d / t
 To improve accuracy, the experiment should be repeated with
person B now firing the gun and person A recording the time so as
to reduce the effect of direction of wind
Method # 2:
 A person stands some distance away from a hard
surface such as a wall. The distance (d) between the
person and the wall is measured using a tape
measure or rulers.
 He uses two blocks of wood to make a short, distinct
clap and starts the stop watch at same time. As he
hears the echo of first clap, he claps again so that
the sound of 2nd clap coincides with the sound of 1st
echo. He makes 10 claps, timing each next clap with
previous clap’s echo.
 The person records time (T) for 10 claps, this time is divided by 10 to get the time (t) for one echo.
 Speed can now be calculated by using the formula: v = 2d / t

Order of magnitude of the speeds of sound in air, liquids and solids

 Sound travels slowest in Air/Gases 330m/s
 Speed of sound in liquids is less than that in solids but more than that in air
 Sound travels fastest in Solids

Loudness: It depends on the amplitude of the sound wave. The larger the amplitude, the louder the
sound

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Pitch: It depends on the frequency of the sound wave. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch
Shillness of soun

Echo:
 Reflection of sound wave is called echo.
 When sound wave hits a hard surface, it is reflected
back and can be heard again. This reflected sound
is known as echo.
 Reflected sound wave has same speed, frequency,
wave length and amplitude as that of the original
sound.
 The amplitude of the reflected sound may be smaller if there is energy loss during the travelling of
sound. In such case, the echo produced is weaker (not as loud as the original sound).
 Energy loss may happen because sound gets absorbed (by obstacles), or because it spreads out or
reflected/scattered in different directions
 Sound waves also obey laws of reflection. (< i = < r)

Experiment to Demonstrate that Sound Obeys Laws of Reflection:

 Take two cardboard tubes. Hold the two tubes against a flat
and hard surface and place a big cardboard sheet between the
two tubes.



Place a ticking watch at the open end of one tube and ask a
person to place his ear at the open end of the second tube.
Ask the person to slightly move the tube sideways till ticking of
Tuberl
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-
Fixed
.
the watch is heard clearly. moneas4. -
 Measure the angle that the two tubes make with the normal at / *
the point of incidence. It will be found that the angle of
incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
 Repeat the experiment by changing angle of incidence each time.

Quality/Timbre:
 The property of a sound which helps to distinguish between two sounds of same loudness (amplitude)
and pitch (frequency) is called Quality or timbre
 Sound waves may be regarded as the combination of different frequencies. The simplest one is called
Fundamental frequency. It determines the pitch. The other frequencies are known as OVERTONES OR
HARMONICS. Two or more sound may have the same loudness and the same pitch but that they have
different overtones. The quality of a sound depends upon the wave form (of the resultants).
 Quality of a sound wave can be studied using wave forms (shape of a sound wave) as displayed by a
cathode ray oscilloscope (c.r.o). Two sounds of different quality will have a different wave form (shape)
on the c.r.o.

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Ultrasound: Sound waves having frequency greater than 20,000 Hz

Uses of Ultrasound:
 Cleaning: used in cleaning sensitive artifacts, exquisite jewelry,
watches, surgical equipment, etc.
o Object to be cleaned is immersed in a liquid
o ultrasound waves are passed through the liquid
o High frequency waves shake off dirt and grease.

 Quality Control: to find thickness of objects such as metal plate, to

detect cracks or flaws in metals. If there is a crack, ultrasound is
reflected by it.

 Pre-natal scanning: to find well-being of a fetus. Ultrasound waves are transmitted into body. They are
reflected by the fetus (baby) and used to form an image on a monitor.
 R c R c
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A girl is Standing 6o m Away From a reflecting surface if
speed of sound is 300 m/s after what time will echo be
heard?

A girl is standing 480 m away from a reflecting

surface. If echo takes 3 s to come to observer,
find the speed of sound .

Find the minimum distance required to receive a

distant echo, speed of sound is 330 m/s &
reaction time of observer is 0.1 second
 A boy is standing in between two cliffs claps and hears two
echoes. The speed of sound is 320 m/s.

# After what time first echo is heard?

# After what time second echo will be heard?

# What is the interval between echoes?

O
&
Echo
Echo