CHAPTER 5

Sound THIS CHAPTER INCLUDES

z Production of Sound
¾ Propagation of Sound
¾ Compression and Rarefaction
¾ Graphical Representation of a Sound
The howl of a wolf, the cry of a baby, the beat of a drum all of
Wave
these are sounds, focus your attention and provide information
z Describing a Sound Wave
about events in the world around you. More than any other mode ¾ Frequency
of communication, sound evokes strong emotions, fear, concern, ¾ Amplitude
happiness, or excitement. Human ingenuity has fashioned sound ¾ Speed
into complex forms, such as language and music that are z Time Period and Wavelength
¾ Time Period
characteristic of cultures, nations and generations. Sound is at the
¾ Wavelength
heart of who you are, what groups you bond with, and how you
¾ Relation Between Time Period (T) and
perceive yourself. Frequency ()
¾ Relation between Wave Velocity (v),
Same as light, sound is also a powerful tool for investigating the
Frequency () and Wavelength ()
world. Bats, porpoises and dolphins explore their environments and z Characteristics of a Sound
locate prey by emitting high-frequency sound pulses and ¾ Musical Sound
interpreting the resultant echo. Physicians use ultrasound imaging ¾ Noise
devices to obtain critical information about a beating heart or a ¾ Pitch
foetus in the womb. In this chapter we shall study how sound is ¾ Loudness
¾ Quality (Timbre)
produced, its characteristics and how it is transmitted through a
¾ Musical Instruments
medium and received by our ear.
z Reflection of Sound
¾ Laws of Reflection of Sound
¾ Practical Applications of Multiple
Reflection of Sound
¾ Echo
z Audible and Inaudible Sounds
¾ Applications of Ultrasound
z Structure of Human Ear
z Quick Recap
z Assignment

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50 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

PRODUCTION OF SOUND

Sound is a form of energy just like heat and light and energy gets transferred with the movement of sound
wave in a medium. Sound produces a sensation of hearing in our ears.
We hear many sounds everyday such as the sound of our school bell, an alarm clock and so on. Sound is
produced when a body vibrates i.e., sound is produced by vibrating bodies.
The following examples demonstrate this fact :
(i) Activity : Take a drum and beat it with a drumstick. Observe what happens. You will hear the sound of
the drum.
Drumsticks
Small beads

Drum

Fig. : A vibrating body produces sound

Now, touch the membrane of the drum. What do you feel? You will be able to feel its vibrations. When
the sound stops, touch the membrane of the drum again. You will not feel any vibrations. Spread some
small beads on a drum and beat the drum again with a drumstick. What do you observe? The beads
vibrate and a sound is also produced. So, we can say that vibrating membrane of the drum produces
sound.

(ii) Activity : Hit a tuning fork hard against a rubber pad. It produces sound. If you look at the prongs of
the tuning fork closely, they look hazy because they are vibrating. Suspend a table tennis ball with the
thread tied to the stand. Bring one of the prongs of the vibrating tuning fork near the ball and touch the
ball gently with the prong. The ball jumps to-and-fro. This shows that the prongs of the tuning fork are
vibrating.

Prong

Table tennis
ball
Rubber pad

Tuning fork

Fig. : Tuning fork produces sound

™ All vibrating bodies produce sound.

™ Sound cannot be produced if the body is not vibrating.

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 51
Example 1 :

What is vibration?
Solution :
Vibration is a rapid to and fro kind of motion of an object about its mean position.

Propagation of Sound

Sound needs a medium to propagate. The matter or substance through which sound is transmitted is called
a medium. It can be solid, liquid or gas. Sound moves through a medium from the point of generation to the
listener. When an object vibrates, it sets the particles of the medium to vibrate to and fro about their mean
position. The particles do not travel all the way from the vibrating object to the ear, i.e., the particles
of the medium do not move forward themselves, but the disturbance is carried forward.

Compression and Rarefaction

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 as shown in
figure. In such a wave which propagates forming compressions and rarefactions, vibrations travel parallel to the
direction of wave propagation. Such a wave is called longitudinal wave.

C R C R

Fig. : A vibrating object creating a series of compressions (C)

and rarefactions (R) in the medium

Direction of
wave travel

Direction of
vibration of slinky

Fig. : When a longitudinal wave travels along a spring, the segments of the
spring vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave motion

(i) Compression is the region of high pressure and density.

(ii) Rarefaction is the region of low pressure and density.

(iii) Pressure is related to the number of particles of a medium in given volume.

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52 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

Note :

™ Mechanical waves : The waves that need a material medium to propagate are called mechanical
waves. They are of two types – Longitudinal and transverse waves.

™ Sound is a mechanical wave. It can be transmitted as both longitudinal waves and transverse waves.

™ In transverse waves (Wave in a stretched 

Direction of
wave travel
string) : Particles of the medium vibrate
about their mean position in a direction A
perpendicular to the direction of A

propagation of wave. Such waves travel in Direction of vibration of slinky

the form of crests and troughs. The Transverse wave produced in a slinky when it is given an upward jerk
transmission of mechanical transverse
waves depend on the rigidity of the
medium. So, these waves can be
transmitted only through solids. They can
be transmitted even through the surface
of liquids. However, gases cannot
transmit transverse waves. Some
examples of transverse waves are waves
on the water surface, vibrations in
strings.

™ Light is also a transverse wave but for light, the oscillations are not of the medium particles or their
pressure or density – it is not a mechanical wave.

Graphical Representation of a Sound Wave

When a sound wave (longitudinal wave) move forward through a medium, the medium at some places is in
a state of compression and at other places in a state of rarefaction. The particles of the medium come very

close to each other at regions of compressions while the particles of the medium move away from each other,
at regions of rarefactions. Hence the density of the medium oscillates between a maximum value and a

minimum value. The change in density from the maximum value to the minimum value, again to the maximum

value makes one complete oscillation. The transmission of longitudinal wave depends on resistance to
compression. So they can be transmitted through solids, liquids and gases as they all resist a change in

volume. Compression and rarefaction also cause variations in pressure.

A sound wave produces a continuous disturbance in a medium. This disturbance is shown as pressure and
density variations in the following figure (part a and b). These variations are also shown in graphic form in

part (c) of the figure.

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 53
Density variations

Speaker

C R C R C R C
(a)
Pressure variations

Speaker

C R C R C R C
 (b)
y
Crest
A
Density
or Average density
x
Pressure or pressure
Trough
Distance
(c)

Fig. : Sound propagates as density or pressure variations as shown in (a) and (b). (c) represent
graphically the density and pressure variations.

(i) The density as well as the pressure of the medium at a given time varies with distance, above and below
the average value of density and pressure.

(ii) The peak of the upper portion of the curve represents the region of maximum compression. Thus,
compressions are the regions where density as well as pressure is high.

(iii) Rarefactions are the regions of low pressure, where particles are spread apart and are represented by
the valley.

(iv) A peak is called the crest and the valley is called the trough of a wave.

The density of the medium also oscillates between a maximum and a minimum value.

Example 2 :

Why is sound wave called a longitudinal wave?

Solution :

When a sound wave passes through air, the particles of air vibrate back and forth parallel to the direction of
propagation of the sound wave, which is the characteristic of longitudinal wave. Further, it requires a medium
for propagation.

DESCRIBING A SOUND WAVE

We can describe a sound wave by its

(i) Frequency
(ii) Amplitude
(iii) Speed

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54 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

Frequency

The rate at which waves are produced by a source is expressed by its frequency. The frequency of a wave
is defined as the number of waves produced per second. In other words, frequency may also be defined as
the number of vibrations (oscillation) produced per second.

’ called nu.
(i) Frequency is denoted by the Greek letter ‘

(ii) The SI unit of frequency is hertz (Hz).

(iii) Frequency of a wave does not change with change in a medium.

Amplitude

The maximum displacement of the particles of a medium from their mean positions during the propagation
of a wave is called the amplitude of the wave.

(i) The amplitude of a wave is denoted by A.

(ii) For sound, its unit is that of density or pressure.

Speed

The distance travelled by a wave per second is called the speed of the wave.

(i) The wave speed is denoted by v.

(ii) The SI unit of wave velocity is metre per second (m/s or ms–1).

(iii) The speed of a sound wave depends upon the nature of the medium through which it travels.

Distance travelled by a wave

Wave speed =
Time taken

Speed of sound in different media

Sound propagates through a medium at a finite speed. The speed of sound depends on the properties of the
medium through which it travels. In solids and liquids the speed of sound is higher than its speed in gases.
This happens because solids and liquids are much more difficult to compress than gases and this factor more
than compensates for their higher densities than gases. The speed of sound decreases when we go from solid
to gaseous state.

Effect of temperature

The speed of sound in a medium depends on temperature of the medium. If we increase the temperature of
the medium, the speed of sound increases.

The speed of sound in air is 331 m/s at 0°C and 344 m/s at 22°C.

The speeds of sound in various media at 25° C are given in the following table.

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 55
Speed of sound in different media at 25°C

State Substance Speed in m/s

Solids Aluminium 6420
Nickel 6040
Steel 5960
Iron 5950
Brass 4700
Glass (Flint) 3980
Liquids Water (Sea) 1531
Water (distilled) 1498
Ethanol 1207
Methanol 1103
Gases Hydrogen 1284
Helium 965
Air 346
Oxygen 316
Sulphur dioxide 213

Sonic booms
An aeroplane moving at supersonic speed (speed greater than the speed of sound) produces shock waves
in air. These shock waves carry a large amount of energy. It creates a rather abrupt change in air pressure
and produces a very sharp and loud sound called the sonic boom. The shock waves produced by a
supersonic aircraft have enough energy to shatter glass and even damage buildings.

Fig. : The shock wave as a jet breaks the sound

barrier is visible because the increased pressure
causes water vapour to condense.

Example 3 :
Why lightning is seen much earlier than the thunder is heard?
Solution :
We see the flash of lightning before we hear the accompanying clap of thunder although both are produced
simultaneously. This is because light travels so fast (3 × 108 m/s) that we see the flash almost instantaneously,
where as sound travels much slower. So the thunder takes time to reach us. It reaches us after a few seconds.

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56 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

Example 4 :
Suppose you are 3.3 km away from a rifle range where someone is practicing shooting. How long would it take
you to hear the sound of a shot fired by him?
Solution :
Distance from the rifle range = 3.3 km = 3.3 × 1000 m
= 3300 m
Speed of sound (in air) = 330 m/s
Distance travelled
We know, speed of sound =
Time taken
3300
330 =
Time taken
3300
 Time taken = = 10 second.
330
Thus it will take 10 s to hear the sound of a shot.

Example 5 :
A man heard the thunder 15 s after he saw a flash of lightning. How far away from him did the lightning strike?
Solution :
Here, the man saw the flash the moment it occurred, so the time lapse is the time taken by the sound to
travel the distance between him and the point where the lightning struck.
Time taken = 15 s
Speed of sound = 330 m/s
We know,
Distance travelled
Speed of sound =
Time taken
Distance travelled
330 =
15

 Distance travelled = 15 × 330 = 4950 m

= 4.95 km
Thus, the lightning struck 4.95 km away from the person.

ZONE

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 57

Try Yourself
1. Among the following, sound travels fastest in
(1) Water (2) Air
(3) Steel (4) Kerosene oil
2. Choose the incorrect statement regarding sound.
(1) It travels in the form of waves (2) It is a form of energy
(3) It travels faster in vacuum than in air (4) It travels faster in solid than in liquid
3. A thunder clap is heard 5.5 s later the lightning flash. The distance of flash is (Take speed of sound
= 326 m/s)
(1) 1793 m (2) 1178 m
(3) 1536 m (4) 1308 m
4. With the propagation of longitudinal wave through a medium, the quantities transmitted in the direction
of propagation are
(1) Energy, momentum and mass (2) Only energy
(3) Energy and mass (4) Energy and linear momentum
5. Sound is a form of energy which produces a sensation of
(1) Touch (2) Feeling
(3) Hearing (4) Sight
[Ans. 1(3), 2(3), 3(1), 4(4), 5(3)]

TIME PERIOD AND WAVELENGTH

A wave is produced by a continuous disturbance in a medium.

displacement displacement

Wavelength ()
B F J
Positive

Amplitude

A C N E G x
M I Distance
Negative

D H

Fig. : Displacement-distance graph to describe a wave motion

Time Period
The time required to produce one complete wave (wave cycle or oscillation) is called the time period of the
wave, or we may say that the time taken by two consecutive compressions or rarefactions to cross a fixed
point is called the time period of the wave. For example : In the above figure when a disturbance starting
at A, reaches E, a wave is completed. In other words, the time taken to complete one vibration is called the
time period.
(i) The time period of a wave is denoted by the letter T.
(ii) The SI unit of time period is second (s).

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58 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

Wavelength

The wavelength of a wave is the length of one wave. The wavelength of a wave is defined as the distance
travelled by the wave during the time in which any particle of the medium completes one vibration about its
mean position.
(i) The distance between particles A and E or the distance between B to F is one wavelength.
(ii) In transverse wave motion, the distance between two consecutive crests or between two consecutive
troughs is called the wavelength.
(iii) In longitudinal wave motion, the distance between two consecutive rarefactions or the distance between
two consecutive compressions is called the wavelength.
(iv) Wavelength is denoted by .
(v) The SI unit of wavelength is metre (m).

(vi) The distance between a crest and an adjacent trough is equal to half the wavelength   .
2

E tra Sho s
Phase
The points on a wave which are in the same state of vibration are said to be in the same phase.
For e.g. : All the points that lie on the crests are in the same phase similarly all the points that lie on
the troughs are also in the same phase, at the given instant.

)
Relation Between Time Period (T) and Frequency (
We know, the time required to produce one complete wave is equal to the time period (T) of the wave. So, if
time period is measured in seconds, then
Number of waves produced in T s = 1
1
Number of waves produced in 1 s =
T
But the number of waves produced in one second is equal to the frequency () of the wave,
1
Therefore, =
T
1
Frequency =
Time period

)
) and Wavelength (
Relation between Wave Velocity (v), Frequency (

Consider a mechanical wave passing through a medium. By definition, wavelength () is the distance travelled
by the wave in time T (i.e., one time period).
Distance travelled by a wave
 Wave velocity (v) =
Time taken

v=
T
1
or v = 
T
 1
 v =   since  = T 
Wave velocity = Frequency × Wavelength

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 59
Example 6 :
The frequency of a sound wave is 200 Hz. What is its time period?
Solution :
Frequency () = 200 Hz
1
We know,  =
T
1 1
 200 = T=
T 200
 T = 0.005 second

Example 7 :
A source produces 15 waves in 3 seconds. The distance between a crest and an adjacent trough of the wave
is 15 cm. Find the (a) frequency, (b) wavelength and (c) velocity of the wave.
Solution :
(a) Number of waves produced in 3 seconds = 15
15
 Number of waves produced in 1 second = 5
3
So, the frequency () of this wave is 5 Hz.
(b) Distance between crest and trough
= 15 cm = half of the wavelength
So,  = 15 × 2 cm
  = 30 cm
or  = 0.3 m

Thus, the wavelength of the wave is 30 cm or 0.3 m

(c) We know
v=×
v = 5 Hz × 0.3 m
v = 1.5 m/s
Thus, the velocity of the wave is 1.5 m/s

Example 8 :
A person is listening to a tone of frequency 1000 Hz sitting at a distance of 500 m from the source of the
sound. What is the time interval between the successive compressions from the source?
Solution :
Frequency () of the sound wave = 1000 Hz
Distance from the source of sound = 500 m
We know that the distance between successive compressions is its wavelength (). So, the time taken
between successive compressions is the time period (T) of the wave.
We know,
1
Time period (T) =
Frequency ( )
1
= = 0.001 s
1000 Hz
The time interval between the successive compressions is 0.001 s. It has nothing to do with the distance of
the person from the source provided the sound wave reaches the person.

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60 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

Example 9 :
The frequency of a source of sound is 100 Hz. How many times does it vibrate in a minute?
Solution :

Frequency () = 100 Hz, which means 100 vibrations are produced in one second.

So, number of vibrations produced in 1 s = 100

Number of vibrations produced in 60 s (1 minute)

= 60 × 100 = 6000 vibrations

So, 6000 vibrations will take place in a minute.

Example 10 :
A sound wave of frequency 100 Hz covers a distance of 500 m in 10 seconds between points X and Y. What
is the number of waves between X and Y?
Solution :

Number of waves in 1 second = 100 (as frequency = 100 Hz)

 Number of waves in 10 seconds = 100 × 10 = 1000

Thus, there are 1000 waves between X and Y.

Example 11 :
The distance between the maximum and the adjacent minimum displacement in a wave is 5 cm. What is the
wavelength of the wave?
Solution :


4

 5 cm
4
 = 20 cm

Example 12 :
A hospital uses an ultrasound scanner to locate tumours in a tissue. The operating frequency of the scanner
is 4.2 MHz. The speed of sound in the tissue is 3.4 kms–1. What is the wavelength of sound in the tissue?
[1 MHz = 106 Hz]
Solution :
v 3400 3400 340
     10 4
 4.2  10 6 4.2  100  10 4 42
 8  10 4 m

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 61
Example 13 :
Pulses of plane waves with wavelength 3.6 cm travel from deep water into shallow water, in which their
wavelength becomes 1 cm. If velocity of the waves on the surface of deep water is 72 cm/s, what is the
velocity of the waves on the surface of shallow water?
Solution :
vd = Velocity of the wave in deep water = 72 cm/s
vs = Velocity of the wave in shallow water = ?
s = Wavelength of the wave in shallow water = 1 cm
d = Wavelength of the wave in deep water = 3.6 cm
Frequency remains the same i.e.,
vd 
 d
vs s

72 3.6

vs 1

72
vs   20 cm/s
3.6

Try Yourself
6. The distance between a crest and an adjacent trough is


(1)  (2)
2
3
(3) 2  (4)
2
7. Choose the correct statement

(1) Sound can travel through vacuum

(2) Sound waves produced in air are transverse in nature

(3) Sound travels faster in metals than in air

(4) The speed of sound is independent of the temperature of the medium

8. A sound wave of frequency 500 Hz covers a distance of 1000 m in 5 seconds between points X
and Y. The number of waves between X and Y are

(1) 500 (2) 1000

(3) 2500 (4) 5000

9. Which of the following statements is correct?

(1) Both sound and light waves in air are longitudinal

(2) Both sound and light waves in air are transverse

(3) Sound waves in air are transverse and light waves are longitudinal

(4) Sound waves in air are longitudinal and light waves are transverse

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62 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

10. The distance between maximum and the adjacent minimum disturbance in a wave is 6 cm. The
wavelength of the wave would be
(1) 6 cm (2) 3 cm
(3) 12 cm (4) 24 cm
11. What is the amplitude of wave shown in the figure given below?

0.6 m
y (m)
40 cm
x (cm)

(1) 0.6 m (2) 1.2 m

(3) 20 cm (4) 40 cm

12. The speed of sound in air is 350 ms–1. The frequency of a tuning fork that produces sound waves
of wavelength 0.7 m in air is

(1) 400 Hz (2) 420 Hz

(3) 450 Hz (4) 500 Hz

13. A hospital uses an ultrasonic scanner to locate tumours in a tissue. The operating frequency of
the scanner is 4.2 MHz. The speed of sound in a tissue is 1.7 kms–1. The wavelength of the sound
in the tissue is close to

(1) 4 × 10–4 m (2) 8 × 10–4 m

(3) 4 × 10–3 m (4) 8 × 10–3 m

14. If the distance between four consecutive compression of a sound wave is 6 cm, then the
wavelength of the wave is equal to

(1) 2 cm (2) 1.5 cm

(3) 6 cm (4) 12 cm

15. A series of ocean waves, each 5.0 m from crest to crest, move past the observer at a rate of
2 waves per second. The velocity of the ocean wave is

(1) 2.5 m/s (2) 5.0 m/s

(3) 8.0 m/s (4) 10.0 m/s

[Ans. 6(2), 7(3), 8(3), 9(4), 10(4), 11(1), 12(4), 13(1), 14(1), 15(4)]

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SOUND
All sounds which produce sensation of hearing may be roughly divided into two classes.
(i) Musical sound
(ii) Noise

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 63
Musical Sound
A continuous and uniform sound produced by regular and periodic vibrations that produce pleasing effect to
our ears and mind is called musical sound. Sounds produced by musical instruments like piano, violin, flute
etc. are musical sounds.

Amplitude

Displacement
Time

Musical sounds

Noise
A discontinuous and non-uniform sound produced by irregular and non-periodic disturbances producing
unpleasant effect to our ears and mind is called noise.
Sound produced by a falling brick, the machines in a factory etc. are noises.
Displacement

Time

Noise

™ Regular, periodic and continuous vibrations are the characteristics of waveform of a musical
sound.
™ Irregular, non-periodic and non-continuous vibrations are characteristics of waveform of noise.

There are three fundamental characteristics of a sound.

(i) Pitch
(ii) Loudness
(iii) Quality

Pitch
It is the characteristic of a sound by which we can distinguish a shrill sound from a hoarse sound even though
the two sounds have the same loudness. How the brain interprets the frequency of an emitted sound is called
its pitch.
(i) The pitch of a sound depends upon the frequency of vibrations of the source.
(ii) The pitch of the sound produced by an object vibrating with low frequency is low and the sound is
described as grave or flat sound.
(iii) The pitch of the sound produced by an object vibrating with a high frequency is high and the sound is
described as shrill sound. Thus, higher the frequency of a sound, higher is its pitch and vice-versa.
(iv) The voice of children and ladies are shrill as compared to the voice of men. This is because children and
ladies have short vocal cords which therefore, vibrate with a high frequency to produce high-pitched voice.
(v) The wings of a bee or mosquito vibrate with a high frequency. Hence, the sound produced by them is
shrill and high pitched.

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64 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

(vi) The thinner strings of a guitar or sitar give out sound of higher pitch than the thicker strings. This is
because the thin strings vibrate with greater frequency than the thick strings.
(vii) When the skin of the tabla or the strings of the guitar are tightened, they give out a sound of higher pitch
than when they are loose.

Loudness
It is our common experience that when we shout, we use more energy and hence, produce a louder sound
and when we whisper, we use less energy and hence produce a softer sound.
Loudness is the characteristic of a sound by which a loud sound can be distinguished from a faint sound
even though both have the same pitch.

Time

Wave
disturbance

Soft sound

Wave
Time
disturbance

Loud sound

™ Smaller amplitude produces a soft sound.

™ Larger amplitude produces a loud sound.

Approximate sound levels of different sounds

Sound Sound level in dB

Threshold of hearing 0
Rustling of leaves 0-10
Whisper 20
Conversation (normal speech) 60
Speeding vehicle 60-80
Average factory noise 80-90
Loud music in disco 110
Pain threshold 120
Jet aircraft 130

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 65
Quality (Timbre)

It is the characteristic of a sound that enables us to distinguish between two sounds of the same pitch and
loudness produced by two different sources. It depends upon the waveform of the sound.
We can always distinguish the sounds produced by different instruments in an orchestra, even though they
may be producing the same tone with equal loudness. This property of a musical sound is called its quality.
(i) The quality of a musical note depends on the waveform.
(ii) A sound of single frequency is called a tone.
(iii) A sound which is produced due to a mixture of several frequencies is called a note.

Musical Instruments

We play musical instruments to produce pleasant sound

S.No. Musical instruments Part of the instrument which Picture of instruments

vibrates to produce sound
1. Violin, Guitar, Sitar, Set of stretched strings are set
Veena into vibrations either through
striking or plucking.

2. Drum, Dholak, Tabla, Stretched membrane of leather is

Mridangam struck to produce sound.

3. Saxophone, Flute, Air column-air blown into

Clarinet, Shehnai, the pipe is made to vibrate.
Nadaswaram

ZONE
Why did the boy put his radio in the refrigerator ?

He wanted to hear cool music

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66 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

A : Wow! What a great song!

B : You said it! This station plays really cool music I could listen for hours.
A : Me too. Hey, tell you what, let me get us a nice, cool drink from the fridge, and we can just
sit back and listen for a while.
B : Cool! Sounds like a great idea!

REFLECTION OF SOUND
The changing of the direction of sound when it strikes at the surface of a solid (like walls, metal sheets,
plywood etc.) or liquid, is called reflection of sound.
(i) Sound is reflected in the same way as light.
(ii) Just like the laws of reflection of light, there are the laws of reflection of sound that must be obeyed.
(iii) The reflection of sound is utilised in the working of simple devices like megaphone, sound boards and
ear trumpet.

Laws of Reflection of Sound

There are two laws for reflection of sound

(i) Incident sound wave, reflected sound wave and normal at point of incidence lies in the same plane.
(ii) Angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.

Practical Applications of Multiple Reflection of Sound

(i) Megaphone (or speaking-tube)

A megaphone is a horn shaped tube that is used to address a small gathering of people at places like
tourist spots, fairs, market places and during demonstrations. One end of the megaphone tube is narrow
and the other end is quite wide. When a person speaks into the narrow end of the megaphone tube, the
sound waves produced by his voice are prevented from spreading out by successive reflections from the
wider end of the megaphone tube. Due to this, the sound of the voice of the person can be heard over
a longer distance.

Fig. : Megaphone works on the principle of reflection of sound

(ii) Stethoscope
It is a medical instrument used to detect and study sounds arising within organs such as the heart and
the lungs prior to treatment. The stethoscope consists of a bell and diaphragm (receiving head), connected
by a Y-joint and rubber tubing to the ear pieces.

Fig. : Stethoscope
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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 67
Echo

It is a common experience that when we shout in front of a high mountain or a deep valley or a deep well
or in a big empty hall, we hear our sound back after a few seconds. This is known as Echo.
An echo is the repetition of the original sound heard after the sound is reflected from a distant, dense and
rigid object.

Calculation of Minimum distance to hear an Echo

We know that
Distance travelled
Speed =
Time taken
Speed of sound = 344 m/s (at 22°C in air)
The sensation of sound persists in our brain for about 0.1 s. Therefore, to hear a distinct echo the time interval
between the original sound and the reflected sound must be at least 0.1 s.

1
Therefore, time taken = s (persistence of hearing)
10
Distance travelled = ?

Distance travelled
 344 =
1
s
10
1
Distance travelled = 344 × = 34.4 m
10
Thus, the distance travelled by sound in going from us (the source of sound) to the sound reflecting surface
(wall etc.), and then coming back to us should be 34.4 metres. So, our distance from the sound reflecting
surface to hear an echo should be at least half of 34.4 m.
So, the minimum distance from a sound-reflecting surface to hear an echo is 17.2 metres. Echoes may be
heard more than once due to successive or multiple reflections e.g., rolling of thunder.

Conditions for the formation of Echoes

(i) The minimum distance between the source of sound and the reflector should be at least 17.2 metres [in air].
(ii) The size of the reflector must be large.
(iii) The intensity or loudness of the sound should be sufficient.

Reverberations
When a number of echoes of the original sound are heard, each echo being fainter than the preceding one,
in an auditorium or a big hall, sound persists until it is reduced to an inaudible level. The repeated reflection
that results in this persistence of sound is called reverberation.

Knowledge Cloud
Acoustics of a Room
Acoustics is the science or nature of sound quality. Thus, to design a room with appropriate acoustics,
you need a scientific understanding of echoes, frequency variations and reflection and absorption of sound
waves. Echoes are one of the most important factors affecting the acoustics of a room. Too many echoes
cause speech to sound muddled while too few echoes make a room sound eerily dead. The term

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68 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

reverberation time describes the relative sound intensity of echoes in a room in terms of the time required
for echoes to become inaudible. Quantitatively, reverberation time is the time for a sound to drop by
60 dB from its maximum intensity.

You can engineer a room’s reverberation time to a desired length by carefully choosing the texture of the
wall coverings, the ceiling texture, ceiling design (generally the ceilings of concert hall, conference halls
and cinema halls are curved so that sound after reflection reaches all corners of the hall) and even the
properties of the furniture. A theatre will have a substantially different reverberation time when empty
compared to when it is full of people, because reflected sound is the main factor contributing to
reverberation time. Materials that absorb sound will limit the amount of reflected energy in a room and
thereby reduce the reverberation time. Likewise, surfaces that reflect a great deal of sound will increase
the reverberation time of a room.

Fig. : Curved ceiling of a conference hall

Example 14 :

Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?

Solution :

The ceilings of concert halls are curved so that the sound spreads evenly across the width of the hall after
getting reflected from the ceiling.

Example 15 :

An echo is heard in 3 s. What is the distance of the reflecting surface from the listener? Given the speed of
sound is 342 m/s.

Solution :

Speed (v) of the sound = 342 m/s

Time for hearing echo = 3 s

Distance of the reflecting surface = ?

Speed × time taken

We know, d =
2

342  3
= = 513 m
2

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 69
Example 16 :

A man stands at a distance of 255 m from a cliff. He fires a gun and hears the echo of its shot after
1.5 second. Calculate the velocity of the sound.

Solution :
Distance between the man and the cliff (d) = 255 m
Time (t) = 1.5 s
v=?
2d
v=
t
2  255
v= = 340 m/s
1.5

Example 17 :

A boy stands at a distance of 85 m in front of a high wall and then blows a whistle. Calculate the time interval
when he hears its echo. (Speed of sound = 340 m/s)

Solution :
Distance (d) between the wall and the boy = 85 m
Speed (v) of sound = 340 m/s
Time (t) = ?
2d
v=
t
2  85
340 =
t
2  85
t= = 0.5 s
340

Try Yourself
16. Sonic boom occurs when an aeroplane moves at
(1) Subsonic speed (2) The speed of sound
(3) Supersonic speed (4) High altitude
17. A sound of single frequency is called
(1) Tone (2) Note
(3) Harmonics (4) Multiple frequency
18. A man stands between two parallel cliffs (not in middle). When he claps his hands, he hears two
echoes one after 1 second and other after 2 seconds. If the velocity of sound in air is
330 ms–1, the width of the valley is
(1) 330 m (2) 495 m
(3) 660 m (4) 990 m

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70 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

19. Multiple echoes leading to persistence of sound in an auditorium are also called
(1) Ultrasonic (2) Echolocation

(3) Reflecting sound (4) Reverberations

20. Wave transfers from one place to another only

(1) Mass (2) Particles

(3) Energy (4) Medium

21. The region of the medium in which the pressure and the density are maximum when a sound wave
travels through it is called

(1) Crest (2) Trough

(3) Rarefaction (4) Compression

22. The pitch of the sound depends on

(1) Intensity (2) Frequency

(3) Waveform (4) Quality

23. Which of the following will increase the pitch of a string instrument?

(1) Loosening its strings (2) Increasing the length of its strings

(3) Shortening the strings (4) None of these

[Ans. 16(3), 17(1), 18(2), 19(4), 20(3), 21(4), 22(2), 23(3)]

AUDIBLE AND INAUDIBLE SOUNDS

We know that vibrating body produces sound. But if we vibrate our hand forward and backward, we do not
hear any sound. Why? The reason is that frequency less than 20 Hz is not audible to human ear.
The sound whose frequency lies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (or 20 kHz) which we are able to hear is
called audible sound. So the audible range of human ear is 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz.
Inaudible sounds having frequency less than 20 Hz are known as infrasonic sounds whereas sounds having
frequency more than 20,000 Hz are known as ultrasonic sounds.

DO YOU KNOW?
™ Our heart beats about 72 times in a minute. So, frequency of our heart beat is 72/60 or 1.2 Hz.

This frequency is much less than the audible range. It is a blessing in disguise that we cannot hear
sound produced by the act of heart beating, movement of muscles and body organs. We would have
otherwise remained restless and confused due to unwanted and undesirable sound produced by the
above activities in our body.

™ Animals like elephants, whales and rhinoceros can produce infrasonic sounds, while animals like
dolphins, porpoises and bats find their way around using ultrasonic sounds. Some animals, like
snakes, can make sounds though they cannot hear.

™ It is observed that some animals get disturbed before earthquakes. Earthquakes produce low-
frequency infrasound before the main shock-waves begin which possibly alert the animals.

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 71
Applications of Ultrasound

Ultrasounds are high frequency waves, which can penetrate deep inside (because of their very high frequency
and very short wavelength) and are able to travel along well defined paths even in the presence of obstacles.
Use of Ultrasound in Industries
(i) Effective cleaning agent : When some engines and machines are used in industries, the particles of dust,
grease and dirt reach in places like odd shaped parts of machines, electronic components, etc. Cleaning of
such parts is very difficult. Ultrasound can be used to clean such particles present in hard to reach places.
Objects to be cleaned are placed in a cleaning solution and ultrasonic waves are passed into the solution.
Due to their high frequency, the ultrasound waves stir up the cleaning solution. Due to stirring, the
particles of dust, grease and dirt sticking to the object vibrate at a very high speed. Very fast vibrations
make the particles of dust, grease and dirt loose, as a result, these particles get detached from the object
and fall into the solution. Then these particles are removed and the object gets cleaned thoroughly.
(ii) Detection of cracks in metal blocks : Metallic components are generally used in construction of big
structures like buildings, bridges, machines and also scientific equipments.
The cracks or holes inside the metal blocks (which are invisible from outside the metal blocks) reduce
the strength of the structure. To detect these cracks, or holes ultrasonic waves are allowed to pass through
from one end of the metal block and detectors are placed at the other end to detect these transmitted
waves.
If the waves pass unreflected as per the report of the ultrasound detectors, then the metal block does
not have any internal cracks or holes. The metal block is flawless and defectless. But if there is a small
defect, crack or hole, the ultrasound gets reflected back from that flaw or defect. The ultrasound detectors
indicate the presence of crack or hole in the metal block. Ordinary sound (longer wavelength) cannot be
used for such purpose as it will bend around the corners of the defective location and enter the detectors.

Ultrasound Ultrasound
waves detectors

Metal block

Fig. : Since no ultrasonic waves are reflected, so this metal block is flawless

Ultrasound Ultrasound
waves detectors

Defect (a crack)

Metal block

Fig. : Ultrasonic waves are reflected from a part of the block. So, this metal block is defective.

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72 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

Use of Ultrasound for Medical purpose

(i) Ultrasonography : The technique of obtaining images of the internal organs of the body by using
ultrasonic waves is called ultrasonography. An ultrasound scanner is a medical instrument which is used
by doctors to detect abnormalities such as stones in the gall bladder and kidney or tumours in different
organs. In this technique, the ultrasound scanner produces ultrasounds which travel through the tissues
of the body, and if there are stones in the gall bladder or kidney or there is tumour in any internal organ,
then the ultrasound waves get reflected from these region due to the change in tissue density. These
reflected ultrasound waves are converted into electrical signals and fed to the computer generating a three-
dimensional images of the organ on the monitor of the computer.
(ii) Echocardiography : The technique of obtaining images (pictures) of the heart by using ultrasonic waves
is called echocardiography. In this technique, ultrasonic waves are sent to the various parts of the heart.
The ultrasonic waves travel through the tissues of the heart and get reflected. The reflected ultrasonic waves
are then converted into electrical signals and fed to the computer which form the image of the heart. This
technique is used to study congenital heart diseases.
(iii) Detection and breaking of kidney stones : Kidney stones are hard deposits which can grow inside a
person’s kidneys. They can be painful and dangerous to life. Ultrasound may be employed to detect and
break these stones into tiny pieces so they can pass out of the kidney along with the urine.

Uses of Ultrasound in Technology

(i) SONAR (Sound Navigation And Ranging) : SONAR is a device which is used to find the depth of a
sea, or to locate under water objects like enemy’s submarine, sunken ships, shoal of fish, icebergs,
underwater hills etc. It can also be used to find the direction and speed of underwater objects.
A SONAR apparatus consists of two parts :
™ Transmitter (for emitting ultrasonic waves) and
™ Receiver cum recorder (for receiving reflected ultrasonic waves)
The transmitter produces and transmits ultrasonic waves. These waves travel through water and after striking
the object on the sea bed, get reflected back and are sensed by the detector. The detector converts the
ultrasonic waves into electrical signals which are appropriately interpreted. The distance of the object that
reflected the sound wave can be calculated by knowing the speed of sound in water and the time interval
between transmission and reception of the ultrasound. Let the time interval between transmission and
reception of the ultrasound waves be t and the speed of sound through sea water be v. The total distance
2d travelled by the ultrasound is then,
2d=v×t
The above method is called echo-ranging.
Boat (or ship)

Water surface

Detector
Transmitter

Sea bed

Fig. : Ultrasound sent by the transmitter and received by the detector

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 73
Example 18 :
A submarine emits a SONAR pulse, which returns from an underwater cliff in 1.02 s. If the speed of sound
in sea water is 1531 m/s, how far away is the cliff?
Solution :
Time taken by the SONAR pulse to travel = 1.02 s
Speed (v) of sound in salt water = 1531 m/s
Distance (2d) travelled by the SONAR pulse = ?
2d
We know that v =
t
2d
1531 =
1.02
 2d = 1531 × 1.02
2d = 1561.62 m
1561.62
d=  780.8 m
2
The distance of the cliff is 780.8 m

STRUCTURE OF HUMAN EAR

We are able to hear with the help of an extremely sensitive device called the ear. It allows us to convert
pressure variations in air with audible frequencies into electric signals that travel to the brain via the auditory
nerve. The auditory aspect of human ear is discussed ahead :

(a) The ear (b) Middle ear and unwound (c) A section of cochlea
cochlea

The outer ear is called ‘pinna’. It collects the sound from the surroundings. The collected sound passes through
the auditory canal. At the end of the auditory canal there is a thin membrane called the eardrum or tympanic
membrane. When a compression of the medium reaches the eardrum the pressure on the outside of the
membrane increases and forces the eardrum inward. Similarly, the eardrum moves outward when a rarefaction
reaches it. In this way the eardrum vibrates. The vibrations are amplified several times by three bones the
malleus, incus and stapes in the middle ear. The middle ear transmits these amplified pressure variations
received from the sound wave to the inner ear. In the inner ear, the pressure variations are turned into electrical
signals by the cochlea. These electrical signals are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, and the brain
interprets them as sound.

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74 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

Try Yourself
24. Sound wave having the following frequency are audible to human beings
(1) 5 cycles/s (2) 27000 cycles/s
(3) 5000 cycles/s (4) 50000 cycles/s
25. An underwater SONAR source operating at a frequency of 60 kHz directs its beam towards the
surface of sea. If velocity of sound in air is 330 m/s, wavelength and frequency of the waves in air
are
(1) 5.5 mm, 60 kHz (2) 330 m, 60 kHz
(3) 5.5 mm, 30 kHz (4) 5.5 mm, 80 kHz
26. Which is not the bone of the middle ear?
(1) Hammer (2) Stirrup
(3) Pelvic (4) Anvil
27. Sound whose frequency is below 20 Hz is called
(1) Ultrasound (2) Audible sound
(3) Infrasound (4) Echo
28. The technique of obtaining images of the heart by using ultrasound is called
(1) Ultrasonography (2) Echocardiography
(3) SONAR (4) Ultrascanner
29. If the speed of the wave shown below in the figure is 320 m/s, then its wavelength and frequency
are
y

0
x = 20 (cm)

(1) 8 cm, 400 Hz (2) 80 cm, 40 Hz

(3) 8 cm, 4000 Hz (4) 40 cm, 8000 Hz
[Ans. 24(3), 25(1), 26(3), 27(3), 28(2), 29(3)]

ZONE

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Physics - Class IX (Level-I) Sound 75
QUICK RECAP

1. Sound : Sound is a form of energy which produces a sensation of hearing in our ears.

2. Medium : The substance or matter through which sound is transmitted is called a medium. Sound can
not travel in vacuum.

3. Wave : It is a disturbance that moves through a medium, when the particles of the medium set
neighbouring particles into vibration.

4. Wave motion : It is a vibratory disturbance produced in one part of the medium that travels to another
part involving the transfer of energy but not the transfer of any matter with it.

5. Longitudinal wave : A wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate (vibrate) to-and-fro (back
and forth) in the same direction in which the wave is moving is called the longitudinal wave. Sound is
a longitudinal wave.

6. Amplitude : The maximum displacement of the particles of a medium from their mean positions during
the propagation of a wave through the medium is called the amplitude of the wave.

7. Time period : The time required to produce one complete vibration is called the time period.

8. Frequency : The frequency of a wave is defined as the number of waves produced per second.

Its SI unit is hertz.

9. Wavelength : The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs or the distance between two
consecutive compressions or rarefactions is called wavelength.

10. Wave velocity : The distance travelled by a wave per second is called the velocity of the wave.

Velocity = Frequency × Wavelength

11. Pitch : It is a characteristic of a sound by which we can distinguish a shrill sound from a grave sound
even though the two sounds have the same loudness. Pitch of a sound depends upon the frequency
of vibration

12. Loudness : It is a sensation as perceived by the listener. It is a measure of the response of the ear
to the sound. It depends upon the intensity of sound.

13. Quality of sound : It is the characteristics of a musical sound that enables us to distinguish between
two sounds of the same pitch and loudness produced by two different sources. It depends upon the
waveform of the sound.

14. Factors affecting speed of sound : Nature of medium, density, temperature, wind movement, humidity.

15. Reflection of sound : The changing of the direction of sound when it strikes a hard surface is called
reflection of sound.

16. Echo : It is the repetition of the original sound heard after it is reflected from a distant, dense and rigid
object.

17. Persistence of hearing : The sensation of sound persists in our ear for one tenth of a second after
the original sound dies off. This time is called persistence of hearing.

18. Audible sounds : We are able to hear sounds whose frequency lies between 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
This is called audible sound.

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76 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

19. Ultrasonography : The technique of obtaining images of the internal organs of the body by using
ultrasonic waves is called ultrasonography.

20. SONAR : It is a device which is used to find the depth of a sea or to locate under water objects like
enemy’s submarine, sunken ships etc.

‰ ‰ ‰

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 Assignment
Long Answer Type Questions :
SECTION-A
1. (i) What is an echo?
Very Short Answer Type Questions :
(ii) Define persistence of hearing.
1. What type of waves are produced on water
surface? (iii) Explain how the principle of echo is used by
the bat during its flight at night.
2. What is the nature of sound waves?
2. Distinguish between sound waves and light waves.
3. What is the range of frequency of audible sound?
3. Define the terms wavelength and frequency. Derive
4. Sound is produced due to vibratory motion. But a
the relation between them.
vibrating pendulum does not produce sound. Why?
4. Explain, how ear help us in hearing.
5. If an alarm clock is placed in vacuum, no sound
will be heard. Why?
6. An explosion occurs inside a lake. What type of SECTION-B
waves are produced inside the water?
Objective Type Questions :
7. Why does sound travel faster in iron than in air?
1. Sound is produced when a body
8. Explain, why there is usually a time interval
between observing a flash and hearing a thunder. (1) Expands
9. How do vibrations occur in a transverse wave? (2) Contracts
(3) Vibrates
Short Answer Type Questions :
(4) Moves in a linear motion
1. What is the direction of oscillations of the particles 2. The part of a guitar where vibrations are initiated to
of a medium through which the following wave is produce musical sound in it, is
propagating? (1) Membrane (2) Whole body
(i) Transverse wave (3) Air (4) String
(ii) Longitudinal wave 3. Sound travels fastest in
2. List the fundamental properties that describe a (1) Solids (2) Liquids
wave. (3) Gases (4) Vacuum
3. Explain how ultrasound help in the removal of 4. We cannot hear on the moon because
kidney stones. (1) The moon is small
4. What is an echo? (2) The moon has no habitation
5. Are there any transverse waves that do not require (3) The moon has no atmosphere
a medium to travel? (4) All of these

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78 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-I)

5. The amplitude of a wave is a measure of its 16. A stone is dropped into a lake from a tower of 500 m
(1) Mass (2) Matter height. The sound of the splash will be heard by
the man after (take speed of sound = 332 m/s and
(3) Energy (4) Size
g = 10 m/s2)
6. If five waves are produced in one second, then the
(1) 21 s (2) 10 s
time period of the wave is
(3) 11.5 s (4) 14 s
(1) 0.20 s (2) 0.25 s
17. The speed of a wave in a certain medium is
(3) 0.10 s (4) 0.05 s
960 m/s. If 3600 waves pass over a certain point
7. The distance between two successive rarefactions of the medium in 1 minute, the wavelength of the
is called wave is
(1) Frequency (2) Wavelength (1) 2 m (2) 8 m
(3) Wave velocity (4) Amplitude (3) 4 m (4) 16 m
8. The SI unit of frequency is 18. Note is a sound which is
(1) Metre (2) Metre per second (1) Unpleasant
(3) Hertz (4) Second (2) A mixture of two frequencies
9. A wave of wavelength , is travelling in a medium. (3) A mixture of many frequencies
The distance between two consecutive crests or
(4) Of single frequency
troughs is
19. Mechanical waves can be
 
(1) (2) (1) Transverse only
2 4
(3) 2 (4)  (2) Longitudinal only

10. The quality of a musical note depends on its (3) Both longitudinal and transverse

(1) Frequency (2) Waveform (4) Neither longitudinal nor transverse

(3) Intensity (4) Loudness 20. Of the following properties of a wave, the one that
is not related to the other three is
11. The minimum distance of observer from a sound
reflecting surface to hear an echo is (speed of (1) Amplitude (2) Velocity
sound = 344 m/s) (3) Wavelength (4) Frequency
(1) 15.2 m (2) 16.2 m 21. What is the wavelength of the wave shown in the
(3) 17.2 m (4) 18.2 m figure?

12. Which of the following is not based on reflection of

sound?
0 .8 m

(1) Megaphone (2) Sound board y (m)

40 cm
(3) Microphone (4) Stethoscope
x (cm)
13. The relation between the frequency , wavelength
 and velocity of propagation v of a wave is

(1)  = v (2)  =  
v  (1) 20 cm (2) 10 cm
v  (3) 0.8 m (4) 0.16 m
(3)  =   (4) None of these
 22. Sound waves of wavelength greater than that of
14. Which of the following properties of a wave, does audible sound are called
not change with change in medium? (1) Ultrasonic waves (2) Sonic waves
(1) Frequency (2) Wavelength (3) Seismic waves (4) Infrasonic waves
(3) Velocity (4) Amplitude 23. The velocity of sound in air is a function of which
15. Velocity of sound in vacuum (in m/s) is one of the following?
(1) Zero (2) 330 (1) Wavelength (2) Frequency
(3) 346 (4) 1000 (3) Amplitude (4) Temperature

‰ ‰ ‰
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 CHAPTER 5
Sound THIS CHAPTER INCLUDES
z Speed of Sound in different Media

¾ Speed of Sound in Solid and Liquid

¾ Speed of Sound in Gas

SPEED OF SOUND IN DIFFERENT MEDIA
z Factors Affecting Speed of Sound
Speed of Sound in Solid and Liquid
z Intensity of Sound
The speed of sound in a medium is given by the formula.
¾ Factors on which Loudness Depends
E
V = z Assignment
ρ

where E is the modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus

in case of solid or bulk modulus in case of fluids) and
 is the density of the medium.

Speed of Sound in Gas

Newton assumed that when sound travels in a gas, the temperature of the gas does not change (i.e., it is
an isothermal change). Hence, isothermal elasticity which is equal to the pressure P, should be used in the
formula. Thus, the speed of sound in a gas is given as

P
V =
ρ

For air at N.T.P., 1.01 × 105 N/m2,  = 1.293 kg m–3, so V comes out to be 279.5 m s–1. But experimentally
the speed of sound in air is found to be nearly 330 m s–1. Thus, the speed of sound calculated by using
the relation is found to be lower than the experimental value.
Later on, the scientist Laplace introduced a correction to the above relation. According to Laplace, when sound
travels in a gas, there is no loss of heat in the medium i.e., the propagation of sound is an adiabatic change.
For an adiabatic change, the modulus of elasticity E = P where  is the ratio of specific heat at constant
pressure to the specific heat at constant volume ( = CP/CV) and P is the pressure of the gas.
Hence, the speed of sound in a gas is given as

γP
V =
ρ

The value of depends on the nature of the medium. For air, is 1.4.
This modified formula gave the correct value of the speed of sound. At N.T.P. in air, taking = 1.4, P = 1.01
× 105 Nm–2 and  = 1.293 kg m–3, V comes out to be nearly 330.7 m s–1 which agrees with experimental
value.

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80 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-II)

The speed of sound is different in different media. The speed of sound is more in solids, less in liquids and
least in gases (since solids are much more elastic than the liquids and gases). The speed of sound is nearly
5100 m s–1 in steel, 1450 m s–1 in water and 330 m s–1 in air at 0°C.

FACTORS AFFECTING SPEED OF SOUND

(i) Effect of temperature
As the speed of sound is directly proportional to the square root of temperature of medium i.e., v ∝ T
where T is in kelvin.
The speed of sound in air increases by about 0.61 ms–1 (or 61 cm s–1) for each degree celsius rise in
temperature. i.e., Vt = V0 + 0.61t
Where, V0 = speed of sound in air at 0°C
Vt = speed of sound at temperature t°C
t = temperature in °C
(ii) Effect of Wind
The velocity of sound in air is affected by the velocity of wind because wind drifts the medium (air) along
its direction of motion.
(i) If the wind blows in the same direction in which the sound travels, the velocity of sound increases,
i.e., Velocity of sound = velocity of sound in still air + velocity of wind

v = v s + vw

(ii) If the wind blows in the opposite direction in which sound travels, the velocity of sound decreases,
i.e., Velocity of sound = velocity of sound in still air - velocity of wind

v = v s – vw

(iii) Effect of humidity

The speed of sound increases with decrease in density of air.
The presence of water vapour in the air reduces the density of air, i.e.,Density of moist air < density of
dry air
Therefore, velocity of sound in moist air > velocity of sound in dry air.
That is why sound travels faster on a rainy day than on a dry day.
(iv) Effect of density

γP 1
From relation v = , it is clear that v ∝ i.e., the speed of sound is inversely proportional to the
ρ ρ
square root of density of the gas.
The density of oxygen is 16 times the density of hydrogen.

v H2 ρO2
i .e., =
v O2 ρH2

16ρH2
= =4
ρH2

 v H 2 = 4v O2

Therefore, the speed of sound hydrogen is four times the speed in oxygen at a given temperature.

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-II) Sound 81
INTENSITY OF SOUND
Intensity, at a point of medium, is amount of sound energy passing a unit area in a unit time. It is measured
in watt per metre2.
The intensity of sound in air is proportional to the (i) square of the amplitude of vibration (ii) square of the
frequency of vibration (iii) density of the air.

Note : A sound wave of same intensity can have different values of loudness because loudness depends
on the sensitivity of ears. A sound of same intensity is less louder for an old man than a young
man.

Factors on which Loudness Depends

(i) Loudness is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude.

(ii) Loudness varies inversely as the square of the distance from the point of generation of sound.
(iii) Loudness depends on the surface area of the body which produces sound. Larger the surface area, larger
is the loudness.
(iv) Loudness increases with increase in the density of the medium i.e., it is directly proportional to the density
of the medium.

E tra Sho s
Measurement of Loudness
The loudness of sound is usually expressed in decibel (dB). The loudness L is related to the intensity I
as L = K log10(I). Let I1 and I0 are intensities of two sounds and let L1 and L0 be their corresponding
loudness respectively, then
L1 = K log10 I1
L0 = K log10 I0
Hence difference in loudness of two sounds is
L = L1 – L0 = K[log10 I1 – log10 I0]
I 
L  K log10  1 
 I0 
as K = 1

I 
L  log10  1  bel
 I0 

I  1
L  log10  1    10
 I0  10

I 
L  10 log  1  decibel (dB)
 I0 
If I0 = 10–12 Wm–2 is taken as reference, L is called sound level in decibels.
When I1 = I0,
Sound level = 0 dB, this is called zero point on the decibel scale.

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82 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-II)

Note : (i) If we increase the intensity by 100 times the initial value, the increase in the sound level is
10 log10100 = 20 dB. We can say when intensity is made 100 times the loudness gets
doubled.

1
1 dB  th of bel
10
(ii) The zero point on the decibel scale is not “no sound” but rather the lowest sound that can
be heard by the human ear. This is sometime called the threshold of hearing.

Example 1 :

1
If the ratio of amplitudes of two sound waves is , then what should be the ratio of their intensities?
3

Solution :

Intensity (I) depends on the square of amplitude (A)

I  A2

2
I1  A1 
 
I2  A2 

2
I1  1  1
 
I2  3  9

1
Hence, the ratio of the intensities is .
9

Example 2 :

If the intensity of a sound is increased to 16 times, then by how many times will the amplitude change?

Solution :

Intensity (I) depends on the square of the amplitude (A)

I  A2

2
I1  A1 
 
I2  A2 

2
I A 
 1
16I  A2 

A1 1 1
 
A2 16 4

A2 = 4A1

Hence, amplitude becomes 4 times.

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Physics - Class IX (Level-II) Sound 83

Try Yourself
1. Speed of sound in vacuum is
(1) 330 m/s (2) 20,000 m/s
(3) Zero (4) Infinity
2. With decrease in water vapour content in air, velocity of sound
(1) Increases (2) Decreases
(3) Remains constant (4) Cannot say
3. A point source produces a sound which propagates in still air with speed 320 ms–1 and a man hears
sound after 2 s. If wind starts blowing from man to source with 5 m/s. The man will hear sound of
source in blowing wind after time.
(1) 2.03 s (2) 2.3 s
(3) 2.06 s (4) 2.6 s
4. A car running with a velocity of 30 m/s reaches midway between two vertical parallel walls separated
by 360 m, when driver sounds the horn for a moment. Speed of sound in air is 330 ms–1. After
blowing horn, the first three echoes will be heard by the driver respectively at _____
(1) 1.2 s, 2.4 s, 3.0 s (2) 1.0 s, 2.4 s, 3.0 s
(3) 1.0 s, 2.0 s, 3.0 s (4) 1.2 s, 2.4 s, 3.6 s
5. At what temperature will the speed of sound in air becomes double of its value at 0°C?
(1) 819°C (2) 1092°C
(3) 619°C (4) 719°C
6. The constant  for oxygen as well as for hydrogen is 1.4. Speed of sound in oxygen is
470 m/s, the speed of sound in hydrogen at same temperature and pressure will be
(1) 1880 m/s (2) 470 m/s
(3) 235 m/s (4) 620 m/s

7. Intensities of a sound as observed at distances 5 m and 10 m from its source are in the ratio

(1) 2 : 1 (2) 3 : 1

(3) 2 :1 (4) 4 : 1
[Ans. 1(3), 2(2), 3(1), 4(2), 5(1), 6(1), 7(4)]

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 Assignment
12. 50 waves pass through a point in 0.1 second. If the
SECTION-A distance between a crest and the adjacent trough
of the wave is 0.34 m, calculate the frequency, the
Subjective Type Questions :
wavelength and wave velocity.
1. Which characteristics of a medium, determines the
13. Given below are some examples of wave motion.
velocity of longitudinal sound waves in the
State in each case, if the wave motion is
medium?
transverse, longitudinal or a combination of both.
2. An observer standing at the sea-coast observes 54
waves reaching the coast per minute. If the (i) Waves produced in a cylinder containing a
wavelength of the waves is 10 m, find the velocity. liquid by moving its piston back and forth.
3. When a stone is thrown on the surface of water, (ii) Waves produced by a motor boat sailing in
wave travels out. From where does the energy water.
come?
(iii) Light waves travelling from the sun to the
4. Sound can be heard over longer distance on a earth.
rainy day. Why?
5. One end of a long metal pipe is struck a blow. 14. What are the various factors affecting the speed of
What does the listener hear at the other end of sound in air? Explain any three in detail.
the pipe? 15. A tuning fork sends out sound waves of wavelength
6. How is the energy transmitted in wave motion? 68.75 cm and 3 m in air and hydrogen respectively.
7. The sound of a distant approaching train can be If the velocity of sound in air is 330 ms–1. Find the
easily detected by placing our ear near the rails. velocity of sound in hydrogen. Also, find the
How? frequency of the tuning fork.
8. A tuning fork vibrates with a frequency of 256 Hz. 16. A and B are two hills at a distance 510 m apart.
If the speed of sound is 345.6 ms –1, find the A person standing between the hills, claps his
wavelength and the distance which the sound hands and hear two echoes at the end of
travels during the time, the fork, makes 1 second and 2 second. What is the velocity of
60 vibrations. sound in air (in m/s)?
9. Audible range of frequencies to which human ear 17. The elevation of a cloud is 60° above the horizon.
responds varies between 20 to 20,000 Hz. Express A thunder clap was heard 8 s after the
the range in terms of (take velocity of sound accompanying lightning flash. If the speed of
= 350 ms–1) sound is 330 m/s, find the vertical height of cloud
(i) Wavelength in air and from the ground.
(ii) Time period 18. When a train is at a distance of 2 km, its engine
10. If wavelength of a sound wave in a medium is sounds a whistle. A man near the straight railway
reduced by 50%, what will be the percentage track hears the whistle directly and by placing his
change in its frequency? ear against the track of the train. If two sounds are
11. Does the sound of an explosion travel faster than heard at an interval 5.6 s, find the speed of sound
the sound produced by a humming bee? (Ignore in iron (material of the rail track). Given that velocity
the effect of heat produced by the explosion) of sound in air is 330 ms–1.

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 Physics - Class IX (Level-II) Sound 85
19. A boy stands 60 m infront of a wall and claps. The 5. The displacement of the bob of a simple pendulum
boy continues to clap every time an echo is heard. varies with time according to the following figure.
Another boy finds that the time taken between the
first and fifty first clap is 20 s. Calculate the speed
4

Displacement (m)
of sound.
2
20. An Earthquake generates both transverse and 0.02 0.04
longitudinal waves in the earth. The speed of 0.0
0.01 0.03 t in second
transverse waves is about 4.5 km/s and that of –2
longitudinal waves is about 8 km/s. A seismograph
–4
records transverse and longitudinal waves from an
earthquake. The first longitudinal wave arrives 4
minute before first transverse wave. Find the The frequency of oscillation is
distance of epicentre of the earthquake. (1) 25 Hz (2) 50 Hz
21. A source emitting sound of frequency 125 Hz is (3) 12.25 Hz (4) 33.3 Hz
placed in front of a wall at a distance of 3 m from 6. Sound waves of wavelength  travelling with velocity
it. A detector is also placed in front of the wall at v in a medium enter into another medium in which
same distance from wall. If the time between the their velocity is 4v. The wavelength in 2nd medium
sound received directly from the source and sound is
reflected from the wall is 8 m/s, then find the (1) 4  (2) 
distance between source and detector. Speed of 
sound in air is 250 m/s. (3) (4) 16 
4
S 7. Sound wave of frequency 1000 Hz in air strikes the
surface of a lake and penetrates into water. If
speed of the sound in water is 1500 m/s, the
3m
frequency and wavelength of wave in water are
O (1) 1500 Hz, 1 m (2) 1000 Hz, 1.5 m
(3) 1000 Hz, 1 m (4) 1500 Hz, 1.5 m
8. What is the frequency of the wave shown in figure,
SECTION-B if its speed is 300 m/s?

Objective Type Questions :

0.8 m

1. Mechanical wave (sound wave) in a gas is y (m)

40 cm
(1) Transverse
x (cm)
(2) Longitudinal
(3) Neither transverse nor longitudinal
(4) Either transverse or longitudinal
(1) 1875 Hz (2) 375 Hz
2. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
(3) 37.5 Hz (4) 300 Hz
(1) Sound travels in a straight line path
9. A stone is dropped into a well. If the depth of water
(2) Sound travels as waves
surface below the top of the well is h and velocity
(3) Sound is a form of energy of sound in air be v, then the time after which
(4) Sound travels faster in vacuum than in air splash of sound is heard is
3. Mechanical waves on the surface of a liquid are
2h h 2h h
(1) Transverse (1)  (2) –
g v g v
(2) Longitudinal
(3) Torsional 2h 2h h
(3) (4) 
(4) Both transverse and longitudinal g g v
4. Light can travel through vacuum but not sound, 10. A tuning fork is used as a standard of frequency
because because it
(1) Speed of sound is very much slower than light (1) Is U-shaped
(2) Sound is a mechanical wave and requires a (2) Has two symmetrical prongs
medium to travel (3) Has very high frequency
(3) Sound waves are electromagnetic in nature (4) Retains its frequency faithfully despite small
(4) Light waves are not electromagnetic in nature changes in temperature

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86 Sound Physics - Class IX (Level-II)

11. The loudness of the sound is measured in

(1) hertz (2) decibels SECTION-D
(3) metre (4) Pitch
Match the Columns Type Questions :
12. The loudness and pitch of a sound note
respectively depends on 1. Match the following :
(1) Intensity and velocity Column-I Column-II
a. Musical sounds (i) Irregular and non-
(2) Frequency and velocity
periodic disturbances
(3) Intensity and frequency
b. Noise (ii) Regular and periodic
(4) Frequency and number of oscillation vibrations
c. Quality (iii) Waveform
d. Pitch (iv) Depends upon the
SECTION-C frequency
(1) a(ii), b(i), c(iii), d(iv) (2) a(i), b(ii), c(iii), d(iv)
Assertion & Reason Type Questions :
(3) a(iv), b(iii), c(ii), d(i) (4) a(iii), b(i), c(ii), d(iv)
In the following questions, a statement of 2. Match the following :
assertion (A) is followed by a statement of reason (R). Column-I Column-II
(1) If both Assertion & Reason are true and the 1
reason is the correct explanation of the a. Shock waves (i) Room of size th
20
assertion, then mark (1).
of the magnitude of
(2) If both Assertion & Reason are true but the velocity of sound
reason is not the correct explanation of the b. Echo (ii) Velocity of object >
assertion, then mark (2). 320 ms–1 in air
c. Ultrasonic waves (iii) Require a medium
(3) If Assertion is true statement but Reason is
to propagate
false, then mark (3).
d. Longitudinal waves (iv) Frequency > 20,000 Hz
(4) If both Assertion and Reason are false (1) a(i), b(ii), c(iii), d(iv)
statements, then mark (4). (2) a(ii, iii), b(i), c(iii, iv), d(iii)
1. A : Two persons on the surface of the moon cannot (3) a(iii), b(i, ii), c(ii), d(iv)
talk to each other. (4) a(iv), b(iii), c(iii, iv), d(i)
3. Match the following :
R : There is no atmosphere on the moon.
Column-I Column-II
2. A : Sound passes through air in the form of a. Frequency (i) metre
longitudinal waves. b. Wavelength (ii) (second)–1
R : Longitudinal waves can travel through vacuum. c. Loudness (iii) m/s
d. Wave velocity (iv) hertz
3. A : Compression and rarefaction involve change in
(v) decibels
density and pressure.
(1) a(ii), b(i), c(iv), d(iii)
R : When particles are compressed, density of the (2) a(iv), b(i), c(v), d(ii)
medium increases and when they are rarefied, (3) a(ii, iv), b(i), c(v), d(iii)
density of medium decreases. (4) a(iv), b(i, ii), c(v), d(iii)
4. A : The speed of sound in solids is maximum 4. Match the following :
though their density is large. Column-I Column-II
R : Sound requires material medium for its a. Ultrasonic sound (i) Whales
propagation. b. Infrasonic sound (ii) Stethoscope
c. Reflection of sound (iii) Pitch
5. A : Sound travels faster on a rainy day than on a
(iv) Echocardiography
dry day.
(1) a(iii), b(ii), c(iv) (2) a(iv), b(i), c(ii)
R : Moisture increases the pressure. (3) a(iv), b(ii), c(iii) (4) a(ii), b(iv), c(i)
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