3.4.

Sound
• Sound is produced when something vibrates.
o Vibrations create disturbances in the surrounding medium, leading to sound
waves.
o Example: A guitar string vibrates when plucked, producing sound.
• Sound needs a medium to travel; it cannot travel in a vacuum.
o Sound waves require particles to transmit energy.
o In a vacuum (where there are no particles), sound cannot propagate.
• Demonstration using a vacuum chamber:
o A ringing bell is placed inside a vacuum chamber.
o As air is removed, the sound becomes fainter.
o When air is completely removed, the bell is still visibly striking, but no sound
is heard.
• Sound is a longitudinal wave.
o The direction of particle vibration is the same as the direction of wave
propagation.
o Example: In air, sound waves move as compressions and rarefactions.
• Sound obeys the wave equation:
o Where:
o v=fλ
▪ V= speed of sound
▪ f= frequency
▪ λ= wavelength
• Medium particles come close together and then go far apart in the direction of wave
propagation.
o This alternation forms compressions and rarefactions.
• Compression:
o A region where air molecules are densely packed.
o High air pressure.
• Rarefaction:
o A region where air molecules are spread apart.
o Low air pressure.
• The vibration of a source causes air molecules to create compressions and
rarefactions.
o Example: A tuning fork vibrates, pushing air molecules together
(compression) and then pulling them apart (rarefaction).
• Frequency of a sound wave:
o Number of compressions or rarefactions produced per second.
o Frequency= 1/ time . Measured in Hertz (Hz).
• Wavelength (λ):
o Distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions.
• Limits of audibility (Human Hearing Range):
o Humans can hear sounds between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.
 o Below 20 Hz = Infrasound (not audible to humans).
o Above 20,000 Hz = Ultrasound (not audible to humans).
• Echo:
o Reflection of a sound wave from a surface.
o Example: Shouting in a valley and hearing the sound bounce back.
o V=2d/t where v=Speed, d=Distance, t=Time

Speed of Sound

• Speed of sound in air:

o Approximately 330-350 m/s.
• Speed of sound is fastest in solids, then liquids, then gases.
o This is because:
▪ Particles in solids are closely packed, allowing sound to travel faster.
▪ In gases, particles are far apart, so sound travels slower.
o Example: Sound travels faster in iron than in water, and faster in water than in
air.
• Speed of sound increases with temperature.
o When air temperature increases, particles move faster, transferring sound
energy more quickly.
• Atmospheric pressure does not affect the speed of sound.
o As long as the temperature remains the same, changes in air pressure do not
impact the speed of sound.
• Speed of sound can be measured using two microphones:
o Place two microphones at a known distance apart.
o Emit a sound and record the time taken for it to pass both microphones.
o Use the formula:

Speed= Distance/time
Speed of sound;
Gas = 300 m/s
Liquid = 1500 m/s
Solid = 4500 m/s
Air = 330 – 350 m/s

Musical Notes

• Noise:
o Produced by irregular vibrations.
o Example: Shouting, traffic sounds.
• Musical notes:
o Produced by regular vibrations.
 o Have three properties: Pitch, Loudness, Quality/Timbre.
• Pitch:
o Depends on the frequency of the sound wave.
o Higher frequency → Higher pitch.
o Lower frequency → Lower pitch.
o Example: A bird’s chirp (high frequency) vs. a lion’s roar (low frequency).
• Loudness:
o Depends on the amplitude of the sound wave.
o Higher amplitude → Louder sound.
o Lower amplitude → Softer sound.
o Loudness also depends on the sound energy carried by the wave.
• Quality/Timbre:
o The same musical note sounds different on different instruments due to
timbre. Having same pitch and loudness.
o Example: The same note played on a piano and a violin sounds different
because of additional frequencies (overtones).
• No musical instrument (except a tuning fork and signal generator) produces a single
frequency (monochromatic note).
o Real instruments produce a mix of frequencies, giving them unique sounds.
• Different qualities of sound can be observed using a Cathode Ray Oscilloscope
(CRO).
o The screen of a CRO displays different wave patterns for the same note
played on different instruments.

Ultrasound

• Definition:
o Sound waves with frequencies above 20,000 Hz (inaudible to humans).
• Reflection of ultrasound:
o Ultrasound waves reflect when they hit surfaces where the medium changes
(such as air to water or bone to tissue).
o This property is used in various applications.
• Applications:
1. Motion sensors and navigation (SONAR):
▪ Used in ships and submarines to detect objects underwater.
▪ Bats use ultrasound to navigate and hunt in the dark (echolocation).
▪ Works by sending ultrasound waves and measuring the time taken for
them to return.
2. Medical imaging (Ultrasound scans):
▪ Used in pregnancy to determine the fetus’s gender and development.
▪ Different tissues reflect ultrasound waves differently, creating an
image.
▪ Unlike X-rays, ultrasound has no harmful effects on human tissues.
3. Cleaning jewelry and delicate objects:
▪ High-frequency ultrasound waves create tiny bubbles in a cleaning
solution.
▪ These bubbles remove dirt from delicate objects like jewelry.