Sound Notes Final
Sound Notes Final
Overview of Sound
Sound is a form of mechanical energy that comes from vibrating
source.
Sound waves are longitudinal waves meaning the vibrations occur in the
same direction as the wave direction.
Sound as a Wave
Temperature:
As temperature increases, sound travels faster. For air, the speed of
sound increases by *0.6 m/s per degree Celsius* increase in
temperature.
Medium:
The type of medium (air, water, steel) affects the speed of sound.
v = f ×λ
Where:
- v is the *speed* of the sound wave (measured in *m/s*),
- f is the *frequency* of the sound wave (measured in *Hz*),
- λ is the *wavelength* of the sound wave (measured in *meters, m*).
This equation shows that the speed of sound in a medium is the product of
its frequency and wavelength. The speed of sound varies depending on the
medium (e.g., air, water, or steel) and environmental conditions like
temperature.
Example Problem:
- If the frequency of a sound wave is 500 Hz and its wavelength is 0.68 m,
the speed of sound in the medium would be:
- *Definition*:
Approaching Source:
The frequency increases (higher pitch).
Receding Source*:
The frequency decreases (lower pitch).
Example*:
An ambulance moving toward you will sound higher in pitch than
when it is moving away from you.
5. Echo and Reflection of Sound*
Echo:
An echo is the reflection of sound from a surface back to the listener.
The time delay between the original sound and its echo depends on the
distance of the reflecting surface.
If the time delay between the sound and echo is measured, the distance to
the reflecting surface can be calculated using:
Surface Area A large, hard surface like a wall reflects sound well, while
soft materials absorb sound.
Solids: Sound travels even faster in solids (about 5000 m/s in steel).
Use of Sound in Daily Life
3. Explain how the Doppler Effect changes the frequency of sound as the