Sound Energy/Waves

Global Context - Globalization and sustainability

Statement of Inquiry- For the movement of energy changes needs to take place in the
medium .

Key Concepts- Change

Related Concepts- Energy, Movement,

 Waves

Waves are moving energy. Light energy moving from the white board
to your eye moves as light waves. Sound energy moving from a
aircraft to your ear moves as sound waves.

When waves move along, they make the surface or object (medium)
move in regular patterns often called wave disturbances.
The important thing to note is that no 'matter' is moved with the
wave.
 Transverse and longitudinal waves
Transverse waves-
In transverse waves the particles of the medium vibrate at right angles
to the movement of energy.
Examples are vibration in strings, water waves ,
light waves and all electromagnetic waves.

Longitudinal waves-
In longitudinal waves the particles of the medium vibrate in the
same direction as the movement of energy.
Examples are sound waves and seismic waves.
Transverse waves
Longitudinal waves
 Terms used to describe waves

Amplitude (loudness/ Intensity)( I α A2 )

Wavelength ( λ ) ( pitch)
Time period ( T )(pitch)
Frequency (f/ ν )
Speed ( v) ( v = f λ )
The amplitude of a wave is the height of the wave from
the middle to a peak or trough. This is often called
the maximum displacement of the wave. (The
displacement of a particle is the distance a particle
moves from the centre.)
The wavelength is the length of one complete wave. It can be
measured, on a distance graph, from any point to the next similar
point on the wave.
Amplitude
Wavelength
The time period of a wave is the time it takes for one complete
wave.
The frequency of a wave is the number of waves that travels past a
point in one second. Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz). 1 Hz = 1
wave per second.
The wave equation
There is a simple relationship between speed, frequency and
wavelength.
Speed = Frequency x Wavelength

v= fλ

The speed of sound in air is 330 m/s. A note played on an

instrument has a frequency of 110 Hz. What is the wavelength of
the note?
 Wavefront

It is the locus of all those points which have the same phase of vibration.
OR
It is a moving line that joins all the points on the crest of a wave.
 SOUND

Nature of sound waves

Elastic/ Mechanical waves

Longitudinal waves
 Speed of sound in air:

Air at 20 C 343 m/s

Water 1450 m/s
Steel 1600 m/s
 Production of sound
Whenever a body is vibrating, it produces a disturbance in the
surrounding air. this disturbance reaches our ear in the form of waves
and hence produces sensation on the ear drum. In the absence of air
(medium), the sound can not be heard, because sound can not travel
through vacuum. Therefore a material medium must be continuous from
the vibrating body to the ear.
 Audible frequency range

The sound having frequencies between 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz can be

heard, this frequency range is called audible frequency range.

Sound waves with frequencies less than 20Hz are

called infrasonic or subsonic and those with frequencies above 20kHz
are called ultrasonic.
Infrasonic waves

Elephant herds can communicate and synchronise their migrations

even though they may be out of sight and separated by up to 20km.
They do this by "speaking" and hearing with infrasonic waves which
we cannot hear but can bend around obstacles rather than being
absorbed like normal sound. Infrasonic wave pulses are also produced by
a number of geophysical processes such as avalanches, earthquakes and
various explosions, geomagnetic variations, meteors, ocean waves, severe
weather and volcanos. Early detection of infrasonic waves that signify
dangerous situations may provide warnings to nearby populations.
Aircraft and other industrial machinery (e.g. jack hammers) also cause
infrasonic waves that can be harmful to some human internal organs.
Ultrasonic Waves

Bats can produce ultrasonic waves. They can also detect these
waves. The ultrasonic waves produced by the bats on reflection from
the obstacles like building guide them to remain away from the
obstacles during night.
a. Ultrasonic waves are used to establish ship to ship to
communication.
b. Ultrasonic waves are used for welding plastics.
c. These waves are used to analyze the development of unborn child.
d. Ultrasonic waves are used for cleaning the hidden parts of an
instrument.
e. Ultrasonic waves are used to determine the depth of a sea.
Echo- Reflection of Sound

When sound is incident on a big surface , part of the sound energy is reflected.
The reflected sound waves heard after a silence, is called an echo.
Human can distinguish an echo if the silent period is more than
one tenth of a second.
Clear good echos are produced if;
(a) the distance between the reflector and the sound source is more than 30
meters.
(b) the area of a reflector is large compared to the wavelength of the incident
sound.
(c) the incident sound is high pitched i.e. of a high frequency.
Characteristics of sound

•Loudness of sound waves-Depends on amplitude

•Pitch of sound waves-depends on frequency
•Quality of sound waves- material of instrument
Component Source Detectors Properties Uses
Treatment of cancer;
Gamma rays (image
Photographic plate; inside the body);
Very penetrating;
Gamma-rays Cobalt-60 GM-tube; Cloud finds flaws in metals;
Very dangerous
chamber sterilises bandages,
prolongs shelf-life of
food (e.g. ice-cream)
Treatment of skin
disorders; X-ray
radiography; study of
Photographic plate; Very penetrating;
X-rays X-ray tubes crystal structures;
Fluorescent screen Very dangerous
inspections of welds
in steel joints or
pipes
Detect forgeries of
Absorbed by glass;
Sun; sparks and arcs; Photo film; Photo signatures;
Causes sunburn;
Ultraviolet (U.V.)light mercury lamps; UV cells; Fluorescent Fluorescent tubes;
damages and kills
lamps chemicals Sterilisation;
living cells
Sunbeds
Component Source Detectors Properties Uses

Radiators (Keeps
occupants of room
warm in winter);
Special photo film; LDR Cooking food; Finding
Sun; Warm and hot Causes heating when
Infra-red (I.R.) light (Light depenendent burried warm bodies; IR
onjects (fires or people) absorbed
resistor); Photodiode satellite photos reveal
diseased crops;
Televesion controllers;
Intruder alarms

Microwave
Absorbed by water and communication links
Microwave Microwave-receiving
Microwaves fats in food and people, (Radio and televesion);
communication dish aerials
hence is dangerous Microwave cooking,
Radar communication

Metal aerials; Tuned Induces alternating Radio; TV and satellite

Radio Radio transmitter
circuits currents in metal aerials communi- cations