ESE 121

Lesson 1
 What is Sound?
Sound Waves Travel in:

Solid

Liquid

Gas
 What is Sound?
Sound waves are compression waves.

Sound waves are longitudinal.

Sound waves travel at different speeds

depending on the medium and temperature.

Sound waves create pressure on our ear drums

allowing us to perceive sound.
What is Sound?

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 What is Sound?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K8zs-KSitc
 Sources of Sound
Vibrating bodies:

When an object vibrates, it displaces the air next to it

causing the local air pressure to increase and decrease
slightly.

Most of the familiar sounds we hear are caused by vibrating

bodies.

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 Sources of Sound
Changing airflow:

When airflow is constricted, it can cause vibrations

which in turn, create sound waves. Examples of this
can be found in reed instruments, such as a clarinet,
human vocal chords, and sirens.

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 Sources of Sound
Time-dependent heat sources:

The expansion of air due to rapid heating can create

sound waves. Examples of this can be found in
electrical sparks, lightning, and explosions.

gizmodo.com
 Sources of Sound
Supersonics

When an airplane breaks the sound barrier it

creates a sonic boom.
 Physics of Sound
distance = speed*time

speed = distance/time

speed is a scalar (just a magnitude)

velocity is a vector (magnitude+direction)

Physics of Sound

askmichellephysics.blogspot.com
 Physics of Sound
Example 1 (0s-2s)
40

30
Distance

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time
 Physics of Sound
Example 2 (0s-2s)
100

75
Distance

50

25

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time
 Physics of Sound
Calculus was developed in the
17th century by both Isaac
Newton and Gottfried Leibniz,
separately and simultaneously.
It is defined as the
mathematical study of change.
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Differential calculus is
concerned with rates of
change and slopes.

Integral calculus is concerned

with accumulations and areas.
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 Physics of Sound
Example 1 Position vs. Velocity
40 8

30 6

Distance/Time
Distance

20 4

10 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00
Time Time

Position Velocity
 Physics of Sound
Example 2 Position vs. Velocity
100 40

75 30

Distance/Time
Distance

50 20

25 10

0 0
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00
Time Time

Position Velocity
 Physics of Sound
Examining the previous slides you can
determine that:

Velocity = distance/time

Change in position with respect to time is

velocity. Therefore velocity is the first derivative
of position with respect to time.
 Physics of Sound
Acceleration = velocity/time

Change in velocity with respect to time is

acceleration. Therefore acceleration is the first
derivative of velocity with respect to time and
the second derivative of position with respect to
time.
 Physics of Sound
Force can be described as a push or pull on an
object. Applying a force can change the
motion of an object, distort the object or both.

Newtons second law of motion:

Force=mass*acceleration or:
 Physics of Sound
Now back to sound! Sound deals with
pressure.

Pressure is proportional to the force placed on

an object in the following manner.

Where p is pressure, F is the perpendicular

force, and A is surface area.
 Physics of Sound
Dimensional analysis and units:

v=velocity measured in m/s

a=acceleration measured in m/s

F=force measured in kg*m/s or N (Newton)

Pa=pascal measured in N/m

 Physics of Sound
This complex waveform is a graphical
representation of pressure vs. time.
Pressure

Time
 Physics of Sound
Work is done when a force is applied to an object that
moves.

Work=Force*distance

W=Fd measured in N*m or J (joules)

W=m*a*d

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 Physics of Sound
Energy is the most important concept in all
branches of science including acoustics.

Acoustics deals primarily with mechanical

energy, which is closely related to work. Work is
defined as the transfer of energy.

Energy, like work, is measured in joules.

There are two primary types of energy: kinetic

energy and potential energy.
 Physics of Sound
Kinetic energy deal with motion. A moving
object hitting a stationary object will perform
work on it.

The formula for kinetic energy is:

Where m=mass and =velocity (squared)

 Physics of Sound
Potential energy is the potential of an object to
do work. For example, if a book is held some
height (h), off the floor and allowed to fall onto a
stationary object, the book would perform work
on the stationary object.

The formula for gravitational potential energy

is:
 Physics of Sound
A spring has the potential to do work as well.
When compressed and released, it will push
out. When stretched and released, it will pull
back. Every spring has a stiffness that is
described as a constant, labeled k.

Potential energy for a spring:

Where k=spring constant and is the distance

the spring is stretched (squared)
 Physics of Sound
Finally we arrive at power. Power is simply the
amount of work done in a given time period and
is described by the formula:

Looking at dimensional analysis, we can see

that the units should be joules/second or more
commonly known as watt (W).
 Physics of Sound
A 60W light bulb converts 60 joules per second
of energy into light and heat from the bulb.

The electric company sells you energy in units

of kilowatt hour. Which is the amount of work
done by 1000W in one hour.

kWh=1000*60*60=3.6x10 J
 Summary
Sound can refer to either an auditory sensation in the ear OR the
disturbance of a medium to cause the sensation.

Sound is carried in a medium through compression waves.

The motion of an object can be described by its position, speed, and

acceleration all as function of time.

Force is related to acceleration by Newtons second law: F=ma.

Pressure is the force per unit area.

All energy can be described by its kinetic component plus its potential
component.

Power is the rate at which work is done.