SOUND

Self-Learning Package

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Learning Objectives
(a) describe the production of sound by vibrating sources
(b) describe the longitudinal nature of sound waves in
terms of the processes of compression and rarefaction
(c) explain that a medium is required in order to transmit
sound waves and the speed of sound differs in air, liquids
and solids
(d) describe a direct method for the determination of the
speed of sound in air and make the necessary calculation
(e) relate loudness of a sound wave to its amplitude and
pitch to its frequency
(f) describe how the reflection of sound may produce an
echo, and how this may be used for measuring distances
(g) define ultrasound and describe one use of ultrasound,
e.g. quality control and pre-natal scanning

Previously in Waves...
O You have learned that
O A wave is a disturbance which transfers energy from

one place to another without the transfer of matter

O A longitudinal wave is a wave where the wave
direction is parallel to the direction of vibrations
O The frequency of a wave is the number of complete
waves produced per second
O The wavelength of a wave is the shortest possible
distance between any two points in phase
O The wave speed is the distance travelled by the
wave per second
O Wave speed = frequency x wavelength or v = f

In this lesson
O You will learn about a specific

example of longitudinal waves:

sound waves
O You will also learn about the
properties and applications of sound
waves

How are Sound Waves

formed?
O Like all other waves, sound waves

require a vibrating source

O In a guitar or violin, the vibrating
source are strings. In a drum or
loudspeaker, the vibrating source is
a thin membrane.
O [For own research] What is the
vibrating source for a flute?

Properties of Sound
O Since sound is a longitudinal wave, it

has compressions and rarefactions

O In most cases, sound is travelling
through air. In such cases, it is the air
molecules which are vibrating, and air
molecules form compressions and
rarefactions
O Air Pressure is highest at a compression,
and lowest at a rarefaction (see Marshall
Cavendish textbook pg 288 for diagram)

Properties of Sound
O Sound cannot travel through

vacuum, because there are no

particles to vibrate
O The link below shows an experiment
of a ringing bell inside a bell jar. Air
is first pumped out of the bell jar
(creating a vacuum) and then
allowed back into the bell jar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
ce7AMJdq0Gw

Properties of Sound
O Even though a sound wave is a

longitudinal wave, it may be picked

up by a microphone and converted
into electrical signals
O These electrical signals can then be
converted into a transverse wave in
an oscilloscope (see link below)
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0
uNHMsxI_GA

Properties of Sound
O The speed of sound in air is

approximately 300 ms-1.

O You are required to be able to describe
an experiment to measure the speed of
sound. Refer to Marshall Cavendish
textbook pg 292 Investigation 15.1
O Sound may also pass through liquids
and solids, but the speed of sound is not
the same for each.
O Sound travels fastest in solids and
slowest in air.

Properties of Sound
O The amplitude of a sound wave

relates to the loudness of the sound

O A loud sound has higher amplitude, a
soft sound has lower amplitude
O The frequency of a sound wave
relates to the pitch of the sound
O A high pitched sound has high
frequency, a low pitched sound has
low frequency

Echoes
O Sound waves can get reflected upon

hitting a surface
O These reflections are called echoes
O Echoes may be used to measure
distances. This is the concept behind
sonar (see Marshall Cavendish
textbook pg 294 Worked Example
15.2)

Ultrasound
O Ultrasound is sound with frequencies

above the upper limit of human

range of audibility (need to
memorize definition)
O In other words, ultrasound is sound
waves with frequency so high they
cannot be detected by the human
ear.
O They are used in quality control and
pre-natal scanning (see Marshall
Cavendish textbook pg 297)

Summary
O Sound Waves are longitudinal waves

with compressions and rarefactions

O A medium (air, liquid or solid) is required
for sound waves to pass through
O Loudness is related to amplitude; pitch is
related to frequency
O Echoes are reflections of sound waves
O Quality control and pre-natal scanning
are applications of ultrasound

Assignment
O Click on the link below to do your

holiday assignment for the topic of

SOUND
O https://
docs.google.com/a/preshigh.edu.sg/f
orms/d/1bz_dC19Nr17dWJEinKE7Rm0hj1A
Ewz7eTJSpaUDEK5M/viewform?usp=send_
form
O Deadline: 31 Dec 2014 11:59pm. Marks
will be deducted for late submission.
O Please note that you also need to
complete your assignment for the other
topic: ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

THANK YOU
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