1

Sound

LEARNING MATERIALS USING GAGNE’S NINE EVENTS OF INSTRUCTIONS

GROUP 13 ASSIGNMENT
GROUP MEMBERS
THELMA JEPKURUI E14/10681/22
BARNABAS ESHIALULA E14/10680/22
KITHINJI STEPHEN E14/03215/21
PAULINE NDILA E14/06836/22

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY STUDIES

CIEM

PHYSICS TEACHING METHODS

EDCI 333

SUBMITTED TO:DR MAKINI GETUNO

Topic :Sound
2
Sound

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………3

Nature and sources of sound …………………………………………………………….5

Propagation of sound energy ……………………………………………………………6

Reflection of sound………………………………………………………………………7

Pulse echo technique…………………………………………........................................9

Class Activity ………...................................................................................................10

Application of sound …………………………………………………………………11

References……………………………………………………………………………..13
3
Sound

INTRODUCTION
Develop self-learning Material Based on the Physics Form two topic Sound following Robert
Gagne’s Nine Events of Instructions.

GAGNE’S NINE EVENTS OF INSTRUCTIONS

1. Gain Attention .
2. Inform Learners of the objectives.
3. Stimulate recall of prior knowledge .
4. Present content.
5. Provide guidance
6. Elicit Performance
7. Provide Feedback
8. Assess Performance.
9. Enhance Retention Transfer.

In the self-learning Material on the topic sound ,Gagnes Nine Events of Instructions are
systematically followed from Gaining attention in the topic introduction to enhancing retention
transfer
4
Sound

SOUND
[Link] Attention
Did you know?
Did you know that sounds travel 4 times faster in water than in air?
This is why whales communicate over long distances in water. Sound travels faster in
solids ,liquids and then gases. Sound cannot be transmitted in a vacuum.

[Link] Learners of the objectives

By the end of this topic ,you should be able to ;

i. Perform and describe simple experiments to show that sound is produced by

vibrating bodies.
ii. Perform and describe an experiment to show that sound requires a material
medium for propagation.
iii. Explain the nature of sound waves.
iv. Determine the speed of sound in air by the echo method . V) State the factors
affecting the speed of sound .
[Link] recall of prior knowledge
Think about the last time you were standing in an empty room ,and then you make a sound .
How was the nature of the sound ? What did you notice about the sound ?

[Link]
Topic content

i. Nature and sources of sound .

ii. Propagation of sound .
iii. Speed and sound by echo method
iv. Factors affecting sound
5
Sound

I)Nature and Sources of sound .

There are several sources of sound .
 Vibrating wooden strips .
 Vibrating Wire
 Vibrating drum
 Tuning Fork
 Vibrating Air columns

 Vibrating Wooden strips

When a thin strip clamped at one end is struck sharply , the free end vibrates to and fro producing
sound.

Fig 1.1
 Vibrating wire
A wire tightly tied on two pegs that have been fixed on a wooden box ,when plucked in the middle
the wire vibrates producing a sound .
 Vibrating drum

 Tuning Fork
The prongs of the tuning fork are made to vibrate by striking them against a hard surface .The
sound produced can be heard more clearly when the stem of the fork is fixed tightly on a hollow
box.
6
Sound

Fig 1.2
A tuning fork of higher frequency when struck vibrates faster producing a higher note.
 Vibrating air Columns.
If air is blown across the mouth of a test tube a sound is heard.

i. Propagation of sound energy.

Vibrating prongs of a tuning fork produce compressions (areas if high pressure )and refraction
(areas of low pressure) of air molecules.
As the prong of the tuning fork move from A to B ,it compresses the air molecules transferring
energy to the molecules in the direction in which the compression occurs.

A high pressure region is thus created .This leaves a region of low pressure (rarefactions) on the
left of A, then the prong moves back to A and then to C and the process is repeated .
A series of compressions and rarefactions are produced , transferring energy to the air particles
(molecules)to the left and right .The energy transfer alternates in direction just as the motion of the
prong .A progressive sound wave in air may be described as a travelling pressure wave as shown
below
7
Sound

Fig 1.3
Sound energy moves forward in the medium without net forward movement of the medium .The
direction of vibration of the particles is parallels to the direction of the movement of sound energy
hence sound wave is a longitudinal wave .

Fig 1.4
ii. Reflection of sound.
When a sharp sounds falls on an obstacle ,it is reflected.
In some halls sound waves are reflected from the walls ,floors and ceiling. Since the echo tune is
short the echo overlaps with the original sound .
The original sound thus seems to be prolonged ,an effect called reverberation.
 TIP
The walls of broadcasting studios and concert halls are made of materials such as cotton wool and
foam rubber which absorb most of the energy of unwanted sound waves .
8
Sound

 Sound waves obey the laws of reflection

Properties of Sound Waves
 Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a particle from its rest position. It determines
the loudness of the sound.
 Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive points in a wave that are in the same
phase.
 Frequency: The number of complete oscillations or cycles per second. It determines the
pitch of the sound.
 Speed: The speed of sound varies with the medium through which it travels. It is generally
faster in solids than in liquids and gases.
Factors affecting velocity of sound.
 In air the speed of sound is about 330m/s .This speed is dependent on various factors,

 Temperature of air -sound travels faster in air at high temperature.

 Humidity in the air – when the moisture content in the air is high sounds are generally
transmitted at a faster rate .
 Wind direction – When wind and sound happens to be moving in the same direction, the
velocity of sound is increased.

Pulse-echo Technique
The pulse-echo Technique involves measuring distances by producing sound of known speed and
measuring the time taken to receive the echo.
Sound of frequency of over 20khz (ultrasound)is used , because it penetrates deepest and can be
reflected easily by tiny grains.
 The distance if the reflecting obstacle from the source of sound is then calculated using the
formula ;
Distance(d)=speed of sound ×1/2(time taken)
1
× v=d
2t

This technique is used in ships to determine the depth of the sea.

The Technique is also used in :
o In underwater exploration for gas and oil .
9
Sound

o In fishing boats with pulse-echo equipment to locate shoals of fish .

o In special types of spectacles used by the blind people to tell how far objects are ahead of
them .The spectacles have transmitters that emit ultrasound and receive that collect the echo
and convert them into audible sound.
10
Sound

 Bats use echoes to detect the presence of obstacles in their flight path.
[Link] guidance
 Imagine clapping in front of a tall wall ,you will hear the sound of clap again after a few
seconds, this is due to echo. The sound produced by you clapping heats the obstacle which
is a tall wall ,the sound bounced back.
[Link] performance
 Class Activity 1.
Materials needed.
I)An empty room.
Procedure
I)Stand in an empty room
Ii)Clap once and listen to the echo.
[Link] Feedback
Explanation – Notice that you hear the clap again after few seconds. This shows the occurrence of
an echo ,the sound wave from the clap is reflected back hence a second sound heard.

 Class Activity 2.
I)Now place rugs ,carpets ,curtains and sheets on the walls ,floor and ceiling of the room.
Ii)Clap once and listen.

Explanation – You will notice that the sound produced is not of higher note. This is because the
walls ,ceiling and the floor is no longer a perfect reflector .This method is used in studios and
concert rooms to prevent echo from occurring .

 Studios and concert are made of acoustic panel which are fabric covered .
11
Sound

Worked Example
Two boys stand 200m from a wall .One bangs two pieces of wood together while the second starts
a stop-watch and stops it when he hears the echo. If the time shown on the stop-watch is
1.2 seconds , calculate the speed of sound.
Solution
Distance covered =2 ×200m
Speed
d
s=
t
400 m
=
1.2 s
=333.3m/s

[Link] performance

Question
[Link] ship sends out an ultrasound whose echo is reviewed after 10 seconds .If the wavelength of
the ultrasound in water is 0.05 m and the frequency of he transmitter is 50kHz ,calculate the depth
of the ocean .
 TIP
The above question requires the understanding of velocity= frequency ×wavelength .

Application of sound.
 Communication: Speech, music, and telecommunications.
 Technology: Sonar, medical ultrasound, audio engineering.
 Industry: Non-destructive testing, industrial cleaning, ultrasonic machining.
 Environment: Animal communication, environmental monitoring.
12
Sound

[Link] retention transfer.

*Think about how a guitar produces sound .When you pluck a string , it vibrates and creates sound
waves .
How do length of the string affect the sound produced?
13
Sound

References
Berg,R.E (2024)Sound properties ,types and facts. Encyclopedia Britannica .
[Link]

Tipler, P. A., & Mosca, G. P. (2002). Physics for Scientists and Engineers, -Volume 1. Physics for
Scientists and Engineers, 1
Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2013). Fundamentals of physics. John Wiley & Sons.

Lambert High School (2024)Sound. Sound Summary Notes. [Link]

Minishi.O, Muni.E ,Omolo.H ,Mwangasha.G (2013) Vibrating strip. Kenya Literature Bureau
Physics Book 3. Longhorn Publisher (5th Ed)