Topic 4: Plane and Spherical Waves, Density,

Intensity, and Impedance

s e
ea
el
R
lic
ub
rP
Fo

COME 470 − Acoustics

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani
ot
N
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Lectures Schedule

s e
ea
Topic Nb Topic

el
Topic 00 Course Description and Regulations

R
Topic 01 Introduction to Acoustics and Sound Waves

lic
Topic 02 Fundamentals of Vibration
Topic 03 Acoustic Wave Equation
ub
Topic 04 Plane and Spherical Waves
rP
Topic 05 Sound Intensity and Decibel
Topic 06 Loudness Reverberation Time Control of Interfering Noise
Fo

Topic 07 Sound Absorption and Reflection

ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 2/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Outline of Topics

e
Harmonic Plane Waves

s
1

ea
2 Energy Density

el
Acoustic Energy

R
Instantaneous Energy Density

lic
Energy Density

3 Acoustic Intensity
ub
rP

4 Specific Acoustic Impedance

Fo

5 Spherical Waves
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 3/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Current Section

e
Harmonic Plane Waves

s
1

ea
2 Energy Density

el
Acoustic Energy

R
Instantaneous Energy Density

lic
Energy Density

3 Acoustic Intensity
ub
rP

4 Specific Acoustic Impedance

Fo

5 Spherical Waves
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 4/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Recall
Sound is conducted to the ear by longitudinal waves traveling

s e
through the surrounding medium (air, water ...)

ea
Longitudinal waves are sound waves for which the associated

el
particle motion in the transmitting medium is parallel to the

R
direction of wave propagation
The speed of travel of sound waves ↔ the speed of travel of

lic
longitudinal waves propagating through any medium
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 5/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Hearing Sounds

s e
ea
el
R
lic
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 6/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Harmonic Plane Waves

e
The characteristic property of a plane wave is that each

s
ea
acoustic variable has constant amplitude and phase on any
plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation

el
R
In the case of plane wave propagation, only one spatial
dimension is required to describe the acoustic field

lic
If the coordinate system is chosen so that the plane wave
ub
propagates along the x axis
rP

∂2p 1 ∂2p
Fo

=
∂x 2 c 2 ∂t 2
ot

with p = p(x, t)
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 7/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Harmonic Plane Waves

s e
ea
The complex form of the harmonic solution for the acoustic
pressure of a plane wave is:

el
R
p = Ae j(ωt−kx) + Be j(ωt+kx)

lic
ub
and the associated particle velocity, parallel to the direction of
propagation:
rP

→
−
h i
x = (A/ρ0 c)e j(ωt−kx) − (B/ρ0 c)e j(ωt+kx) xb
Fo

u = ub
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 8/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Harmonic Plane Waves

s e
Subscript ”+”: to designate a wave traveling in the +x

ea
direction and subscript ”−”: to designate a wave traveling in

el
the −x direction

R
p+ = Ae j(ωt−kx) and p− = Be j(ωt+kx)

lic
p±
u± = ± ub
ρ0 c
p±
rP
s± = (condensation)
ρ0 c 2
Fo

p±
φ± = − (velocity potential of the wave)
jωρ0
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 9/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Harmonic Plane Waves

e
For a plane wave traveling in some arbitrary direction, it is

s
ea
plausible to try a solution of the form:

el
p = Ae j(ωt−kx x−ky y −kz z) = Ae j(ωt−k·br )
b

R
lic
The magnitude of k is the wave number (or propagation
ub
constant) and kx /k, ky /k, and kz /k are the direction cosines
rP
of kb with respect to the x, y , and z axes
Fo

rb = x xb + y yb + z zb
kb = kx xb + ky yb + kz zb
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 10/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Special Case Example

e
p = Ae j(ωt−kx x−ky y −kz z) = Ae j(ωt−k·br )
b

s
ea
Assume a plane wave whose surfaces of constant phase are

el
parallel to the z axis, the equation is reduced to:

R
p = Ae j(ωt−kx x−ky y )

lic
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 11/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Special Case Example

e
p = Ae j(ωt−kx x−ky y ) , λx = 2π/kx , λy = 2π/ky

s
ea
kx = k cos φ, ky = k sin φ, λ/λx = cos φ, λ/λy = sin φ

el
kb = k cos φb
x + k sin φb
y

R
→p = Ae j(ωt−k cos φx−k sin φy )

lic
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 12/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density Acoustic Energy
Acoustic Intensity Instantaneous Energy Density
Specific Acoustic Impedance Energy Density
Spherical Waves
 

Current Section

e
Harmonic Plane Waves

s
1

ea
2 Energy Density

el
Acoustic Energy

R
Instantaneous Energy Density

lic
Energy Density

3 Acoustic Intensity
ub
rP

4 Specific Acoustic Impedance

Fo

5 Spherical Waves
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 13/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density Acoustic Energy
Acoustic Intensity Instantaneous Energy Density
Specific Acoustic Impedance Energy Density
Spherical Waves
 

Acoustic Energy
The energy transported by acoustic waves through a fluid

e
medium is of two forms:

s
ea
1 the kinetic energy of the moving elements:

el
1 2 1
Ek = mu = ρ0 V0 u 2

R
2 2

lic
2 the potential energy of the compressed fluid:

Ep = −
ub
Z V
pdV =
1
 2 
p
V0
2 ρ0 c 2
rP
V0

The total acoustic energy of the volume element is then:

Fo

"  2 #
1 p
E = Ek + Ep = ρ0 V0 u 2 +
ot

2 ρ0 c
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 14/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density Acoustic Energy
Acoustic Intensity Instantaneous Energy Density
Specific Acoustic Impedance Energy Density
Spherical Waves
 

Instantaneous Energy Density

The instantaneous energy density ξi = E /V0 in joules per

s e
cubic meter (J/m3 ):

ea
" 2 #

el

1 p
ξ i = ρ0 u 2 +

R
2 ρ0 c

lic
Both the pressure p and the particle speed u must be the real
ub
quantities obtained from the superposition of all acoustic
rP
waves present
The instantaneous particle speed and acoustic pressure are
Fo

functions of both position and time

ot

Consequently the instantaneous energy density ξi is not

N

necessarily constant throughout the fluid → energy density

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 15/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density Acoustic Energy
Acoustic Intensity Instantaneous Energy Density
Specific Acoustic Impedance Energy Density
Spherical Waves
 

Energy Density
The time average of ξi gives the energy density ξ at any point

s e
in the fluid:

ea
1 T
Z
ξ= ξi dt
T 0

el
R
where the time interval T is one period of a harmonic wave
Using the previous equation: u± = ± ρp0±c → p = ±ρ0 cu:

lic
ub p2
ξ i = ρ0 u 2 =
ρ0 c 2
rP

If P and U are the amplitudes of the acoustic pressure and

Fo

particle speed:
P2 ρ0 U 2
ot

PU
ξ= = =
N

2c 2ρ0 c 2 2
Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 16/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Current Section

e
Harmonic Plane Waves

s
1

ea
2 Energy Density

el
Acoustic Energy

R
Instantaneous Energy Density

lic
Energy Density

3 Acoustic Intensity
ub
rP

4 Specific Acoustic Impedance

Fo

5 Spherical Waves
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 17/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Acoustic Intensity
The instantaneous intensity I (t) of a sound wave is the

s e
instantaneous rate per unit area

ea
I (t) = pu in watts per square meter (W/m2 )

el
The intensity I is the time average of I (t): the time-averaged

R
rate of energy transmission through a unit area normal to the

lic
direction of propagation:
ub
1 T
Z
I = pu dt
rP
T 0
For a plane harmonic wave traveling in the ±x direction,
Fo

p = ±ρ0 cu:
P2
ot

I =±
N

2ρ0 c
Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 18/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Acoustic Intensity
√ √
Using the effective amplitude: Pe = P/ 2, Ue = U/ 2

s e
Pe2

ea
→ I± = ±Pe Ue = ±
ρ0 c

el
for a plane wave traveling in either the +x or −x direction

R
Note:

lic
1 T
Z
I = ub pu dt
T 0
rP
is completely general, while:
Pe2
Fo

I± = ±Pe Ue = ±
ρ0 c
ot

is exact only for plane harmonic waves and is approximately

N

true for diverging waves at great distances from their sources

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 19/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Current Section

e
Harmonic Plane Waves

s
1

ea
2 Energy Density

el
Acoustic Energy

R
Instantaneous Energy Density

lic
Energy Density

3 Acoustic Intensity
ub
rP

4 Specific Acoustic Impedance

Fo

5 Spherical Waves
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 20/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Specific Acoustic Impedance

e
The ratio of acoustic pressure to the associated particle speed

s
in a medium is the specific acoustic impedance

ea
p

el
z= in Pa · s/m

R
u

lic
For a plane wave:
ub z = ±ρ0 c
rP
The product ρ0 c often has greater acoustical significance as a
characteristic property of the medium than does either ρ0 or c
Fo

individually
ot

For this reason, ρ0 c is called the characteristic impedance of

the medium
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 21/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Specific Acoustic Impedance

s e
Although the specific acoustic impedance of the medium is a

ea
real quantity for progressive plane waves, this is not true for

el
standing plane waves or for diverging waves

R
In general, z will be complex:

lic
ub z = r + jx
rP
where:
r : the specific acoustic resistance
Fo

x: the specific acoustic reactance

of the medium for the particular wave being considered
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 22/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Specific Acoustic Impedance

s e
ea
el
R
lic
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 23/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Specific Acoustic Impedance

s e
ea
el
R
lic
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 24/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Specific Acoustic Impedance

s e
ea
el
R
lic
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 25/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Specific Acoustic Impedance Examples

s e
ea
For air at a temperature of 20◦ C and atmospheric pressure,

el
the density is 1.21 kg/m3 and the speed of sound is 343 m/s

R
and ρ0 c = 415 Pa · s/m

lic
In distilled water at 20◦ C and 1 atm, the speed of sound is
ub
1482.1 m/s and its density is 998.2 kg/m3 , resulting in a
rP
characteristic impedance of ρ0 c = 1.48 × 106 Pa · s/m
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 26/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Current Section

e
Harmonic Plane Waves

s
1

ea
2 Energy Density

el
Acoustic Energy

R
Instantaneous Energy Density

lic
Energy Density

3 Acoustic Intensity
ub
rP

4 Specific Acoustic Impedance

Fo

5 Spherical Waves
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 27/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

e
In free space (or an anechoic chamber), we frequently wish to

s
express mathematically the radiation of sound from a spherical

ea
(nondirectional) source of sound

el
In this case, the sound wave will expand as it travels away

R
from the source, and the wave front always will be a spherical

lic
surface
ub
rP
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 28/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

s e
To apply the wave equation to spherical waves, we must

ea
replace the operators in the original equation by operators

el
appropriate to spherical coordinates

R
Assuming equal radiation in all directions, the wave equation

lic
in one-dimensional spherical coordinates is:
ub
∂ 2 p 2 ∂p 1 ∂2p
rP
+ =
∂r 2 r ∂r c 2 ∂t 2
Fo

where r is the distance from the origin of the spherical

coordinate system or source if it’s a point source
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 29/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves
Rewriting the above equation with rp treated as the

s e
dependent variable results in:

ea
∂ 2 (pr ) 1 ∂ 2 (pr )

el
=
∂r 2 c 2 ∂t 2

R
We notice that this equation has exactly the same form as the

lic
plane wave equation
ub
Hence, the same formal solution will apply to either equation
rP
except that the dependent variable is p(x, t) in one case and
p(r , t)r in the other case
Fo

The latter suggests that the solution for the spherical wave
ot

equation is of the same form as that to the plane wave

N

equation, but divided by r

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 30/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

s e
The angle θ is given by:

ea
el
cot θ = kr

R
lic
ub
rP
Fo

Since kr = 2πr
λ , the angle θ is a function of the ratio of the
source distance to the wavelength
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 31/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

s e
ea
When the distance from the source is only a small fraction of

el
a wavelength, the phase difference between the complex

R
pressure and particle speed is large

lic
At distances corresponding to a considerable number of
wavelengths, p and u are very nearly in phase and the
ub
spherical wave assumes the characteristics of a plane wave
rP

This is to be expected, since the wave fronts become

Fo

essentially planar at great distances from the source

ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 32/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

s e
ea
In contrast with plane waves, the particle speed here is not in
phase with the pressure

el
R
The specific acoustic impedance here is no longer ρ0 c, but:

lic
kr
z = ρ0 c p
ub e jθ
1 + (kr )2
rP
= ρ0 c cos θe jθ
Fo

with cot θ = kr
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 33/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves
Separating z into real and imaginary parts:

s e
(kr )2 kr

ea
z = ρ0 c 2
+ jρ0 c
1 + (kr ) 1 + (kr )2

el
R
→ The first term is the specific acoustic resistance and the
second term the specific acoustic reactance

lic
The absolute magnitude z of the specific acoustic impedance
ub
is equal to the ratio of the pressure amplitude P of the wave
rP
to its speed amplitude U:
p
Fo

z=
u
ot

P
z= = ρ0 c cos θ
N

U
Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 34/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

s e
ea
The relationship between pressure and speed amplitude may

el
be written as

R
P = ρ0 cU cos θ

lic
ub
For large values of kr : cos θ approaches unity and the
relationship between pressure and speed is that for a plane
rP
wave
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 35/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

Taking back again:

s e
ea
A j(ωt−kr )
p= e
r

el
R
A/r = P is the pressure amplitude of the wave (with A real

lic
constant)
ub
The pressure amplitude in a spherical wave is not constant, as
it is for a plane wave, but decreases inversely with the
rP
distance from the source
Fo

The actual pressure is the real part of the above equation:

A
ot

p= cos(ωt − kr ) = P cos(ωt − kr )
N

r
Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 36/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

The complex expression of the particle speed u = p/z is:

s e
ea
A j(ωt−kr )
u= e
rz

el
R
Replacing z by the above equation and taking the real part

lic
gives the actual particle speed as:

u=
1 A 1 ub
cos(ωt − kr − θ) = U cos(ωt − kr − θ)
rP
ρ0 c r cos θ
Fo

The speed amplitude is:

1 A 1
ot

U=
ρ0 c r cos θ
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 37/39

 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves
The intensity now can be calculated as:

s e
1 T
Z

ea
I = pudt
T 0

el
1 T
Z

R
I = P cos(ωt − kr )U cos(ωt − kr − θ)dt
T 0

lic
PU cos θ P2
=
2
= ub
2ρ0 c
rP
Π: The average rate at which energy flows through a closed
spherical surface of radius r surrounding a source of symmetric
Fo

spherical waves is
ot

P2
Π = 4πr 2 I = 4πr 2
N

2ρ0 c
Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 38/39
 Harmonic Plane Waves
Energy Density
Acoustic Intensity
Specific Acoustic Impedance
Spherical Waves
 

Spherical Waves

s e
ea
Since P = A/r :

el
A2

R
Π = 2π
ρ0 c

lic
→ The average rate of energy flow through any spherical
ub
surface surrounding the origin is independent of the radius of
rP
the surface
→ a statement of energy conservation in a lossless medium
Fo
ot
N

Dr. Hilal M. El Misilmani Topic 4: Plane & Spherical Waves 39/39