CHAPTER 10 SOUND WAVES
Learning Outcomes:
1. To learn about the properties of sound waves
2. To learn about the loudness and pitch of sound
3. To learn about the phenomena and applications of reflection of sound
waves
10.1 Properties of sound waves
1. Sound is a form of energy caused by vibration.
2. The kinetic energy travels in all directions, through medium such as solids,
liquids or gases. The particles of the medium that vibrate will produce an
alternating compression and rarefaction called sound waves.
3. When a sound wave enters our ears, our brain will interpret it as a sound.
4. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.
5. Sound propagates at different speeds at different mediums. The S.I. unit for
the speed of sound is metre per second (ms-1).
6. Sound waves can be reflected and absorbed when it hits a surface. A hard and
smooth surface reflects sound better whereby a soft and rough surface absorbs
sound better.
- Speed of sound in - Speed of sound in - Speed of sound in
solid is 5000 to liquid is 1500 ms-1. gas is 330 ms-1.
6000 ms-1. - Loose - Particles in gas
- Particles in solid arrangement of are far apart from
are arranged very particles in liquid each other causes
closely together causes the sound the sound waves to
causing sound to vibration to transfer propagate very
transfer very rapidly less rapidly slowly through air.
in solid. compared to solid.
Diagram 10.1 Transfer of sound
10.2 Loudness and Pitch of sound
1. We could not see sound waves with the naked eyes. Hence, we study a sound
wave by observing its waveform displayed on an oscilloscope.
2. The sound waves from an audio signal generator are sinusoidal-shaped.
➢ The highest point on a wave is called the crest.
➢ The lowest point on a wave is called the trough.
➢ The distance between crest-to-crest or trough-to-trough is called wavelength.
➢ The displacement from the rest position to the crest or to the trough is called
the amplitude.
➢ The number of complete waves per second is called a frequency, measured in
Hertz (Hz) unit.
3. Loudness of a sound is the strength or intensity of the sound with unit decibel
(dB). It depends on its amplitude (A), which is the maximum distance from
the equilibrium point. Hence, the higher the amplitude of the sound waves, the
louder the sound can be heard.
4. Pitch is the highness or lowness of a tone. It depends on the frequency of the
waves. The higher the frequency of the sound waves, the higher the pitch.
Doppler effect
1. The Doppler effect is the apparent change in frequency caused by the relative
movement of the source of sound.
10.3 Phenomena and applications of the reflection of sound waves
1. Echo is the sound wave reflected from the surface of an object.
2. The echo is similar to its original sound but it takes some time to reach
listener’s ears.
3. Echoes usually occur inside closed area such as in caves, tunnels, auditoriums
and gorges.
Application of the reflection of sound waves
1. Locating underwater objects
➢ SONAR (Sound and Navigation and Ranging) is a technology that uses echoes
to measure the depth of water and to detect underwater objects.
➢ Sailors use SONAR to measure the depth of the seafloor to ensure the safety
of navigation whereas fishermen use it to detect the location of shoals of fish.
2. Sonogram
➢ A sonogram is an image produced by an ultrasound-scanning machine.
➢ Ultrasound is the sound with a frequency of more than 20000 Hz.
➢ Sonography is a medical procedure to diagnose the condition of organs inside
the body through ultrasound produced by transducer. Doctors also use
sonography to examine the foetus inside the womb of a mother.
Limitations of hearing in humans and animals
1. Our ears cannot detect all frequencies of sounds because of its limited
potential. The range of hearing for a normal person is 20 Hz to 20000 Hz.
2. Infrasonic sounds below 20 Hz are too weak to be heard by our ears whereby
ultrasonic sounds over 20000 Hz can damage the eardrums and may cause
deafness.
3. This range decreases as we grow older or due to long-term exposure to loud
noises.
Diagram 10.2 Limitation of hearing
4. The limitations of hearing can be overcome by using appropriate hearing
technology.
a. Stethoscope – To help doctors to detect soft sound of heartbeats
b. Megaphone – To amplify weak sounds
c. Hearing aid – To collect and amplify sound wave before transmitted to the
ears
