PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS

Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

MODULE 2
Sub Module 2.5

WAVE MOTION & SOUND

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - i Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Contents

WAVE MOTION ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

INTERFERENCE PHENOMENA ------------------------------------------------- 5
PRODUCTION OF SOUND ------------------------------------------------------- 7
INTENSITY OF SOUND ----------------------------------------------------------- 9
PITCH AND QUALITY OF SOUND -------------------------------------------- 11
DOPPLER EFFECT --------------------------------------------------------------- 13

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - ii Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Page Intentionally Left Blank

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - iii Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC)
Category “B2” Basic
2.5.1 – WAVE MOTION
A stone thrown into a quiet pool of water causes waves to
spread out in ever widening circles whose centre is the point
where the water was first disturbed. Small objects floating on
the pool move up and down when a wave passes through their
positions; they do not move outwards as the waves do. This
shows that the disturbance caused in the water is an up-and-
down movement from the centre of disturbance, the water itself
does not move outwards. Such up-and-down movement on
vibration of the water which causes waves is an example of
wave motion.
They don’t only move water. Sound, light and radio signals all
travel in the form of waves.
A wave is a disturbance that propagates through space and
time, usually with transference of energy. It is a distortion in a
material or medium, where the individual parts of the material
only show periodic motion, but the waveform itself moves
through the material. All waves have similar characteristics, and
since all forms of wave motion follow the same laws and
principles, knowing the fundamentals of wave motion is
important in understanding sound, light, and other types of
waves.There are two basic types of wave: (i) longitudinal wave,
and (ii) transverse wave.
ISO 9001:2008 Certified
PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01
2.5 - 1
Module 2 – PHYSICS
Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound
Longitudinal wave
In a longitudinal wave, the disturbance is in the same direction
as the motion of the wave.
Keep moving one end of the spring backwards and forwards,
and wave travel along a spring, as shown in the figure 2.89.
Each wave is a compression followed by stretched out section.
Waves like this, where the movement are backwards and
forwards are called longitudinal waves.
A sound wave travelling through air is a longitudinal wave.
Transverse wave
In a transverse wave the disturbance is perpendicular to the
motion of the wave.
Keep moving one end of the spring from side to side, and
waves travel along the spring, as shown in the figure 2.90. each
coil moves from side to side but a little later than the one before.
Waves like this, where the movement is sideways (or up-and-
down), are called transverse waves.Radio and other
electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.
For Training Purpose Only
Rev. 00
Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Fig. 2.89
Fig. 2.90

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 2 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Characteristics of Waves
The characteristics of a waveform are wavelength, amplitude,
velocity, and frequency. All periodic waveforms have these
common characteristics.
The frequency of waves is the rate the crests or peaks pass a
given point. Frequency is the velocity divided by the wavelength
designated as cycles (or peaks) per second. Cycles per second
is also called Hertz.
Frequency = Velocity / Wavelength

Wavelength is defined as the distance from one crest (or

maximum of the wave) to the next crest or maximum. The The frequency of a wave is the number of waves passing a
wavelength of an ocean wave is typically several meters. The point in one second. The SI unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz).
wavelength of the electromagnetic wave used in a microwave The frequency of a wave is determined by the source.
oven is in the order of a centimeter.

A waveform with its wavelength and amplitude is shown in the

The height of the wave is called its amplitude. Some areas figure 2.91.
consider the middle of the wave to its peak as the amplitude,
while others consider peak-to-peak as the amplitude. Amplitude
relates to loudness in sound and brightness in light.

The velocity of the wave is the measurement of how fast a crest

is moving from a fixed point. For example, the velocity of water
waves can be measured as their speed in a given direction with
respect to the land. The speed of sound is about 1000
feet/second. The speed of light is 186,000 miles/second. The
velocity of a wave depends on the medium it is passing through.
For instance, water waves move faster in deep water than they
do in shallow water, and light travels faster in air than it does in
glass.
ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only
PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 3 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Fig. 2.91

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 4 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

2.5.2 – INTERFERENCE PHENOMENA

Wave interference is the phenomenon which occurs when two
waves meet while travelling along the same medium. The
interference of waves causes the medium to take on a shape
which results from the net effect of the two individual waves
upon the particles of the medium.
have a displacement in the opposite direction. For instance,
when a crest meets a trough destructive interference occurs
The interfering pulses have the same maximum displacement
but in opposite directions. The result is that the two pulses
completely destroy each other when they are completely
overlapped. At the instant of complete overlap, there is no
resulting disturbance in the medium.

Consider two pulses of the same maximum amplitude travelling

in different directions along the same medium. As the crests Figure 2.92 shows the interference of waves, both constructive
move towards each other, there will eventually be a moment in (a) and destructive (b).
time when they are completely overlapped. At that moment, the
resulting shape of the medium would be the sum of the
amplitudes of both individual waves. This type of interference is
sometimes called constructive interference.

Constructive interference is a type of interference which occurs

at any location along the medium where the two interfering
waves have a displacement in the same direction. In this case,
both waves have an upward displacement; consequently, the
medium has an upward displacement which is greater than the
displacement of the two interfering pulses.

Destructive interference is a type of interference which occurs at

any location along the medium where the two interfering waves

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 5 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Fig. 2.92

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 6 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

2.5.3 – PRODUCTION OF SOUND Sound propagation by the vibration of a speaker and a tuning
fork is shown in the figures 2.93 and 2.94 respectively.

Sound is a sensation perceived by the ear. It is produced by

vibrating bodies. For example, the stretched string of a musical
instrument produces sound when it vibrates. The vibration in our
throat can be felt on touching the throat while talking. Vibrations
are produced on striking a bell with a hammer. These vibrations
give rise to sound.

Sound waves travel as longitudinal waves and require a

medium to travel in (i.e. a solid, liquid or gas). The longitudinal
sound waves are pressure waves with successive regions of
high and low pressure. Our ears are sensitive to the fluctuations
in pressure that occur as a sound wave passes.

Our ear perceives the sensation of sound only if the frequency

(number of vibrations in one second) is within a certain range. It
is found that the normal ear cannot hear sound vibrations with a
frequency less than 20 cycles per second (20 Hz) or more than
about 20 000 cycles per second (20 000 Hz).

The velocity of sound is a function of temperature and medium.

At 0oC, the velocity of sound in air is 322 m/s. The velocity of
sound in water is about four times that in air. In solids, the
velocity of sound is fastest; for example, sound travels about
fifteen times faster in iron than in air.

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 7 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Fig. 2.93

Fig. 2.94

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 8 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC)
Category “B2” Basic
2.5.4 – INTENSITY OF SOUND
A sound wave is introduced into a medium by the vibration of an
object.
A vibrating guitar string forces surrounding air molecules to be
compressed and expanded, creating a pressure disturbance,
consisting of an alternating pattern of compressions and
rarefactions. The disturbance then travels from particle to
particle through the medium, transporting energy as it moves.
The amount of energy which is transferred to the medium is
dependent upon the amplitude of vibrations of the guitar string.
If the more energy is put into the plucking of the string (that is,
more work is done to displace the string a greater amount from
its rest position), then the string vibrates with a wider amplitude.
Subsequently, the amplitude of vibration of the particles of the
medium is increased, corresponding to an increased amount of
energy being carried by the particles.
The amount of energy which is transported past a given area of
the medium per unit of time is known as the intensity of the
sound wave. The greater the amplitude of vibrations, the greater
the rate at which energy is transported through it, therefore the
more intense that the sound wave is. Intensity is the
energy/time/area; and since the energy/time ratio is equivalent
to the quantity power, intensity is simply the power/area.
ISO 9001:2008 Certified
PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01
2.5 - 9
Module 2 – PHYSICS
Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound
Typical units for expressing the intensity of a sound wave are
Watts/meter2.
Reverberation
In a large hall there are many reflecting walls and surfaces that
form multiple reflections. This creates the impression that a
sound lasts longer than it actually took to produce it. When
many echoes merge into one prolonged sound the effect is
called reverberation.
This can be a problem – too much reverberation causes sounds
to become confused and indistinct; a speaker giving a lecture
would have to talk very slowly. Too little reverberation means
that the sound energy is absorbed very quickly; the hall would
sound ‘dead’ making voices appear to be weak and quiet. A
good concert hall has just the right amount of reverberation. The
sound reflecting and absorbing properties of a room are called
its acoustics.
For Training Purpose Only
Rev. 00
Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Notes:

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 10 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

2.5.5 – PITCH AND QUALITY OF SOUND

Our perception of pitch (high or low notes) allows us to

distinguish between different frequencies.

People with good hearing can hear sounds in a range of 20 Hz

to about 20 kHz. Elephants use infrasound (very low
frequencies or subsonic) to communicate, and bats and dogs
can hear sounds well beyond the human hearing range
(ultrasound). Ultrasound has many applications in engineering
and medicine, including non-destructive testing (NDT) of aircraft
components.

When an object vibrates it does so mainly at its fundamental

frequency. However, other vibrations at harmonic frequencies
also occur. These harmonics (at 2, 3, 4, 5 … times the
fundamental frequency) all have amplitudes much less than that
of the fundamental frequency but they all contribute to the
sound produced. It is not difficult for us to distinguish between a
piano, a flute and a trumpet all playing the same note because
although they all have the same fundamental frequency, each
has different harmonics and quality.

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 11 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Notes:

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 12 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

2.5.6 – DOPPLER EFFECT

Heard an ambulance go by recently? Remember how the

siren's pitch changed as the vehicle raced towards, then away
from you? First the pitch became higher, then lower. Originally
discovered by the Austrian mathematician and physicist,
Christian Doppler (1803-53), this change in pitch results from a
shift in the frequency of the sound waves, as illustrated in the
figure 2.95.

As the ambulance approaches, the sound waves from its siren

are compressed towards the observer. The intervals between
waves diminish, which translates into an increase in frequency
or pitch. As the ambulance recedes, the sound waves are
stretched relative to the observer, causing the siren's pitch to
decrease. By the change in pitch of the siren, you can
determine if the ambulance is coming nearer or speeding away.
If you could measure the rate of change of pitch, you could also
estimate the ambulance's speed.

By analogy, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a moving

object also exhibits the Doppler effect. The radiation emitted by
an object moving toward an observer is squeezed; its frequency
appears to increase and is therefore said to be blueshifted. In
contrast, the radiation emitted by an object moving away is
stretched or redshifted. As in the ambulance analogy, blueshifts
and redshifts exhibited by stars, galaxies and gas clouds also
indicate their motions with respect to the observer.
ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only
PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 13 Mar, 2014
PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 2 – PHYSICS
Category “B2” Basic Sub Module 2.5 – Wave Motion & Sound

Fig. 2.95

ISO 9001:2008 Certified For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B2 Basic/M2/01 Rev. 00
2.5 - 14 Mar, 2014