Lesson Plan 6.

7
(Day 4)

Unit 6. Energy and the Information and Communication Technologies

Topic: Sound
Time Frame: 9 days

I. OBJECTIVES:

General Objective
Explain how sound waves are produced, transmitted, propagated and received

Specific Objectives: (Day 4)

1. describe motion of sound waves as they hit a wall;
1. explain reverberation;
2. explain how echoes are used to determine ocean depth, sense danger and
calculate the distance between the source of sound and a barrier; and
3. investigate the factors upon which good room acoustics depend.

II. SUBJECT MATTER:

A. Lesson: Reflection of Sound Waves

B. Reference: Physics in Your Environment
C. Materials: Activity 6.7

III. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

A. Motivation:
1. Recall that light, also a wave exhibits the properties of waves: reflection,
refraction, diffraction and interference. Review these properties already
taken up in Unit I.
2. Introduce the idea that sound being a wave also exhibits these properties.
In fact, some mammals such as bats, whales and dolphins use reflected
sound to locate their prey and navigate around obstacles in a process
called echolocation. They use the echoes (reflected sound) of their cries.
Bats emit pulses of ultrasound, whereas dolphins emit clicks that contain
both audible and ultrasonic frequencies.
3. Ask students what they experienced/observed when somebody shouts
inside a cave or a concrete hall.

B. Activity Proper:
1. Divide the class into small groups and let them perform Activity
6.7.1.
2. Check if each group follows the procedure well during the activity by
noting the following:
a) The end of 2 two tubes may be close but not touching each
other.

Unit 6. Energy in ICT Lesson Plan 6.7 Reflection of sound waves 6 -30
 c) The student holding the book must set the book at equal
angles to the tubes.

C. Discussion
1. Discuss the answers to the following questions:
a) What happens to sound waves as they hit the book? Explain your
answer.
b) Identify the incident and the reflected wave
c) Is it important that the tubes make the same angle with the book?
Why? How does it affect the sound received? What does this tell
you? Recall reflection of light in a mirror.
d) What does it mean when we say a hall has good acoustics?
e) How is reverberation controlled in an auditorium? Cite ways to
minimize reverberations.
2. Discuss with the class what they have found about ultrasound imaging
and sonar. Let some students present their report. Then have a class
discussion.

D. Generalization
1. Sound exhibits reflection. It obeys the same laws of reflection as light.
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. (Note: The
angles are measured with respect to the normal to the surface, not with
respect to the surface. But when the angles with respect to the surface
are equal, then the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
2. Echoes or reflected sound are used in navigation. They are used by ships
to determine ocean depth and to calculate the distance of obstacles in its
route.
3. Ultrasounds are used in medical imaging. Ultrasounds from a source are
reflected by body tissues. The echoes give information regarding the
target’s location, size and even its texture.

IV. VALUING/APPLICATION
1. What must one observe during a public meeting when a large number of
people are gathered inside a bare hall? (speak one at a time;speak in
moderate tone)

V. ASSESSMENT
1. In a theater, acoustic tiles are used
a. to absorb sound to reduce the reverberation time.
b. to absorb sound to prevent wastage of energy.
c. to reflect sound so that there are no “dead spots”.
d. to reflect sound so that everyone can hear.
2. An acoustical engineer might place drapes on the walls of an auditorium in
order to
a. increase reverberation time
b. absorb some echoes
c. produce special echoes
d. change the shape of the room
3. Which of the following should be known to be able to determine the depth
of the water with a SONAR device?

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 a. the speed of sound in the water
b. the frequency of the sound waves
c. the atmospheric pressure
d. the speed of sound in air

VI. ASSIGNMENT

1. Read about standing waves. Why are they called standing waves?
2. Review the concept of average speed as the ratio of total distance traveled
to total time elapsed.
3. Study wave characteristics: frequency, wavelength and speed. How are
these quantities related?
4. Review incident and reflected waves.

Unit 6. Energy in ICT Lesson Plan 6.7 Reflection of sound waves 6 -32
 Activity 6.7
Reflection of sound waves

Purpose:
In this activity, you will . . .
1. investigate reflection of sound waves
2. identify the factors that would minimize repeated reflections or
reverberations
Materials:
2 whole newspaper sheets
4 rubber bands or strings
book with smooth surface
stopwatch (if available)

Procedure:
1. Roll each newspaper sheet to form a tube about 6 cm in diameter. Tie a
rubber band or string around it.
2. Place the rolled newspaper sheets on the table at an angle to each other. With
the two ends of the tubes close to but not touching each other, let each
opposite end extend out of the table.
3. One member (student A) of the group will listen at one end of a tube while
another member (student B) will whisper ‘drop, drop, drop’ (or any other
word) continuously at the end of the second tube close by. It is important
that the whisper is evenly soft throughout. Or place a stopwatch (if
available) in the end of one tube instead of having a student whisper.
4. As a student listens to the whisper of student B or to the tick of the
stopwatch, a third member of the group (student C) holds a book upright at
the opposite ends of the tube. Student C sets the book at equal angle to the
tubes.
5. Student A listens closely when the book is set upright at the ends of the
tubes.
6. Student C removes the book and student A continues to listen closely.
7. Change position so that everyone in the group gets to listen to the whisper or
to the tick.
8. Use a pillow in place of a book as barrier and repeat steps 4 – 7.

Guide Questions
1. Compare the clearness of sound with and without a book as barrier. With the
pillow as barrier. (Sound is clearer with book as barrier. Sound is very faint;
cannot be heared with pillow as barrier. )
2. Why were you able to hear the sound when the book is the barrier? (The
book reflected the sound and the reflected sound entered the other tube.)
3. Why is the sound very faint when the pillow was used as barrier? (The
pillow absorbed the sound energy)
4. What kind of materials reflect sound wave? Absorb sound?
5. Auditoriums and concert halls are built so that they have good acoustics.
What does this mean? Why are these halls fitted with acoustic ceiling tiles,
thick curtains and carpets?

Unit 6. Energy in ICT Lesson Plan 6.7 Reflection of sound waves 6 -33