Physics Module 3C

SOUND Waves

Specific Objectives

At the end of these sessions student will be able to understand

(a) Sound requires a medium

(b) Longitudinal wave
(c) Pitch and loudness are wave properties
(d) Measurement of speed of sound
(e) Properties of sound waves: reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference
(f) Human hearing range of frequencies, ear detection of sound waves
(g) Difference between Noise and Music
(h) Ultrasound and some applications

Introduction

Many years ago two spacecrafts was launched called Voyager 1 and Voyager11. On board were
tracks of various sounds recorded from Earth and beamed along with other wavelengths of
frequencies. There was a beautiful singer by the name Ella Fitzgerald who could hit notes that
would break glass. One of our under-standing in Jamaica is the notion of loud music in small
spaces. Apparently they have not heard of decibels.

Sound wave is interesting as it is a longitudinal wave and its crest and trough are based on wave
compression.

Sound waves as compressions for wavelength

Wavelength is defined as the distance between two successive compressions or two maxima is
wavelength ʎ of longitudinal sound wave.
Sound travels through solid, liquid and gases but does not travel in vacuum. This can be seen in
the bell jar experiment. Here the air is pumped out leaving a vacuum then the sound gets less and
less. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce7AMJdq0Gw

Sound waves in air (a)

(a) (b) Sound wave on oscilloscope

Pitch and Frequency

Frequency in sound can be seen as the number of wave increase and the pitch of the sound rises.
This implies that pitch of a sound depends on frequency.

Larger the amplitude the louder the sound

Speed of sound calculated as distance traveled over time taken. It is important to note that when
calculating speed the distance is doubled in terms of echo as it makes a return trip to the ear. This
implies that sound reflects where angle of incidence equal angle of reflection to the normal.

Sound reflection

Refraction of sound occurs when the speed of sound changes. Sound in air is affected by
temperature. Warm air sound travels faster with wavelengths further apart than in cold air.
 (a) Sound in air refraction

Diffraction of sound waves observed when sound comes around a corner and through a wall.
Short wavelength gives high pitch which is diffracted more than longer wavelength. Thus high
pitch more directional waves. Waves with wavelength similar to the size of the gap at which they
pass through diffracted the most thus hearing directly in front of speaker being best.

Interference

When sound waves overlap they produce regions of louder sound due to constructive
interference and quieter sound destructive interference. Imagine two identical speakers
connected to an electrical system the current flows through cones and diaphragms.

Frequency spectrum of sound waves

Sound has a spectrum for which the human hearing is limited to a particular range. Human ear
can hear from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Most animals have a lower range thus their disappearance early
during some natural earthly events. Below 20 Hz is described as subsonic (below sound). Above
20 kHz waves are described as ultrasound (beyond sound).

Hear ear (just thought that would be funny) relation of how the ear hears sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9wZkP64rAc

Sound properties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xZZt99MzY

The physics of music (sound) this video is a little long but when you have time it is very good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM6ztb0pWNE&t=1675s

For ultrasound various applications for fields in medical and industry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ixr2NQF9Dg

I have used in one of my research work, ultrasound to cut samples in preparing them for
observation.