3

AcouSTICS
AND ULTRASONICS5

INTRODUCTION TO ACOUSTics
S.1 'to hear' relates
Acoustics", originally a Greek meaning word
p r o p a g a t i o n and
of science of sound, i.e., generation,
the study
reception of s o u n d .

Generation Relates to the vibration of the sounding body.

Propagation Refers to transmission of sound energy

throughthe medium

In gaseous and liquid media they propagate as longitudinal

waves.
In solid media, they propagate as both transverse and
ongitudinal waves. These result from disturbances in an elastic
hedium namely mechanical deformations. Thus the elasticity and
ensity of the medium are important factors that affect propagation
sound.
Reception Relates the human e a r receiving the
to
transmitted sound which is in turn dependent
on the sensitivity of human ear.
 ENGINEERING PHI
Acoustlcs
mportance of
3.1.
lecture in a
onaiter a
tearher giving a

suppose that th
lassroonn i
students Let us also
ille
anytclahssroon
etriy with
students a r e unable to hear s3
aoustics is such that the

to View thee teacher's lip moves ing,

They are oniy able
be? Detinitely not very
nents.
eresting,
interestine HHo
is it
uld this situation

How could the above have occurred? There is no doubt no

teacher isspeaking (generation

or also h
souna). There is
as we do have the air medium. Tuby
that it is being propagated
in reception of sound?
Then why
should there be a problem
In fact the same could happen in an Auditorium, Cines
concert hall, etc., After the start of propagation there are
are quitea
hall,
few factors which govern the reception of sound and has to h
care of very carefully. This is where acoustic gains a lot of importa
taken
tance.
Sound waves can be reflected, difïracted and also absorhad
d
they encounter a surface or plain through a medium. Two or mo
ore
sound waves can also interfere with each other leading either to a
constructive interference (too much of sound) or destructive
interference (silent zone).
Now, if the acoustics of the room it bad, all factors put together
may result in a dead room (i.e., no sound ultimately reaching the
listner). The whole pupose of the lecture is lost. Thus acoustics (in
particular architectural acoustics) is the first and foremost topit
which is essential in the context of imparting education. Belore
actually proceeding to acoustics of buildings, it is important tor uS
study the various features of sound.

3.1.2 Classification of Sound (Based on Frequency)

Classification of sound
(Based on frequency)

<20 Hz 20 Hz 20 KHz > 20 KHz

Infrasonics Audible Ultasonics

Fig. 3.1
USTICS AND ULTRASONICS
33

.Characteristlcs of Sound
Sound

Pitch and
frequency
Loudness and Quality and
intensity tnbre

Fig. 3.2

al Pitch is a
physiological quantity (mental sensation).
Example of high pitch : Humming of a bee
Example of low plteh : Roaring of a lion
b) Frequency is a physical quantity and is measurable.

refers to the number of

It vibrations/second.
Unit: Cycles/second or Hz.
2. a) Loudnesd is a physiological quantity.
b) Intensity is a physical quantity and is measured in W/m3.
Audible sound can be divided further into Music and Noise.

1. Music
1. Produces a pleasing sensation to ear.

2. There is regularity in the shape of the curves.

3. There is a definite periodicity (i.e., definite frequency).

(Fig. 3.3).
intensities are absent.
4. Sudden changes in

Amplitude

AA Fig. 3.3
Time
 GINEERIINO PHYA
PHYSit

Nolae
2 to the car8
Unpleasant
in shape.
irregular
have a
2. The
curves
frequency) (Pig. 3.4)
definite
(no
periodicity
is
(that is amplitude
3.No
intensities

in
changes
sudden
are
4.There
Amplitude

Time

Fig. 3.4

3. Intensity
can be written as follows
The expression for intensity

2r a2ve v .(1
I
where
a = Amplitude

frequency
p Density of the mediumn and

v Velcocity of the wave

We could also define the intensity of a sound wave as the rare
of flow of sound energy unit area perpendicular to te
through
direction of propagation. (i.e., rate of flow of energy per unt a
and its unit is W/m2.
Human car can detect intensities ranging from 1074 wi"
to 1 W/m2.

4. Loudness
This is the sensation pends on the
produced in the ear and depends
listener (perception). It is also
related amplitude (1n
to
Alarge amplitude even with a low l a r g e loudnes
frequency produces large
 ANO U
TRASONICSs
3.5
ncs

eptio
found that on an averagr (for a large nunber of people)

the
change in
change in
perception dP is
proportional to change in the
a l uf
s d5
using the perception and inversely proportiornal to

tialus (S)

dP a dS (2)

and dP
as .
(3)

dP - ap. k

P k In S+ C .(4)
perception
is 0, P -
0,
hen

0 k In S, +C .. (5)
IAssuming perception is 0 for a stimulus S)

C-kIn S, .(6)
P k In S- k ln S,

k In

S
P K lO8
(7)
S,
(where 2.303 k K)
Inasinilar fashion, we have loudness as the perception and
nlennity of sound as the stimulus.
We may write loudness as

L Klog .(8)
ne above equation is referred to as the Weber - Fechner law.
 N
oINEER PHY
Here i the intenaity corresponding to
a d onen it is loudie.
referred to an the
intenait"bein atandard
intenaity or
Ita value in
W/m taken as
1000 H. 10
th
"
nt
for hoaing this value at 1000 Ha will be deult
the loudnesa curve. K
with lat
depends on the senaitivity of th
lz. The
he teamn reshola
naj tar
the human
ln a more grneral way, it mmuy stated as

La log
i.e., the response of
human ear to sound is
19
Intenaity Level and the decibel(dB) Scale
logrithmic in
nature
The intensity level of any sound
(audible) can be measure
measur.
respect to the standard intensity Io wth
We define relative
intensity
(I
as
(: But we have seen
the intesity varies from 1012 W/m2 to 1 W/m2, that
In order to This is a broad
chosen. scale.
compress this scale, logrithmic scale is
The logarithmic ratio of intensity of sound to
the standa.
intensity is known as
Intensity level of sound. lard
The Bel and dB Scale

If 105, the intensity level is said to be

'x bels.
i.e., log =
log 10*= x log 10

= x bels

bel . (10)
again is a
large unit and hence the decibel
(dB) scale is used
1 dB bel
10
1 bel= 10 dB . (11)

.
Intensity level= log bels

Intensity level in dB = l10 log dB .. (12)

 nCS AND ULTRASONIC
3.7
y o a n i n go I 1 d p

I dB 10 log
.(13)

0.1

100.1 1.26

I =1.26 1,
. (14)

i.e., the intensity increases by 26 % the intensity level is

This is with reference to the standard intensity Io If there
intensities and l), 1 dB would be either 26 % increase or
are2 .

5%decrease se in intensity depending on which intensity we take as

r initial comdition. Thus in a more generaB fashion 1 dB intensity
a 26% change in intensity.
evel implies
12
For 10 W/m2,

10-12
Intensity level= 10 log
10-12

= 1 0log 1 0 dB

For 1W/m2,

1
Intensity level= 10 log
10-12

= 10 log 1012 = 120 dB

Juatiflcation for Choosing 10-12 W/m2 at 1000 Hz.

From Fig. 3.5 which gives the graph between frequency and
ntesity level in dB, we find the minimum occurs at 1000 Hz. Though
we do not take this as
E nave a lower value for around 3 4 KHz,
relerence as it is associated with the resonance of the auditory
4a. Hence the minimum value is chosen at 1000 Hz.
 ENGINEERING PH
Equal loudness in phons
20
h e aves rexeseri

enened by the
Ta
average hunman ear
100
100
90
The oar is loss sens/tive to
ow roquencles and this 80
discrimination agalnst
lows becomes steeper
for softer sounds The maximum sensitvit
region for human
KHzhearing
50 is around 34

Curve for the average

B
I40 assoclated
of the
with the and s
resonan
threshold of hearing]||30
auditory canal
Sound Intensity in decbels
does not directy reftect the
TTl20
changes in the ear's 10
sensitvity with frequency
and with sOundlevel 100 1000 10,000
Frequency (Hz)

Fig.3.5

Sound Pressure Level

As sound measuring devices respond to the pressure exerted
by the sound it is important to relate intensity of sound to sound
pressure.
It can be shown that

I ap2
(I Intensity and P Pressure of sound waves)
 USTICSAND ULTRASONICS
8.9

Intensity level in dB 10 log

10 log|

20 1o8 P .(15)

Po Zero level pressure

2 * 10- 5 N/m2.
Quality and Timbre

Quality is a physiological quantity. This is the property which

between twoo
enables us to differentiate between two voices or
The human ear can thus detect whether
ditferent instruments etc.,
other creature.
the voice is that of man or woman or any
will
Further still if you have two women friends talking you
without seeing them. The reason for
recognise who is talking even
of different
this is different voices differ due to the presence
from the
harmonics and their combinations being present apart
fundamental frequency.
instruments have the same frequency 'v,
E.g, If two (x and y)
phase. i.e., x may contain
ney may contain different intensities and
2 , 5v and y may contain v, 3v, 4v.
or lst harmonic; 2v the
Here vis the fundamental frequency
20 harmonie 3v the 3rd harmonic or the 2nd
narmonic or the 1st overtone;
Overtone and so on.
Timbre
of the
different waveforms as a consequence
nls refers to the
iresence of the harmonics. This is depicted in the
of the combination of
aN
8raphs far flhuto g i v e n in Fig. 3.6.
n o n
 < AND ULTRASONICS 3.11
te

PROBLEMS IN DECIBELS
sOL
VED
POBLEM 3 . 1

und intongai
sOUNd
intensity at 5 m trom a qpoalar thet ie pleced en the oldowall
the
e d,tooding
ind i n g sound eventy inte a hemisphere ia treat of lt. Sound power of
apooker ih2 0

speaker is replaced Iy apelat source at thecontro of the ahil, what wend

spoater

l tN
the
h e intensity?

solutloa

Intensity = Power
Area

sound
sound from the spe
trom speaker spreads into a hemispherical shape.
The
hemisphere
=
2nr2
Area of

r = 5 in
Here

2
Intensity* 2n (5

2W
m2
25T

0.013 Wm2

spreads into a sphere. The are

i The sound from the point
source

would hence be 4rr2 now.

2
Intensity 4 r(5) 2

2
50 T

= 0.006 W2
 INOINEt W
PROBLMa. e e
i d the ateneity level In d of a sound ol Iatenslty 3 x 10 W
level1" lare
Nolutlon
Intenaity level ln du- T0log

5x 10
10 log 1012
0
10 log (5 x
1010)
-10 log 5 + 10 log 1010
10 (0.6990 10)
- 106.99 dB

Intensitylevel = 106.99 dB

PROBLEM 3.3
If sound intensity increases sin times, how much does the dB level change?
Solution:
Let the initial sound intensity be and the final sound inte-
be I2.
Ih

h 61.
Writing 1 and l2 in terms of . we have

dB- = 10 log and

dB= 10log

dB-dB, = 10 log 1 0log

o
ACoUSTTCSAND
I C S AND
pULTRASONICS 3.13

10 log 6 10log - 10
10 log6
10 0.7782
-7.782 dB
The sound intensity level raiscs by 7.782 dB

ernatively
Alternatively
we could directly solve the same problem as

ollows

Intensity level- 10 log 2

10
1 010 logg6
-

Intensity level = 7.782 dBB

PROBLEM 3.4

When 2 sounds of 50 dB and 70 dB are sounded together, what is the resultant

sOund?

Bolution:
Let and h be the intensities corresponding to 50 dB and 70
dB.
We may then write

50 10 log

= 105

101, . (1)

IIly
. (2)
 NGINEERING PHT
314

The restaurant intensity

I-10 I 107
I(10 10')l%
10 [1 + 102

=101 x 10
(3)
Resultant intensity level in dB

= 10 log

1 0 log (101 x
105) from
equation 3
=

[log 0.1
10 5 log 10]
10(2.0043 5]
Intensity level= 10 [7.0043]
70.043 dB

Resultant Intensity Level =

70.043 dB

PROBLEM 3.5
The resultant
intensity level is S0 dB when two sounds are soundful together. If oe
of them is 60d, what is the
other?
Solution:
Here the resultant
intensity level is 90.

90 10 log . (1)
MOSNCSSAAND
NSTCS
AND
ULTRASO

rRASONICS 3.15

I resultan intenaity)
w h e r e

I 10 , . (2)

and are he two intensitics, then

h

60
10tog
10' 1 .(3)

I2 1-h- (109-105) Io
I2 106 103 -1 o
I2 106 1999] Io 9.99 x108

h 9.99 x 10 J,
would be
The sound intensity
level in dB corresponding to Ih

dB 10log

=
10 log9.99x 108 2

= 10 log (9.99 x 103)

= 10 [log 9.99 + log 108]

= 10 [0.9993 + 8

= 89.996 dB

89.996 dB
The other sound intensity level is