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Lesson: Beats
Lesson Objectives
• progressive waves.
• intensity of wave.
• principle of superposition of waves.
• phase difference.
• addition of trigonometry functions.
Activity Descriptions
Activity 1
Formation of beats
Students learn
• the meaning of the level of intensity of sound and the unit dB.
• To calculate the level of intensity due to a point source.
Activity 2
Intensity of Sound
Students learn
• to explain the formation of beats
• the meaning of beat frequency.
• the derivation of the expression for beat frequency.
• to calculate the beat frequency through an worked example.
Development of Lesson
Question 1
(a) The power transferred by a wave to a unit area which is perpendicular to the direction of
propagation is known as the intensity of the wave.
I
(b) The level of intensity of sound is measured in dB and is defined as β = 10 ln
I0
where I = intensity of the sound
Io = threshold intensity of sound, which is 1 x 10-12 W m-2
Question 2
P
(a) At a distance r, the intensity is given by I1 =
4π r 2
P
At a distance 2r, the intensity is given by I2 =
4π (2r )
2
P
=
16πr 2
I2 1
=
I1 4
I2 I
(a) β 2 − β1 = 10 log − 10 log 1
Io Io
I
= 10 log 2
I1
= 10 log(10 )
= 10 dB
β 2 − β 1 = 10 log(100)
(b)
= 20 dB
Question 4
(a) Two beats are formed in the time interval of 0.20 s, therefore the period of the beat is 0.10 s.
1
(b) The beat frequency =
0.10
= 10 Hz.
Question 5
(a) The phase difference between the two waves varies with time.
(b) (i) When the phase difference is zero, the two waves are in phase. Constructive superposition
occurs and a sound of maximum intensity can be heard.
(ii) The waves are in anti phase. Destructive superposition occurs and the intensity of sound
is equal to zero.
Question 6
(a) f = f2 – f1
= 505 – 500
= 5 Hz
1
(b) T=
5
= 0.20 s
(c) The small piece of putty will lower the frequency of the tuning fork. Therefore the beat
frequency will increase.
Question 7
f = f1 − f 2
v v
= −
λ1 λ2
1 1
10 = v −
0.78 0.80
v = 312 m s −1