Production of sound requires a vibrating source and a medium.

1. Sound requires material medium to travel.

2. Sound travels fastest in solids, followed by liquids and slowest in gases. In solids,
molecules are close so energy transfer is fast. In gases, molecules are distant so
energy transfer is slow.
3. Sound is a longitudinal and mechanical wave and hence produces regions of
compression and rarefaction in the medium.

Sound travels in air in the form of pressure pulses.

Compression: molecules closer to one another (high pressure).

Rarefaction: molecules far away from one another (low pressure).

Particles come close to one another in the region of compression and move away from
one another in the region of rarefaction.

Rarefaction Compression
 Factors effecting the speed of sound in air

1. Temperature: v 𝖺 √T: Increasing temperature increases the speed

ofmotion of molecules of air. Hence, they collide faster and transport
sound energy at a faster speed.
2. Humidity: Presence of humidity increases the speed of sound in air. The
greater the humidity, the larger are the no. of molecules available to
carry energy.

Note, Pressure has no effect on the speed of sound.

𝑃→ 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝗍
𝑣=√ Increasing pressure also increases density. Hence the
𝑃→ 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠i𝑡𝑦𝗍
effect gets cancelled out and speed stays same.

1. Sound can travel through air.

2. Sound can travel through glass.
3. Sound cannot travel through vacuum.
To produce sound, we need two things

i. Vibrating sound
ii. Medium
Audibility Range
Human can hear sound of frequencies ranging from 20Hz to 20,000Hz (20kHz)

The sound below 20Hz is called Infrasound.

The sound above 20,000Hz is called ultrasound.

 Methods for determining the speed of sound.

Direct Method

1. Without CRO

i. Student A fires the pistol.

ii. Student B starts the stopwatch on seeing flash and stops when sound is
heard.
iii. The distance between A and B is measured using measuring tape.
iv. The experiment is repeated and an average value of time is taken.
v. Using the formula 𝑣 = 𝑑⁄𝑡 where d is distance between A and B and t is avg. time.

Precautions: Open environment, large distance between A and B.

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2. With CRO

Another method involves a loudspeaker, a microphone, a measuring tape/meter rule

and a CRO.

i. Microphones are connected to the CRO. The loudspeaker produces sound.

ii. Note the distance between two mics M1 & M2 as ‘d’ using meter rule.

iii. The time-base settings are adjusted so that both pulses are seen side by side.

iv. Use timebase settings and formula t = (T-base) x No. of boxes.

v. Use the formula v = d/t to find wave speed.

Precautions: open environment to avoid multiple peaks due to reflection.

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Echo
The reflection of sound from an obstacle is called an echo.

Multiple echoes are called Reverberations .

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎: __V = 2d/t _

2d because sound travels the same distance twice during echo.

To reduce echo

1. Use cushion materials ( foamic seats )

2. Use of carpets and curtains
3. Architecture design.

Question Type 1
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Question Type 2
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Question Type 3
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Indirect Method (Echo Method)

1. Without CRO

The process uses two people for the experiment standing at the same point.
i. Two students A and B stand at the same point, one with a stopwatch and other with
a starting pistol
ii. Student A fires the pistol & B starts the stopwatch simultaneously

iii. Student B stops the stopwatch when the echo is heard

iv. Distance b/w wall & student A&B is measured using measuring

tape/trundle wheel (d)

v. Experiment is repeated by multiple times and average time is noted

(t avg)
vi. Use the formula v = 2d / t avg

Precautions: open environment with no other reflecting surfaces

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2. With CRO

i. Signal generator is used to produce sound through a loudspeaker.

ii. As pulse cross mic , a pulse is produced on CRO

iii. As reflected plate crosses mic , a second pulse is produced on CRO

The reflected pulse has a

a.

b.

iv. Set the T-base settings so that both pulses are visible on screen
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v. Use T-base settings & No. of boxes to find the time t
[t = T-base setting x no. of division]

vi. Use formula v = 2d/t

Question type 4
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Characteristics of Sound

1. Loudness: It depends upon the amplitude of sound

Greater Amplitude Louder Sound

2. Pitch: It tells about the sharpness of sound. It depends upon the frequency of

sound. The higher the frequency. The higher the pitch and hence the sharper

the sound.

3. Quality (Timbre):
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Ultrasound

Sound waves of frequency higher than 20,000 Hz.

Applications

1. Doctors use ultrasound to examine the inside of

human bodies, for example observing the
development of an unborn baby.
2. Used to detect flaws in metal joints and cracks.
(Quality check)
3. The ultrasonic pulses are used to clean spectacles and
jewelry. Effective in cleaning irregular surfaces and internal cavities.
4. Ultrasonic pulses re used to smash kidney stones.
5. Sonar instruments use ultrasound to detect objects under the sea. It is done by
analyzing the echoes produced from the seabed or any obstacle in the middle.