Inside Notes

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Sound

The sensation felt by our ears is called sound which is a form of energy produced by vibrating objects.
When an object vibrates, the air around it also starts to vibrate in exactly the same way, carrying the
sound to our ears through its vibrating molecules.

Sound can be produced by vibrating objects such as:

By vibrating strings as in a guitar.

By vibrating air columns as in a flute.

By vibrating membranes as in a tabla.

By vibrating plates as in a bicycle bell.

Vibration

The rapid “backward” and “forward” movement of an object is called vibration.

Voice Box (Larynx)

The organ through which humans produce sound is called Larynx. It contains two ligaments known as
vocal cords which are a kind of strings which when vibrate, produce sound.

The Voice Box functions in the following manner:

Normally, the muscles of the vocal cords are completely relaxed allowing air to pass through them without
producing sound.

When we tend to speak, the muscles of the vocal cords contract and become stretched and close to
together only leaving a narrow slit between. The lungs then pass a current of air, making the cords vibrate
and produce sound.

Amplitude

The maximum displacement of a vibrating object from its central position is called the amplitude of
vibration.

Time Period

The time taken by a vibration object to complete one vibration is called its time period.

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Frequency

The number of vibrations made per second by a vibrating object is called the frequency of vibration.

Characteristics of Sound

Loudness

Pitch

Qualities

Infrasonic and Ultrasonic Sounds

The sounds having lower frequencies than 20 hertz (which can’t be heard by human ears) are called
Infrasonic sounds. Ex: Sound produced by Earthquakes, Sound produced by Meteors, etc.

The sounds having lower frequencies than 20,000 hertz (which can’t be heard by human ears) are called
Ultrasonic sounds. Ex: Sound produced by Bats during screaming, Sound produced by Diagnostic
sonographic scanners, etc.

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