TOPIC 3

SOUNDS
Sound Waves
Sources and speed of sound waves

Sound – longitudinal mechanical waves and is associated with

the sense of hearing

 There must be a source

 Energy is transferred from the source
 Sound is detected by an ear or an instrument
Speed of sound
 Sound Waves

 Fluctuations in pressure
within normal
atmospheric pressure

 it can be expressed
as
𝑝 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐵𝑘𝐴 cos 𝜔𝑡 − 𝑘𝑥
𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐵𝑘𝐴=ρ𝜔𝑣𝐴
 Sound Waves

➢ Compressions – high pressure areas

➢ Rarefactions – low pressure areas

Sound as a pressure wave

 Loudness

 how loud or soft a sound is

perceived to be.
 Related to the perception of
sound by a listener
 The greater the pressure
amplitude of a sinusoidal
sound wave, the greater the
perceived loudness
Intensity (Loudness) is measured in
decibels:
Intensity # of Times
Source Level Greater Than TOH

Threshold of Hearing 0 dB 100

Rustling Leaves 10 dB 101
Whisper 20 dB 102
Normal Conversation 60 dB 106
Busy Street Traffic 70 dB 107
Vacuum Cleaner 80 dB 108
Large Orchestra 98 dB 109.8
Walkman at Maximum Level 100 dB 1010
Front Rows of Rock Concert 110 dB 1011
Threshold of Pain 130 dB 1013
Military Jet Takeoff 140 dB 1014
Instant Perforation of Eardrum 160 dB 1016
 Pitch

description of how high

or low the sound seems to
a person
Dependent on the
frequency of the sound
 Ultrasound
- sound waves with frequencies above the
normal human range of hearing.
Sounds in the range from 20-100kHz
 Infrasound
- sounds with frequencies below the normal
human range of hearing.
Sounds in the 20-200 Hz range
 Quality

 Depends on the number and

relative amplitude of the other
standing wave frequencies that
makes up the complex sound
wave.
 The difference in sound is
called the tone color, quality or
timbre.
 Pressure Sound Intensity
amplitude
Intensity
30 Pa 1.07 x 10-4 W/cm2
3 x 10-5 Pa 1.07 x 10-16 W/cm2
 Timeaverage rate of
energy transferred
per unit area
 Average power per
unit area
𝐸 𝑃
𝐼= =
𝑡𝐴 𝐴
 Sound Intensity

 Timeaverage rate of
energy transferred
per unit area

 Average power per

unit area
Sound Intensity vs Distance

2
𝐼1 𝑟2
= 2
𝐼2 𝑟1
 Intensity level

 Comparison of the intensity of one sound and the

reference sound.
 Reference intensity = 𝐼𝑜 = 1.00 𝑥 10−12 𝑊/𝑚2
 Unit: decibel (dB)
𝐼
𝛽 = 10 𝑑𝐵 log
𝐼0
The Decibel Scale
𝐼
𝛽 = 10 𝑑𝐵 log
𝐼0
𝛽
𝑊
𝐼 = 𝐼0 10 10 −12
𝐼0 = 10
𝐼2
𝑚2
𝛽2 − 𝛽1 = 10 log
𝐼1
𝑟1 2
𝛽2 − 𝛽1 = 10 log 2
𝑟2
𝑃2
𝛽2 − 𝛽1 = 20 log
𝑃1
 Beats
 Result of interference of two
sound waves of EQUAL
AMPLITUDE and slightly
different frequencies
 The alternating constructive
and destructive interference
causes the sound to be
alternately soft and loud→
beating

𝑓𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑡 = 𝑓𝑎 − 𝑓𝑏
 Sample Problem

Two identical machines are positioned the same distance from a worker.
The intensity of sound delivered by each machine at the location of the
worker is 2.0 𝑥 10−7 𝑊/𝑚2 . Find the sound level heard by the worker
a. When one machine is operating
2.0 𝑥 10−7 𝑊/𝑚2
𝛽1 = 10 log = 53 𝑑𝐵
1.00 𝑥 10−12 𝑊/𝑚2

4.0 𝑥 10−7 𝑊/𝑚2

b. When both machines are operating 𝛽2 = 10 log
1.00 𝑥 10−12 𝑊/𝑚2
= 56 𝑑𝐵
 Sample Problem

Two guitarist attempt to play the 𝑓𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑡 = |𝑓𝑎 − 𝑓𝑏 | 𝑣 = λ𝑓 → 𝑓 = λ

𝑣

same note of wavelength 6.50 cm at

the same time, but one of the 1 1 λ𝑏 − λ𝑎
instruments is slightly out of tune 𝑓𝑎 − 𝑓𝑏 = v −
λ𝑎 λ𝑏
=𝑣
λ𝑎 λ𝑏
and plays a note of wavelength 6.52
cm instead. = 344 𝑚/𝑠
6.52 𝑥 10−2 𝑚 − 6.50 𝑥 10−2 𝑚
(6.50 𝑥 10−2 𝑚)(6.52 𝑥 10−2 𝑚)
What is the frequency of the beat
these musicians hear when they
play together? 𝑓𝑎 − 𝑓𝑏 = 16 hz
 The Doppler Effect
 Apparent change in
frequency of sound
due to the relative
motion of the listener
and the source
𝑣 ± 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 ± 𝑣𝑠
Practical applications
• Measurements of shifts of radio waves from orbiting
satellites, for example, are used in maritime
navigation, and the effect is also employed in the
radar surveillance of automobile speeds.

• It is also used in aeronautical department for

measuring the speed of the flying object.

• used to measure the speed at which stars and galaxies

are approaching toward or receding from us, that is,
the radial velocity.
• used in measuring the velocity and flow of direction of
blood in the medical field.

• used in military to measure the speed of submarines

by the help of sonars.
Doppler Effect

𝑣 − 𝑣𝑠 𝑣 + 𝑣𝑠
𝜆𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 = 𝜆𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 =
𝑓𝑠 𝑓𝑠
Doppler Effect Sign Convention

L + S
𝑣 ± 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 ± 𝑣𝑠
Doppler Effect: Situation 1

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = 0 𝑣𝑆 = 0
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
Doppler Effect: Situation 2

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = + 𝑣𝑆 = 0
𝑣 + 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣
Doppler Effect: Situation 3

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = − 𝑣𝑆 = 0
𝑣 − 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣
Doppler Effect: Situation 4

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = 0 𝑣𝑆 = +
𝑣
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 + 𝑣𝑆
Doppler Effect: Situation 5

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = 0 𝑣𝑆 = −
𝑣
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑆
Doppler Effect: Situation 6

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = + 𝑣𝑆 = +
𝑣 + 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 + 𝑣𝑆
Doppler Effect: Situation 7

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = − 𝑣𝑆 = −
𝑣 − 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑆
Doppler Effect: Situation 8

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = + 𝑣𝑆 = −
𝑣 + 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑆
Doppler Effect: Situation 9

L + S
𝑣𝐿 = − 𝑣𝑆 = +
𝑣 − 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
𝑣 + 𝑣𝑆
Sample Problem 1
a. Find the wavelength
A police siren emits a
of the waves if the
sinusoidal wave with siren is at rest in the
frequency 300 Hz. The air.
speed of sound is 340 m/s.
𝑣 340 𝑚/𝑠
𝜆 = =
𝑓𝑠 300 𝐻𝑧
𝜆 = 1.13 𝑚
Sample Problem 1
b. If the siren is moving at 30
A police siren emits a m/s find the wavelengths of
sinusoidal wave with the waves in front of and
frequency 300 Hz. The behind the source.
speed of sound is 340 m/s. 𝑣 − 𝑣𝑠
𝜆𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 =
𝑓𝑠
340𝑚/𝑠 − 30 𝑚/𝑠
𝜆𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 =
300 𝐻𝑧

𝜆 = 1.03 𝑚
Sample Problem 1
c. If the listener is at rest and
A police siren emits a the siren is moving away at
sinusoidal wave with 30 m/s, what frequency
frequency 300 Hz. The does the listener hear?
speed of sound is 340 m/s. 𝑣 + 𝑣𝑠
𝜆𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑑 =
𝑓𝑠
340 𝑚/𝑠 + 30 𝑚/𝑠
𝜆𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑑 =
300 𝐻𝑧

𝜆 = 1.23 𝑚
 Find the wavelength of
Sample Problem 2 the sound waves (a) in
front of the locomotive
A locomotive traveling at 35 m/s and (b) behind the
emits a whistle note of 800 Hz. locomotive.
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑠
𝜆𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 =
𝑓𝑠
344𝑚/𝑠 − 35𝑚/𝑠
=
800 𝐻𝑧
= 0.386 𝑚
 Find the wavelength of
Sample Problem 2 the sound waves (a) in
front of the locomotive
A locomotive traveling at 35 m/s and (b) behind the
emits a whistle note of 800 Hz. locomotive.
𝑣 + 𝑣𝑠
𝜆𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 =
𝑓𝑠
344𝑚/𝑠 + 35𝑚/𝑠
=
800 𝐻𝑧
= 0.474 𝑚
Sample Problem 2
A locomotive traveling at 35 m/s emits a whistle note of
800 Hz.

 Find the frequency of the sound heard by the listener

if the listener is stationary and in front of the
locomotive. 𝑣
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
L + S
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑆
344𝑚/𝑠
𝑣𝐿 = 0 𝑣𝑆 = − = 800 𝐻𝑧
344𝑚/𝑠 − 35 𝑚/𝑠
= 890.61 𝐻𝑧
Sample Problem 2
A locomotive traveling at 35 m/s emits a whistle note of
800 Hz.

 Find the frequency of the sound heard by the listener

if the listener is stationary and behind the locomotive.
𝑣
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
S + L
𝑣 + 𝑣𝑆
344𝑚/𝑠
𝑣𝑆 = + 𝑣𝐿 = 0 = 800 𝐻𝑧
344𝑚/𝑠 + 35 𝑚/𝑠
= 726.12 𝐻𝑧
Sample Problem 2
A locomotive traveling at 35 m/s emits a whistle note of
800 Hz.

 Findthe frequency of the sound heard by the listener

who is approaching the locomotive at 20 m/s.
𝑣 + 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
L + S
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑆
344 𝑚/𝑠 + 20𝑚/𝑠
𝑣𝐿 = + 𝑣𝑆 = − = 800 𝐻𝑧
344𝑚/𝑠 − 35 𝑚/𝑠
= 942.39 𝐻𝑧
Sample Problem 2
A locomotive traveling at 35 m/s emits a whistle note of
800 Hz.

 Findthe frequency of the sound heard by the listener

who is receding the locomotive at 20 m/s.
𝑣 − 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
S + L
𝑣 + 𝑣𝑆
344𝑚/𝑠 − 20 𝑚/𝑠
𝑣𝑆 = + 𝑣𝐿 = − = 800 𝐻𝑧
344𝑚/𝑠 + 35 𝑚/𝑠
= 683.90 𝐻𝑧
 Sample Problem
Double Doppler shift

The police car with its 300-Hz siren is moving toward a

warehouse at 30 m/s, intending to crash trough the door.
What frequency does the driver of the police car hear
reflected from the warehouse?
Sample Problem 𝑣 ± 𝑣𝐿
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠
Double Doppler shift 𝑣 ± 𝑣𝑠

The frequency reaching a warehouse is

𝑚
𝑣 340
𝑓𝑊 = 𝑓𝑠 = 𝑠
𝑣 − 𝑣𝑆 𝑚 𝑚 300𝐻𝑧 = 𝟑𝟐𝟗𝑯𝒛
340 − (30 )
𝑠 𝑠

The frequency heard by the driver

𝑚 𝑚
𝑣 + 𝑣𝐿 340 + 30
𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓𝑠 = 𝑠 𝑠 329 𝐻𝑧 = 𝟑𝟓𝟖 𝑯𝒛
𝑣 340 𝑚/𝑠
Shock Waves
If the
source of
sound is
moving
faster
than the
speed of
sound
 Shock Waves
𝑣
sin 𝛼 =
𝑣𝑠 𝛼

1 𝑣𝑠
Mach = =
sin 𝛼 𝑣
Shock Waves