Medical Physics

lecture
Sound waves

• Sound, by definition, consists of mechanical

vibrations propagating through an elastic
medium. These mechanical vibrations are caused
by periodic changes in the pressure of said
medium.
Sound waves

• Sound is propagating because these molecular

vibrations are traveling from one molecule to
another in such a way that is periodic in nature.
The frequency of a sound wave is the number
of times a given molecule vibrates per second. 
• The elastic medium, can be a solid, liquid or
gas. The only real requirement is that there are
molecules available to pass on the vibrations.
Sound waves
 Longitudinal and transverse waves

• Sound is transmitted through gases, plasma, and liquids

as longitudinal waves, also called compression waves.
Through solids, however, it can be transmitted as both
longitudinal waves and transverse waves.
•
• Matter in the medium is periodically
displaced by a sound wave, and thus
oscillates.
 Transverse Waves

• For transverse waves the displacement of the medium is

perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
 Longitudinal Waves
• In longitudinal waves the displacement of the
medium is parallel to the propagation of the wave.
 Sound waves in air are longitudinal waves.
 Sound wave properties and characteristics

• Frequency, or its inverse, the period (Pitch = frequency of

sound)
• Wavelength
• Wave number
• Amplitude
• Sound pressure
• Sound intensity
• Speed of sound
• Direction
Sometimes speed and direction are combined as
a velocity vector; wave number and direction are combined
as a wave vector.
 Characteristics of tone resonance and beats

• Beats
• When two sound waves of different frequency approach your
ear, the alternating constructive and
destructive interference causes the sound to be alternatively
soft and loud - a phenomenon which is called "beating" or
producing beats.
 Characteristics of tone resonance and beats

• Resonance
• In sound applications, a resonant frequency is a natural
frequency of vibration determined by the physical parameters
of the vibrating object. This same basic idea of physically
determined natural frequencies applies throughout physics in
mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and even throughout
the realm of modern physics.
 Reflection of Sound

• The reflection of sound follows the law "angle of

incidence equals angle of reflection", sometimes
called the law of reflection.
• The reflected waves can interfere with incident
waves, producing patterns of constructive and
destructive interference. This can lead to resonances
called standing waves in rooms.
 Refraction of Sound

• Refraction is the bending of waves when they enter a

medium where their speed is different.
 Refraction of Sound
• Sound propagates in all directions from a point
source. Normally, only that which is initially directed
toward the listener can be heard, but refraction can
bend sound downward. Normally, only the direct
sound is received.
Sound Frequency (Pitch)
 Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz). A person who has hearing within the normal
range can hear sounds that have frequencies between 20 and 20,000 Hz. The most
important sounds we hear every day are in the 250 to 6,000 Hz range. normal
hearing band
Speech includes a mix of low and high frequency sounds:
Vowel sounds like a short “o” as in the word “hot,” have low frequencies (250 to
1,000 Hz) and are usually easier to hear. 

Consonants like “s,” “h,” and “f,” have higher frequencies (1,500 to 6,000 Hz) and
are harder to hear. Consonants convey most of the meaning of what we say.
Someone who cannot hear high-frequency sounds will have a hard time
understanding speech and language.
Sound Intensity (Loudness)

• Sound intensity, or loudness, is measured in decibels (dB).

• A person with hearing within the normal range can hear sounds ranging from 0 to 140 dB. 

• A whisper is around 25 to 30 dB. 

• Conversations are usually 45 to 60 dB. 

• Sounds that are louder than 90 dB can be uncomfortable to hear. 

• A loud rock concert might be as loud as 110 dB. 

• Sounds that are 120 dB or louder can be painful and can result in temporary or permanent
hearing loss.
 ultrasonic

• Ultrasound is a cyclic sound pressure wave

with a frequency greater than the upper limit
of human hearing. Ultrasound is thus not
separated from "normal" (audible) sound
based on differences in physical properties,
only the fact that humans cannot hear it.