Acoustics

What is Sound?
Sound is a pressure wave which is created by a vibrating object.
This vibrations set particles in the surrounding medium (typical air) in
vibrational motion, thus transporting energy through the medium.
Since the particles are moving in parallel direction to the wave
movement, the sound wave is referred to as a longitudinal wave.
The result of longitudinal waves is the creation of compressions and
rarefactions within the air.
Classification of sound
The frequency f of a wave is measured as the number of complete
back-and-forth vibrations of a particle of the medium per unit of time. 1
Hertz = 1 vibration/second f = 1/Time.
Based on frequency sound can be classified into three different types.

• f<20Hz • 20Hz<f<20kHz • f>20kHz

Audible
Infrasound Ultrasound
Sound
CLASSIFICATION OF AUDIBLE SOUND
Musical Noise
• The Sound Which Produces • The sound That Produces a jarring
Pleasing Effect On The ear is Called effect on the ear and unpleasant to
Musical Sound. hear is called noise.
• Sounds Of Sitar, Violin, Flute.  • Sound Of Road Traffic, Crackers,
• Regular in Shape. Aero plane.
• Have definite Periodicity.  • Irregular in Shape.
• They do not undergo a sudden • Do not have Definite Periodicity.
change in amplitude. • They Undergo a Sudden Change In
Amplitude.
Characteristics of musical sound
Pitch Related to frequency of sound

Loudness Related to intensity of sound

Timbre Related to quality of sound

PITCH
• We can describe pitch by frequency.
• Rapid vibrations of the sound source (high frequency) produce sound of a
high pitch.
• Slow vibrations (low frequency) produce a low pitch.
• Different musical notes are obtained by changing the frequency of the
vibrating sound source.
• This is usually done by altering the size, the tightness, or the mass of the
vibrating object.
• High-pitched sounds used in music are most often less than 4000 Hz, but
the average human ear can hear sounds with frequencies up to 18,000 Hz.
Loudness
•  Loudness is Characteristics which is Common to all sound.
• Loudness is a psychological quantity.
• Intensity is a physical quantity that can be measured.
W/m2
[sound energy (Q) falling per unit area (A) per unit time (t)].
• Loudness & Intensity are related to each other by Weber-Fechner law

where K is a constant
TIMBRE
Quality of sound which enables us to distinguish between two sounds
having the same loudness & pitch.
Depends on the presence of overtones.
It helps us to distinguish musical notes emitted by different musical
instruments & voices of different person even though the sound have
same pitch & loudness.