REFLECTION OF SOUND

The bouncing back of sound when it strikes a hard surface is called a reflection of sound.
Hard solid surfaces are the best for reflecting sound waves. for example, sound is reflected
well from hard surfaces like wall , metal sheet and hard wood and a cliff. soft surfaces are
bad reflectors of sound, they absorb sound. Reflection of sound does not require smooth
and shining surface , it can be reflected from any surface weather smooth or rough. sound
waves are much longer than the light waves, they require a much larger area for reflection .
Laws of reflection of sound as follows :
• The incident sound wave, the reflected sound wave and normal at the point of incidence
all lie in the same place.
• The angle of reflection of sound is equal to the angle of incidence of sound.
 ECHO
The repetition of sound caused by the reflection of sound waves is called and echo. Sensation of sound
persists in our brain for about 0.1 seconds. The minimum distance from a sound reflecting surface to hear an
echo is 17.2 metres. Speed of sound in air increases with increasing temperature. so, speed of sound in air
will be more on a hot day than on a cold day.
Formation of Echoes by the reflection of sound waves is used to measure depth of sea or to locate the
underwater objects like shoals of fish , shipwrecks , submarine , sea rocks and hidden icebergs in the sea . In
all these applications of Echoes we do not use ordinary sound waves we use high frequency sound waves
called Ultrasonic waves or ultrasound .