SOUND

Introduction Physics of Sound Characteristics of sound Human perception of sound

INTRODUCTION
What is sound ? Sound is
A form of energy made by vibrations. When an object vibrates it causes the air particles around it to move. These particles bump into particles close to them and this continues until they run out of energy.

INTRODUCTION
How does sound travel ? Sound travels in forms of waves: Longitudinal waves Transverse waves

SOUND NEEDS MEDIUM

Gases
Most of the sounds we hear travel through gases, such as air. Sound waves travel slowly through the air. For example: Sound from a bell, a horn, or an alarm clock travels through the air.

Liquids
Some sounds that we hear travel through water. Sound waves travel a faster through water than through the air. Sonar is the way to use sounds to locate objects under water. What animals use sonar?

Solids
Some sounds that we hear travel through solids. Sound waves travel very fast through solids. For example: When you hit a drum, it vibrates, then the sound travels through the air, to your ears.

PHYSICS OF SOUND
SPEED OF SOUND IN VARIOUS MEDIUMS :

Medium
air (20 C) air (0 C) water (25 C) sea water diamond iron copper glass

velocity m/sec
343 331 1493 1533 12000 5130 3560 5640

INTRODUCTION

Longitudinal Wave
wave particles vibrate back and forth along the path such that the wave travels.

Also called Compressional Wave

INTRODUCTION

Transverse waves
wave particles vibrate in an up-and-down motion.

Crests Troughs

Highest part of a wave The low points of the wave

PHYSICS OF SOUND
WAVELENGTH :
THE MINIMUM DISTANCE IN WHICH SOUND WAVE REPEATS ITSELF IS CALLED WAVELENGTH. OR THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO CONSECUTIVE CREST OR TROUGHS IS CALLED WAVELENGTH.

WAVELENGTH

PHYSICS OF SOUND
AMPLITUIDE :
THE MAXIMUM DISPLACEMENT OF THE PARTICLE OF THE MEDIUM FROM THEIR ORIGINAL UNDISTURBED POSITIONS, WHEN THE WAVE PASSES THROUGH THE MEDIUM, IS CALLED AMPLITUIDE OF THE WAVE.

AMPLITUIDE

PHYSICS OF SOUND
TIME PERIOD :
THE TIME REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ONE COMPLETE WAVE OR CYCLE. OR TIME TAKEN TO COMPLETE ONE COMPLETE VIBERATION

TIME PERIOD

PHYSICS OF SOUND
FREQUENCY :
THE NUMBER OF COMPLETE WAVES PRODUCED IN ONE SECOND. OR NUMBER OF VBERATIONS PER SECOND. Unit is Hertz (Hz)

PHYSICS OF SOUND
VELOCITY OF WAVE :
THE DISTANCE TRAVELED BY THE WAVE IN ONE SECOND

VELOCITY = DISTANCE TRAVELED TIME TAKEN

PROPOGATION OF SOUND IN SPACE

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND
LOUDNESS :
IT IS THE MEASURE OF SOUND ENERGY REACHING THE EAR PER SECOND. LOUDNESS DEPENDS UPON THE AMPLITUIDE OF SOUND WAVE. IT IS MEASURED IN DECIBLE (Db)

SOUND
Decibel scale

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND
PITCH: IT IS THAT PROPERTY OF SOUND BY WHICH WE CAN DISTINGUSH BETWEEN DIFFERENT SOUNDS OF THE SAME LOUDNESS. IT DEPENDS UPON THE FREQUENCY OF VIBERATION.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND

HUMAN EAR
Sound waves are sent. The outer ear catches the sound waves. The middle ear takes the sound waves and vibrates the eardrum. The inner ear sends the messages to the brain.

Middle Ear Outer Ear Sound Waves Inner Ear

HUMAN EAR
RANGE OF HEARING IS 20 TO 20,000 Hz.

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

HEARING RANGE OF ANIMALS