WP4 Sound Waves

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SOUND WAVES
Sound waves are produced by vibrating sources. They are longitudinal waves in nature and as
such need matter in order to be transmitted from one place to another.
Bell-jar experiment
The bell-jar experiment can be used to show if this is possible. An electric bell is suspended
with rubber bands inside a bell jar. The rubber bands reduce sound transmission by the wires so
that sound is only transmitted through the glass.
When the circuit is complete the bell rings. A vacuum pump is then used to remove the air from
the bell jar.
The sound heard decreases as the air is pumped from the bell-jar even though the hammer is still
seen striking the gong. Eventually no sound is heard even though the hammer is still striking the
gong. This happens when all the air has been removed from the bell jar which shows that sound
needs matter for its propagation.
Relative order of the speed of sound in gases, liquids and solids.

Sound travels fastest in solids, followed by liquids then gases. This is because the particles of
matter are far apart in gases but closely packed in solids.
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Material Speed (m/s)

Iron 5000
steel 4500
Water 1500
Air(mixture of gases) 330
Hydrogen 1350
Carbon dioxide 280
Reflection of Sound
Reflected sound is called an echo. Multiple reflection of sound may produce an effect called
reverberation. It occurs when too many echoes mix up to produce a dull unclear sound.
Diffraction of Sound Waves

You can hear around corners even if you can’t see the speaker. This is because the waves can
bend (diffract) around corners.
Audible Frequency
Audible frequency refers to the range of frequencies which can be heard by animals. Each animal
species has its own audible frequency. Examples are shown below.
Animal Audible Frequency (Hz)

Human Beings 20 – 20 000
Dogs 20 – 100 000
Bats 20 – 200 000
Dolphins 20 – 200 000
Elephants 5 – 100 000
Ultrasonic Sound (Ultrasound or sonar)

This refers to sound which has a frequency which is above the audible frequency for a particular
animal. For human beings any sound above 20 kHz is ultrasound. This means that we can not
hear sound which is above 20 kHz even though it can be heard by other animals or detected
electronically.
Ultrasound waves can be concentrated to form a narrow beam which has many uses.
They can be used
1. To study the development of a foetus inside its mother or determining the sex of an
unborn baby without operation.
2. To clean jewellery and equipment. The equipment/jewellery is placed in a bath of a

special liquid. The ultrasound will shake the dirt off the equipment/jewellery. This is the
technique that is used to clean clothes.
3. By dentist to clean tartar coating from your teeth, helping you prevent gum disease.
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4. By ships to measure the depth of the sea using expression
.
Where s = speed of sound waves
d = depth of ocean
t = time taken by wave to travel distance 2d.
2d = distance travelled by wave
In order to measure the sea depth, ultra sound beams are sent from the ship to the sea
bottom or floor. The time taken for the wave to move from the ship to the sea bottom and
back to the ship is then measured. This time is then used along with the speed of sound in
water to calculate the sea depth.
Example: The ultra sound wave above took 4 seconds to travel to sea floor and back to
ship. If the speed of sound in sea water is 1500 m/s calculate depth, d.
Solution:
d = 3000 metres.
This method is known as echo sounding and can also be used to calculate the distance
between large buildings/structures.
5. Used for navigation by submarines to locate other submarines.

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6. To locate shoal of fish as shown below in the diagram.
Noise Pollution
Unpleasant sounds are called noise. An area that has a high degree of noise is said to be polluted
by noise. These situations can be in a densely populated town or part of the town, airports,
studios, road traffic etc. Noise can damage ears, cause tiredness and make someone lose
concentration.
There are ways in which noise can be reduced. By building quieter engines or building airports
far away from the residential area. In cars, exhaust systems are fitted with silencers or
mufflers.
At home sound absorbing materials such as curtains, carpets, windows can be used. The further
the noise is, the weaker it is. People who are exposed to high level of noise can wear ear
protectors.
Classwork
1. A man standing between two hills claps his hand. He receives the first echo after 2.25s. The
speed of sound in air is 330 m/s.
(a) Find the distance between the man and the nearer hill.
(b) Calculate the time taken by the second echo to reach the man if the distance between the
man and the further hill is 512 m.
2. A man fires a gun and hears the echo from a cliff after 4 seconds. How far away is the
cliff? (Speed of sound = 340 m/s)
3. A sonar pulse sent out by a boat arrives back after 3 seconds. If the speed of sound in
water 1500 m/s, how deep is the water?
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Characteristics of Sound
The notes from a musical instrument can vary in three ways:
 Pitch
 Loudness
 Quality
Frequency and Pitch

Pitch of a sound note depends on its frequency. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch and the
lower the frequency, the lower the pitch.
A high-pitched note has a high frequency but a short wavelength.
Loudness and Amplitude

Loudness of a sound depends on the amplitude of the wave. The larger the amplitude the louder
the sound note.
Quality of a sound note.

The same note on different instrument sounds different even if the frequency is the same. We say
they differ in quality (Timbre). This difference is brought by the fact that no instrument other
than a tuning fork or a signal generator can produce a note of one frequency (a pure note).
Notes of the same frequency (pitch) but different quality.
Acoustics
When a band is playing in a hall, the sound the audience hears depends partly on how the hall
itself affects the sound waves. That is the acoustics of the hall. A large empty hall, with hard
walls, floors, and ceiling usually sounds ‘echoey’. Sound waves are reflected from the surfaces
and mixes with the original sound making the sound to be unheard and dull. This may take
several seconds before the sound can die away. This effect is called reverberation.
In a hall, some materials such as carpets, curtains and even the audience reduce reverberation by
absorbing the sound. Some halls have specially designed sound absorbers suspended in ceilings.

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1

Relative order of the speed of sound in gases, liquids and solids.

Material Speed (m/s)

Diffraction of Sound Waves

Animal Audible Frequency (Hz)

Ultrasonic Sound (Ultrasound or sonar)

2. To clean jewellery and equipment. The equipment/jewellery is placed in a bath of a

4. By ships to measure the depth of the sea using expression

5. Used for navigation by submarines to locate other submarines.

6. To locate shoal of fish as shown below in the diagram.

Frequency and Pitch

A high-pitched note has a high frequency but a short wavelength.

Loudness and Amplitude

Quality of a sound note.

Notes of the same frequency (pitch) but different quality.

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