CHAPTER 11

SOUND
A wave is a disturbance in a medium which moves from one point to another and carries energy
without a net movement of particles. It may take the form of elastic deformation or a variation of
pressure.

E.g. A rubber cork on the water that goes up and down when a rock falls into the water creates a
ripple.

Particle Motion of Mechanical Waves

(i) Transverse Waves

Particle motion is perpendicular to the direction of wave motion. This type of wave is a
mechanical wave.

E.g. Light and Mexican wave in a stadium.

(ii) Longitudinal waves

Particles travel parallel to the direction of wave motion by means of successive compressions or
elongations. This is also a mechanical wave.

E.g. Sound waves in the air.

Sound Properties

Introduction to Sound Waves

Sound needs a medium to propagate. The matter or material through which sound propagates is
called a medium. When particles vibrate about their mean positions, it pushes a region of
compressed air, creating a region of high pressure, followed by a region of low pressure as the
particle retreats to its mean position. The sound wave propagates by compressions and
rarefactions of particles in a medium. Sound propagation can be visualised as the propagation of
pressure variations in the medium.

Characteristics of Sound Waves

Wavelength
The distance between two successive crests or troughs (or) successive compressions and
rarefactions is called wavelength (λ). The SI unit of wavelength is metre (m).

Time period
The time taken by two consecutive compressions or rarefactions to cross a fixed point is called a
Time period (T). The SI unit of time in seconds (s).

Frequency
The number of compressions or rarefactions per unit time is called frequency (𝛎).
The SI unit of frequency is Hertz. The SI unit is Hertz (s−1)
v=1T

Speed (v), wavelength (λ) and frequency (𝛎) are related as v=λ𝛎

Amplitude
The magnitude of disturbance in a medium on either side of the mean value is called an
amplitude (A).
As shown in the figure below, the unit of amplitude will be the density or pressure. Distance
between mean position and crest (maximum displacement).

Amplitude (A)

Pitch
The number of compressions or rarefactions per unit time. Directly proportional to frequency.
 Representation of low and high pitch

Note and Tone

A sound of a single frequency is called a tone. A sound produced with a mixture of several
frequencies is called a note.

Quality of Sound
The richness or timber of sound is called quality. Sound with the same pitch and loudness can be
distinguished based on the quality. Music is pleasant to the ears, while noise is not. However,
they both can have the same loudness and pitch.

Speed of Sound
Sound travels through different media at different speeds. The speed of sound depends on the
properties of the medium: pressure, density and temperature.

Speed of Sound: Solids > Liquids > Gases

Speed of sound in air = 331 m/s at 00C and 344 m/s at 22∘ C

When a source emits sound with a speed greater than the speed of sound in air, it creates a sonic
boom which produces shockwaves with lots of energy. They produce a very loud noise which is
enough to shatter glass and damage buildings.

Reflection of Sound Waves

Like light, sound also follows laws of reflection, it bounces off the surface of solid and liquid.
Echo
The phenomenon where a sound produced is heard again due to reflection is called an echo.
E.g. Clapping or shouting near a tall building or a mountain.

To hear a distinct echo sound, the time interval between the original and reflected sound must be
at least 0.1s, as sound persists in our brain for about 0.1s. The minimum distance for obstruction
or reflective surface to hear an echo should be 17.2 m. Multiple echoes can be heard due to
multiple reflections.

Sonar and Radar

SONAR – Sound Navigation And Ranging.

It is a technique that uses sound or ultrasonic waves to measure distance. The human range of
hearing is 20Hz- 20kHz.

What Are Ultrasonic Sounds?

Ultrasonic sounds are high-frequency sounds having a frequency greater than 20kHz (inaudible
range).

Applications of Ultrasound

(i) Scanning images of human organs

(ii) Detecting cracks in metal blocks
(iii) Cleaning parts that are hard to reach
(iv) Navigating, communicating or detecting objects on or under the surface of the water
(SONAR).

Sonar consists of a transmitter and detector mounted on a boat or ship. The transmitter sends
ultrasonic sound waves to the seabed, which get reflected back and picked up by the detector.
Knowing the speed of sound in water, distance can be measured using: 2d=v×t. This method is
called echolocation or echo ranging.

Reverberation
The persistence of sound because of multiple reflections is called reverberation. Examples:
Auditorium and a big hall.
Excessive reverberation is undesirable, and to reduce this, halls and auditoriums have sound-
absorbing materials on the walls and roofs. E.g. Fibreboard and rough plaster.
Doppler’s Effect
If either the source of sound or the observer is moving, then there will be a change in frequency
and wavelength for the observer. The frequency will be higher when the observer moves toward
the source, and it decreases when the observer moves away from the source.

Example: If one is standing on a street corner and an ambulance approach with its siren blaring,
the sound of the siren steadily gains in pitch as it comes closer and then, as it passes, the pitch
suddenly lowers.

Human Ear
The ear is a sensitive organ of the human body. It is mainly involved with detecting, transmitting
and transducing sound and maintaining a sense of balance is another important function of the
human ear. The human ear includes:

• The outer ear, or the visible part of the ear, is called the pinna.
• Pinna collects sound from the surroundings.
• Sound passes through a tube called an auditory canal.
• Eardrum (tympanic membrane) vibrates in response to incident sound waves.
• Vibrations are amplified and transmitted further by three bones hammer, anvil and stirrup in the
middle ear to the inner ear.
• In the inner ear, the cochlea converts pressure signals into electrical signals.
• Electrical signals are transmitted by the auditory nerve to the brain for interpretation.

Human Ear
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Question 1: Is sound wave longitudinal or transverse?
Answer: Sound wave is longitudinal in nature.
Question 2: What is the relation between frequency (v) and time period of a sound wave?
Answer: v = 1/T
Frequency is inversely proportional to time period.
Question 3: In which of the three media air, water or steel does sound travel the fastest?
Answer: Sound travels fastest in steel.
Question 4: Which has a higher pitch—the sound of a whistle or that of a drum?
Answer: The sound of whistle has higher pitch.
Question 5: What is pitch?
Answer: The way our brain interprets the frequency of an emitted sound is called the pitch.
Question 6: How can we distinguish one sound from another having the same pitch and
loudness?
Answer: The quality or timber of sound helps us to distinguish one sound from another having
the same pitch and loudness.
Question 7: What is the audible range of frequency for human beings?
Answer: The audible range of frequencies for human beings is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Question 8: What is one Hz?
Answer: Hz is the unit of frequency, called as Hertz. One Hertz is equal to one cycle per second.
Question 9: Define speed of sound.
Answer: The speed of sound is defined as the distance travelled per unit time by compression or
rarefaction.
Question 10: What is ‘note’ of sound?
Answer: The sound produced due to a mixture of several frequencies is called a note, it is
pleasant to listen to.
Question 11: Find the frequency of a wave whose time period is 0.002 second.
Answer: Frequency = 1/ Time period
Frequency = 1/0.002 = 500 Hz
Question 12: What is the time period-of sound wave?
Answer: The time taken by two consecutive compressions or rarefactions to cross a fixed points
is called the time period of the wave.
Question 13: What is the minimum distance required to hear distinct echo?
Answer: The minimum distance of the obstacle from the source of sound should be 17.2 m.
Question 14: What is reverberation?
Answer: The repeated reflection that results in the persistence of sound is called reverberation.
Question 15: What is SONAR?
Answer: SONAR is—Sound Navigation and Ranging. It is a device that uses ultrasonic waves to
measure the distance, direction and speed of underwater objects by getting the reflection of
sound.
Question 16: What is ‘ultrasonic’ and ‘infrasonic’ sound wave?
Answer: Sound waves with frequencies below the audible range (less than 20 Hz) are termed as
“infrasonic” and those sound waves with frequencies above the audible range (more than 20000
Hz) are termed as “ultrasonic”.
Question 17: What should be the time interval between the originated sound and the reflected
sound to be heard distinctly?
Answer: To hear a distinct sound the time interval between the originated sound and the reflected
sound must be at least 0.1 second.
Question 18: What is a medium? Give two examples.
Answer: The matter or substance through which sound is transmitted is called a medium. It can
be solid, liquid or gas. Example, air, water, metals.
Question 19: Define wave-motion.
Answer: A wave is a disturbance that moves through a medium when the particles of the medium
set neighbouring particles into motion. The particles of the medium do not move forward but the
disturbance is carried forward.
Question 20: What is ‘sonic boom’?
Answer: When an object just attains a supersonic speed, it causes shock waves in air. As a result
there is large change in air pressure. This results in sonic boom.
Question 21: Why does sound become faint with distance?
Answer: Sound is a form of energy. As it moves away from the source its amplitude as well as its
loudness decreases. The energy also get transformed in vibration of the particles of the medium.
Question 22: Why do we say that sound waves are longitudinal?
Answer: Longitudinal waves need a medium for propagation. The sound energy travel in the
same line as the particles oscillate. It forms compression and rarefaction for the longitudinal
wave motion. A sound wave shows all the characteristics of the longitudinal wave so it is called
as longitudinal wave.
Question 23. Differentiate between longitudinal wave and transverse wave.
Answer:
Longitudinal Wave Transverse Wave

It needs medium for propagation. It may or may not need medium for propagation.

Particles of the medium move in a direction

Particles of the medium move in the perpendicular
parallel to the direction of propagation of the
direction of propagation of the disturbance.
disturbance.
Example, light wave seismic wave.
Example, sound wave.
Question 24: What is crest and trough?
Answer: When a wave is propagated as represented below. A peak is called the crest and a valley
is called the trough of a wave.
Question 25: The maximum oscillation disturbance of particles of air forms crest and trough.
What is an echo? Why don’t we get an echo in a small room?
Answer: The distinct sound heard after reflection of sound from the source is called echo. For
echo, the distance of reflecting surface from the source should be more than 17.2 m.
Question 26: What is velocity of sound? Why does sound travel faster in summer season than in
winter?
Answer: Velocity of sound is- the speed of sound in a given medium at a given temperature. As
the temperature increases the speed of sound also increases, hence in summer the sound travels
faster than in winter.
Question 27: Draw a graphical representation of the wave shape for
(a) low pitched sound
(b) a high pitched sound.

Question 29: Give two applications of echo/reflection of sound.

Answer: (i) Ships use the reflection of sound technique “SONAR” which helps in locating the
depth, distance, direction and speed of underwater objects.
(ii) Ceilings of concert halls are curved so that sound after reflection reaches all comers of the
hall.
Question 30: Define the amplitude time period and frequency of sound wave.
Answer: Amplitude: The magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium on either side of
the mean value is called amplitude of the wave. Its unit is meter.
Time Period: The time taken by two consecutive compressions or rarefactions to cross a fixed
point is called the time period of the wave.
Frequency: The number of oscillation, occurring per unit time is called the frequency of sound
wave.
Question 31: A sound wave causes the density of air at a place to oscillate 1200 times in 2
minutes. Find the time period and frequency of the wave.
Answer: Frequency = 1200/2 × 60 = 10Hz
Time period = ?
Frequency = 1/T
∴ T = 1/Frequency
= 1/10
= 0.1 s.
Question 32: Give 3 uses of ultrasound.
Answer: Use of ultrasound:
1. Ultrasound is used to detect cracks and flaws in metal blocks.
2. It is used in ‘echo-cardiography’, the ultrasonic waves are made to reflect from various parts
of the heart and form the image of the heart.
3. It is used in ‘ultrasonography’, to detect the image of organs or to detect the abnormalities in
the organs. It is also used to examine the foetus during pregnancy to detect congenital defects.
Question 33 What is the function of the middle ear?
Answer: Middle ear consists of three small bones called a hammer, anvil, and stirrup. These
three bones receive the sound vibrations and increase the strength of these vibrations to amplify
the vibrations received by the eardrum. These amplified vibrations are further passed to the inner
ear.
A ship sends out an ultrasound that returns from the seabed and is detected after 3.42 s.
Question 34: If the speed of ultrasound through seawater is 1531 m/s. What is the distance of the
seabed from the ship?
Answer: Time between transmission and detection t = 342 s.
Speed of ultrasound in seawater = 1531 m/s.
Distance travelled by the ultra sound = 2 × depth of sea = 2d
2d = speed of sound × time
= 1531 × 3.42
= 5236 m
∴ d = 5236/2
= 2618 m.
The distance of the seabed from the ship is 2618 m.
Question 35: Distinguish between tone, note and noise.
Answer: Tone: A sound of single frequency is called a tone.
Note: The sound which is produced due to a mixture of several frequencies is called a note.
Noise: The sound which is produced due to a mixture of several frequencies but is unpleasant to
the ear is called noise.
 CLICK ON IMAGE TO
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

US ON TELEGRAM