Sound

Sound ---> A form of energy which produces a sensation of hearing of in our

ears.
Sound is transmitted from a medium and received by our ears.

Production Of Sound
Vibrating ---> a rapid to and fro motion of an object
---> produces sound
human voice ---> the vibration in the vocal chords
birds buzzing ---> flapping its wings
guitar ---> sound ---> the strings vibrates when
plucked.
Vibrating tuning fork touching a suspended tennis
ball.

Propagation Of Sound
Medium ---> Matter through which sound is transmitted ---> Can be solid,
liquid, gas.
Objects vibrate ---> particles of the medium around it vibrate.
Particles travelling from the object to the ear ---> Nope!
The disturbance created by a source of sound in the medium travels through
the medium not the particles of the medium.
A particle of the medium in contact with the vibrating object ---> displaced
from its equilibrium position ---> exerts force on the adjacent particle --->
which gets displaced from its position of rest. ---> first object comes back to its
original position.
A wave is a disturbance that moves through a medium when the particles of
the medium set neighbouring particles into
motion.
Vibrating objects moving forward--->
compresses its medium ---> high pressure
---> compression. (C)
Vibrating objects moving away ---> low
pressure ---> rarefaction. (R)
 Pressure ---> related to number of particles of a medium in a given volume.
More density of the particles in the medium ---> more pressure
Series of compressions and rarefactions ---> sound wave

Sound Waves Are Longitudinal Waves

Longitudinal waves ---> Individual particles of the medium move in a direction
parallel or antiparallel (back and forth) to the direction of propagation of the
disturbance.
Sound waves ---> Longitudinal waves
Transverse waves ---> Particles oscillate about their mean position as the wave
travels ---> Perpendicular to the direction of propagation ---> Example --->
Pebble dropped in a pond water => waves in water.
Light ---> transverse wave ---> but not a mechanical wave.

Characteristics Of A Sound Wave

Sound wave ---> described using frequency,
amplitude and speed.
The distance between two consecutive
compressions or two consecutive
rarefactions ---> wavelength (λ) ---> SI unit
(m).
Frequency of a sound wave (v)---> The
number of oscillations per unit time ---> SI
unit ---> Hertz (Hz).

Time period ---> The time taken by two

consecutive compressions or rarefactions to
cross a fixed point. (Time taken for one oscillation)

Represented by T. SI unit ---> seconds (s)

frequency and time period relation ---> v = 1/T

Pitch ---> Pitch ∝Frequency

 Different objects ---> Different pitch
Amplitude of a wave ---> Magnitude of
the maximum disturbance in the
medium on either side of the mean
value. Represented ---> A. Unit --->
Pressure/Density.
The force with which an object is made
to vibrate (Pitch)---> determines --->
amplitude.
More energy ----> More vibration --->
More sound ---> More distance --->
More amplitude.
Loud sound ---> larger distance --->
due to higher energy.
Quality/Timbre of sound --->
Characteristics of sound ---> Enables
distinguish one sound from another that has the same pitch and loudness.
More pleasant ---> More rich
Single frequency ---> Tone
Mixture of several frequencies ---> Note ---> Pleasant
Noise ---> unpleasant
Music ---> Pleasant and rich quality
speed of sound (v) = Distance/Time
v(speed) = λ/T
also, v(frequency) = 1/T
v = λ * v, speed = wavelength * frequency
The amount of sound energy passing each second through unit ---> intensity
of sound.

Speed Of Sound In Different

Media
Sound speed < Light speed
Sound speed depends on ---> temperature of
medium
 Temperature ∝ speed of sound

Reflection Of Sound
Sound ---> Bounces off in solids/liquids (reflects).
The directions in which the sound is incident and is
reflected make equal angles with the normal to the
reflecting surface at the point of incidence and the
three are in the same plane.

Echo
when we make a sound near a reflecting object, we hear the same sound a
little later ---> Echo
Time interval between original sound and reflected sound must be ---> 0.1 s, to
hear a distinct echo.
Total distance covered by the sound from the point of generation to the
reflecting object and then back ---> at least (344 m/s, in air) * 0.1 s = 34.4 m.
That means the distance covered by the sound from the point of generation to
the reflecting object must be 34.4/2 m = 17.2 m.
Distance covered by the sound changes with the temperature of air.

Reverberation
Reverberation ---> repeated reflection --> result --> persistence of sound
Happens in auditoriums, big halls to reduce walls,
sound absorbent materials like covered with
compressed fibreboard/ rough plaster/ draperies.

Uses Of Multiple Reflection Of Sound

 A tube followed by a conical opening reflects sound successively to guide
most of the sound waves from the source in the forward direction
towards the audience.

Particular direction without spreading in all directions.

 Megaphones, loudhailers, horns ---> examples

 Stethoscopes ---> sound of patients heartbeat

reaches the doctors ears by multiple reflections of
sound.

 Curved soundboard ---> placed ---> behind stage of

conference halls ---> sound reflecting ---> spread evenly
across the width of the hall.

Range Of Hearing
Range of sound for human beings ---> 20 Hz – 20000 Hz. (one oscillation/s =
one Hz).
Range of sound for children under the age of five and some animals such as
dogs ---> 25 kHz (1 kHz = 1000 Hz).
1. Sound of frequencies below 20 Hz ---> Infrasonic sound/infrasound -->
like vibrations of the wings of a bee. Whales, elephants, rhinoceroses --->
produce infrasonic sound. Earthquakes also low frequency ---> alerts the
animals.
2. Sound of frequencies above 20000 Hz ---> ultrasound. Dolphins, bats,
rats and porpoises ---> produce ultrasound. Moths hear bats flying
around and escape from capture.
Hearing Aid: For people with hearing loss. Electronic, battery operated device.
Receives sound through a microphone that converts the sound waves into
electrical signals which are amplified by an amplifier which are then given to
the speaker of the hearing aid. The speaker converts the amplified electrical
signals to sound and sends to the ear for clear hearing.
 Applications Of Ultrasound’
Ultrasound ---> high frequency waves.
Travel along well defined paths even in the presence of obstacles.
 Objects to be cleaned ---> placed in a cleaning solution ---> ultrasonic
waves sent into the solution ---> grease and dirt detached and dropped
out of the objects due to the high frequency waves sent into it.
 Detects cracks and flaws in metal blocks by reflecting from it indicating
the presence of flaw or defect.

Infrasound cannot be
used for this purpose as it has long wavelengths and will bend around the
corners of the detective location and enter the detector.
 Echocardiography ---> A technique where ultrasonic waves are made to
reflect from various parts of the heart to form the image of the heart.

 Ultrasonography ---> Ultrasound scanner is an instrument which uses

ultrasonic waves for getting images of internal
organs of the human body. The ultrasonic waves
travel travels through the tissues of the body and
get reflected from a region where there is a change
of tissue density. The waves are converted into
electrical signals that are used to generate images
of the organ. It is used to detect abnormalities such
as stone in the gall bladder and kidney or tumours
 in different organs. Ultrasonography is also used to examine the foetus
during pregnancy to detect congenial defects and growth abnormalities.
 Ultrasound can also be used to break down stones formed in kidneys into
fine grains. These grains later get flushed out with urine.

Questions page – 129

Q1) How does the sound produced by a vibrating object in a medium reach
your ear?
Ans) When an object vibrates, it forces the neighbouring particles of the
medium to vibrate. These vibrating particles then force the particles adjacent
to them to vibrate. In this way vibrations produced by an object are transferred
till it reaches the ear.

Q2) Explain how sound is produced by your school bell.

Ans) The bell produces the sound when it is struck by air hammer when the bell
is struck by a hammer it starts vibrating. Since the vibrating objects produce
sound. So the bell produces sound.

Q3) Why are sound waves called mechanical waves?

Ans) Sound waves are called mechanical waves because it needs a medium to
pass through.

Q4) Suppose you and your friend are on the moon. Will you be able to hear any
sound produced by your friend?
Ans) No, because sound waves need a medium through which they can
propagate. Since there is no material medium on the moon due to the absence
of atmosphere, you cannot hear any sound on the moon.

Questions page – 132

Q1) Which wave property determines (a) loudness, (b) pitch?
Ans) Loudness is determined by the amplitude of the sound and pitch is
determined by the frequency of the sound.

Q2) Guess which sound has a higher pitch: guitar or car horn?
Ans) The frequency of the vibration of a sound produced by a guitar is greater
than that produced by a car horn. Since the pitch of a sound is proportional to
its frequency, the guitar has a higher pitch than a car horn.

Questions page – 132

Q1) What are wavelength, frequency, time period and amplitude of a sound
wave?
Ans) Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive compressions or two
consecutive rarefactions.

Frequency: The number of oscillations per unit time.

Time period: Time taken for one oscillation in a sound wave.
Amplitude: Magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium on either
side of the mean value.

Q2) How are the wavelength and frequency of a sound wave related to its
speed?
Ans) The relation between wavelength(λ), frequency(ν) and speed of wave(v) is
v = λ * ν.

Q3) Calculate the wavelength of a sound wave whose frequency is 220 Hz and
speed is 440 m/s in a given medium.
Ans) Speed = wavelength * frequency. Wavelength = 2 m

Q4) A person is listening to a tone of 500 Hz sitting at a distance of 450 m from

the source of the sound. What is the time interval between the successive
compression from the source?
Ans) v(frequency) = 1/Time period
T = 1/n = 1/500 = 0.002 s = 2 ms

Question page – 133

Q1) Distinguish between loudness and intensity of sound.
Ans) Intensity of a sound wave is defined as the amount of sound energy
passing through a unit area per second. Loudness is a measure of the response
of the ear to the sound. The loudness of a sound is defined by its amplitude.
Question page – 133
Q1) In which of the three media, air, water or iron, does sound travel the
fastest at a particular temperature?
Ans) Sound travels fastest through iron. As the density increases the speed of
the sound also increases. Iron is solid so it has high density.

Question page – 134

Q1) An echo returned in 3 s. What is the distance of the reflecting surface from
the source, given that the speed of sound is 342 m s–1?
Ans) Given, Speed of sound, v = 342 m/s
Time taken for hearing the echo, t = 3 s
Distance travelled by the sound = v × t = 342 m/s × 3 s = 1026 m
In 5 s sound has to travel twice the distance between the cliff and the person.
Hence, the distance between the cliff and the person = 1026 m/2 = 513 m.

Question page – 135

Q1) Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?
Ans) In concert halls, cinema halls, conference halls, the ceiling are made
curved, so that the sound after reflection from the curved surface reaches all
corners of the hall evenly.

Questions page – 136

Q1) What is the audible range of the average human ear?
Ans) The audible range of an average human ear lies between 20 Hz to 20,000
Hz. Humans cannot hear sounds having frequency less than 20 Hz and greater
than 20,000 Hz.

Q2) What is the range of frequencies associated with

(a) Infrasound ---> below 20 Hz
(b) Ultrasound ---> above 20,000 Hz

Exercises
Q1) What is sound and how is it produced?
Ans) Sound is defined as vibrations that travel through the air or another
medium as an audible mechanical wave. It is produced from a vibrating body.
The vibrating body causes the medium (water, air, etc.) around it to vibrate
thus producing sound.

Q2) Describe with the help of a diagram, how compressions and rarefactions
are produced in air near a source of sound.
Ans) When a vibrating body swings
forward, it pushes and compresses the
air in front of it creating a region of
high pressure. This region is called a
compression. This compression starts
to move away from the vibrating
object.
When the vibrating body swings
backwards, it creates a region of low
pressure called rarefaction. As the object swings/oscillates back and forth
rapidly, a series of compressions and rarefactions is created in the air. These
make the sound wave that propagates through air.

Q3) Why is sound wave called a longitudinal wave?

Ans) The wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the
direction of propagation of the wave is called a longitudinal wave. Sound waves
similarly oscillate parallel to the direction of propagation, forming the
compressions and rarefactions. Hence sound waves are called longitudinal
waves.

Q4) Which characteristics of the sound helps you to identify your friend by his
voice while sitting with others in a dark room?
Ans) Timbre and pitch are the characteristics of sound which help to identify
the sound of different voices. Thus, because of difference in timbre and pitch of
the sound wave, a person can identify the voice of his friend sitting with others
in a dark room.

Q5) Flash and thunder are produced simultaneously. But thunder is heard a few
seconds after the flash is seen, why?
Ans) It is because light travels faster (3×10^8 m/s) than sound (332 m/s), so
we hear thunder after a few second of the flash.
Q6) A person has a hearing range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. What are the typical
wavelengths of sound waves in air corresponding to these two frequencies?
Take the speed of sound in air as 344 m/s.
Ans) Step 1- Given data
The speed of sound in air v = 344m/s
Hearing range i.e. 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Step 2- Finding wavelength regarding 20 Hz frequency
For a sound wave:
Speed (ν) = Wavelength (λ) x Frequency(v)
v = v1 * λ1
f1 = 20 Hz
⇒ λ1 = v/v1
⇒ 1 = 344/20
⇒ 1 = 17.2
Step 3- Finding wavelength regarding 20 kHz frequency
v = v2 * λ2
⇒ λ2 = v/v2
⇒ λ2 = 344/20000
⇒ λ2 = 0.0172
Hence, for humans, the wavelength range for hearing is 0.0172 m to 17.2 m.

Q7) Two children are at opposite ends of an aluminium rod. One strikes the end
of the rod with a stone. Find the ratio of times taken by the sound wave in air
and in aluminium to reach the second child.
Ans) Let the distance between the two children be d

Also let the time taken by sound to reach other child via air be t1 and via
aluminium rod be t2.
Velocity of sound in air v(air) = 340 m/s
∴ t1 = d/v(air) = d/340..........(1)
Velocity of sound in aluminium rod v(Rod)=6420 m/s
∴ t2 = d/v(Rod)=d/6420..........(2)
Dividing equation (1) and (2), we get t1/t2=6420/340=18.88
Q8) The frequency of a source of sound is 100 Hz. How many times does it
vibrate in a minute?
Ans) Frequency of source of sound ν=100 Hz

This means the source vibrates 100 times in 1 sec.

∴ Number of times the source vibrates in 60 s is N=60×100
---> N=6000

Q9) Does sound follow the laws of reflection as light does? Explain.
Ans) Sound too follows the same laws of reflection as light does, the laws are,
Incident sound wave and the reflected sound wave make an equal angle with
the normal. Reflected sound wave, incident sound wave, and normal to the
point of incidence lie in the same plane.

Q10) When a sound is reflected from a distant object, an echo is produced. Let
the distance between the reflecting surface and the source of sound production
remains the same. Do you hear echo sound on a hotter day?
Ans) Velocity of sound increases with temperature. Thus velocity of sound in air
increases in the hotter day. Hence the time difference between the incident
wave and the reflected wave decreases.

Now a human ear requires a minimum time interval of 1/10th of a second to

hear an echo. Thus, if the time interval is greater than 0.1 second on the hotter
day, then an echo can be heard.
But, on a hotter day, the time gap between the incidence of original and
reflected sound is less than 0.1 s due to higher velocity of sound. So, chances
of hearing echo is less.

Q11) Give two practical applications of reflection of sound waves.

Ans) (i) Hearing aid: It is a device used by the people who are hard of hearing.
Here the sound waves, which are received by the hearing aid are reflected into
a narrower area leading to the ear.
(ii) Sound boards: Curved surfaces can reflect sound waves. This reflection of
sound waves is used in auditorium to spread the waves uniformly throughout
the hall. Reflection of sound waves is done by using Sound Boards. The speaker
is located at the focus of the sound board.

Q12) A stone is dropped from the top of a tower 500 m high into a pond of
water at the base of the tower. When is the splash heard at the top? (Given g =
10 m/s^2 and speed of sound = 340 m/s).
Ans) Given – h = 500 m, g = 10m/s^2,v = 340 m/s,

by, h = u*t+(1/2)g*t^2,
500=0+(1/2)10t^2, (initial velocity, u=0),
Or t^2=1000/10=100,
Or t=10 s,
it is the time taken by stone to reach the water level, after that a sound is
produced due to strike of stone on water, and sound travels upwards. Let t' be
the time taken by sound to reach the base of tower,
Then, t′=h/v=500/340=1.47 s,
therefore time taken by splash to hear at the top,
T = t+t′= 10+1.47 = 11.47 s.

Q13) A sound wave travels at a speed of 339 m/s. If its wavelength is 1.5 cm,
what is the frequency of the wave? Will it be audible?
Ans) speed = wavelength * frequency. 339 m/s = 0.015 m * frequency.
Frequency = 339/0.015 = 22,600 Hz. The sound will not be audible because it
is more than 20,000 Hz.

Q14) What is reverberation? How can it be reduces?

Ans) The repeated multiple reflections of sound in any big enclosed space is
known as reverberation. The reverberation can be reduced by covering the
ceiling and walls of the enclosed space with sound absorbing materials, such as
compressed fibreboard, rough plaster, draperies etc.

Q15) What is loudness of sound? What factors does it depend on?

Ans) Loudness is the measure of how strong a sound wave is at the place. The
loudness of a sound depends on the amplitude of the wave.

Q16) How is ultrasound used for cleaning?

Ans) Objects that are to be cleaned are placed in a cleaning solution wherein
the ultrasonic waves are passed through the solution. This high-frequency
sound of the ultrasound waves causes the grease and dirt to get detached from
the object, hence getting cleaned completely.

Q17) Explain how defects in a metal block can be detected using ultrasound.
Ans) Ultrasound is passed through one end of a metal block and detectors are
placed on the other end. The defective part of the metal block does not allow
ultrasound to pass through it which causes it to reflect. As a result, it will not be
detected by the detector. Hence, defects in metal blocks can be detected using
ultrasound.