Chapter 20

SOUND

Nature of Sound
Sound is a form of energy that exists as
waves produced by the vibrations of
matter.
Sound exists whether it is heard or not.
For example:

In a piano, a violin, and a guitar, the sound is produced

by the vibrating strings;

in your voice due to the vibration of your vocal chords.

Origin of Sound

The original vibration stimulates the vibration of

something larger or more massive, such as

the sounding board of a stringed instrument,

the air column within a reed or wind instrument, or
the air in the throat and mouth of a singer.

This vibrating material then sends a disturbance through the

surrounding medium, usually air, in the form of longitudinal
sound waves.

Origin of Sound

Under ordinary conditions, the frequencies of the

vibrating source and sound waves are the same.
The subjective impression about the frequency of
sound is called pitch.
Pitch the highness or lowness of a tone related to
wave frequency.
The ear of a typical human being can normally hear
pitches corresponding to frequencies from about 20
Hz (low pitches) to 20,000 Hertz (high pitches).

Origin of Sound

Sound waves with frequencies below 20 hertz are

infrasonic (frequency too low for human hearing).

Origin of Sound

Sound waves with frequencies above 20,000 hertz are

called ultrasonic (frequency too high for human hearing).

Sound in Air
Sound waves

are vibrations made of

compressions and
rarefactions.
are longitudinal waves.
require a medium.
travel through solids, liquids,
and gases.

Sound in Air
Wavelength of sound

Distance between successive compressions or

rarefactions.

Sound in Air
How sound is heard from a radio loudspeaker

Radio loudspeaker is a paper cone that vibrates.

Air molecules next to the loudspeaker set into vibration.
Produces compressions and rarefactions traveling in air.
Sound waves reach your ears, setting your eardrums into
vibration.
Sound is heard.

Media That Transmit Sound

Any elastic substance solid, liquid, gas, or plasma

can transmit sound.

In elastic liquids and solids, the atoms are relatively

close together so they can respond quickly to each
others motions, and transmit energy with little loss.

Speed of Sound in Air

Speed of sound

Depends on wind conditions, temperature, humidity

Speed in dry air at 0 C is about 330 m/s 1,200 km/h.

In water vapor it is slightly faster. Why?
The speed of sound is faster in warm air than in cold air.
Speed in air at 20C [room temperature] is about 340 m/s.

Each degree rise in temperature above 0C, speed of sound

in air increases by 0.6 m/s.
Speed of sound in water is about 4 times its speed in air.
Speed of sound in steel about 15 times its speed in air.

Reflection of Sound
Reflection

The process in which sound returns when

encountering a surface.
Often called an 'echo'.
Multiple reflectionscalled reverberations.

Reflection of Sound
Acoustics

The study of sound.

Refraction of Sound

The bending of waves caused by changes in speed

affected by:

wind variations sound waves can be carried along

by the wind.
temperature variations Sound travelling through
warmer air would tend to refract AWAY from the
ground because the air rises and expands.

Refraction of Sound
Refraction
Sound

travelling through cooler air would tend to refract

towards the ground because the air would compress and
fall down.
For example, you can hear conversations across a lake a lot
clearer at night than in the hot daytime.

Reflection and Refraction of Sound

Multiple reflection and refractions of ultrasonic
waves
Device sends high-frequency sounds into the body and
reflects the waves more strongly from the exterior of the
organs, producing an image of the organs.
Used instead of X-rays by physicians to see the interior
of the body.

Reflection and Refraction of Sound

Dolphins & bats emit ultrasonic waves to enable
them to locate objects in their environment echo
location.

Energy in Sound Waves

By comparison, the energy in sound waves is
extremely small compared to the electromagnetic
waves from the Sun.
For example: the equivalent sound energy of about 10
MILLION people talking at the same time could
operate just a common flashlight.

Sound energy dissipates into thermal energy when

traveling through air. Waves of HIGHER frequency
dissipate FASTER than those of lower frequency.

Forced Vibrations & Natural

Frequencies

Forced vibration setting up of vibrations in

an object by a vibrating force.
Example: factory floor vibration caused by
running of heavy machinery
Natural frequency a unique frequency (or set
of frequencies) of a specific object.
Dependent on:

elasticity
shape of object

Resonance
Resonance a phenomenon in which the
frequency of forced vibrations on an object
matches the objects natural frequency.
Examples:
Swinging in rhythm with the natural frequency of a
swing.
Tuning a radio station to the carrier frequency of the
radio station.

Resonance
Dramatic example of wind-generated resonance:
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse in 1940

Interference
Interference

Property of all waves and wave motion.

Superposition of waves that may either

reinforce or cancel each other.

Interference
Two patterns of interference

Constructive interference

increased amplitude when

the crest of one wave
overlaps the crest of another
wave.

Destructive interference

reduced amplitude when the

crest of one wave overlaps
the trough of another wave.

Interference
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Applications of Sound Interference

Destructive sound interference in noisy devices such

as jackhammers that are equipped with microphones
to produce mirror-image wave patterns fed to
operators earphone, canceling the jackhammers
sound

Applications of Sound Interference

The same principle is used in BOSETM noisecancelling headphones.

Radio Signals

AM Amplitude Modulation [535-1605 kiloHertz]

When the amplitude of the carrier wave is changed.
MORE susceptible to static/noise.

FM Frequency Modulation [88-108 MegaHertz]

When the frequency of the carrier wave is changed.
LESS susceptible to static/noise.

Original
Signal

Carrier
wave

Modified
Signal

Noise

Signal
+ Noise

50%
Cut-off

Resultin
gSignal

AM
FM