SOUND WAVES REVIEW
i. What is a sound?
A sound is a form of energy that produces the sensation of hearing in our ears. It is produced by a vibrating body.
ii. What are the factors on which loudness of a sound depends?
Loudness of a sound depends on the amplitude of the vibration producing that sound. Greater is the amplitude of vibration,
louder is the sound produced by it. The amplitude of the sound depends upon the force with which an object is made to
vibrate. Actually, the loudness of sound is directly proportional to the square of amplitude of vibrations (of sound producing
object). This means that:
- If the amplitude of vibrations is doubled (made 2 times), then the loudness will become four times [because (22) = 4
- And if the amplitude of vibrations is halved (made ½), then the loudness will become one- fourth [because (1/2)2 = ¼
iii. Write a short note on loudness.
Sounds are produced by vibrating objects. If more energy is supplied to an object by plucking it or hitting it more strongly,
then the object will vibrate with greater amplitude and produce a louder sound. Thus, the loudness of sound depends on
the amplitude of vibrations of the vibrating object. Greater the amplitude of vibrations, louder the sound will be.
Loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dB).
iv. What is noise pollution? Write a note on the ill effects of noise pollution.
Noise pollution: The disturbance produced by undesirable, loud and unpleasant sounds
For example: Running of mixer and grinder in the kitchen produces noise; blowing of horns of motor vehicles (like cars,
buses and trucks, etc.) causes noise; bursting of crackers produces noise, etc.
Noise pollution impacts millions of people on a daily basis. The most common health problem it causes is Noise Induced
Hearing Loss (NIHL). Exposure to loud noise can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and
stress. These health problems can affect all age groups, especially children.
v. What do you mean by frequency of a sound wave?
Frequency is defined as the number of vibrations produced by a vibrating body in one second.
vi. Why are floors and ceilings of the auditorium and theaters covered with sound proof tiles?
The roof and walls of the auditorium or cinema hall are generally covered with sound absorbent materials like draperies or
compressed fibreboard to reduce reverberation. These materials reduce the formation of echoes by absorbing sound waves.
vii. Sound is produced by a vibrating body
viii. The number of complete waves or cycles produced by a vibrating body in one second is called frequency.
ix. The loudness of sound is a measure of the sound energy reaching the ear per second. Loudness of a sound depends on the area
of vibrating body only.
x. A decibel is the unit to measure the intensity of loudness.
xi. Hertz is SI unit of frequency. Pitch is Sensation of a frequency.
xii. The human ear can hear sounds between about 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.
xiii. The speed of sound is different in different materials; in general, the denser the material, the faster sound travels through it.
Sound Intensity Review:
PROBLEM 1:
The label on a speaker box claims that it delivers a power of 350 W. If this power were equally distributed in all directions, what
would be the intensity of the sound in decibels at a distance of 25 m from the speaker?
PROBLEM 2:
A barking dog delivers 3.5×10-3 W of power, which you can assume to be uniformly distributed in all directions. What is the intensity
in decibels at a distance of 5.8 m from the dog?
PROBLEM 3:
Calculate the power delivered by the speakers in a concert if the intensity reached β=115 dB at a distance of 20m. In your estimation,
assume an area of distribution of half a sphere (2πR 2).
PROBLEM 4:
On the morning of August 27, 1883 the Krakatoa volcano's vents sunk below sea level, letting seawater flood into it and causing a
massive explosion. We will make a very rough estimate of the sound intensity in Los Angeles (distance to Krakatoa, R=1.2×107 m).
Assume the power of the sound wave was 3.2×1013 W, and consider that the wave was distributed over an area 4πR2, which is an
exaggeration, but partially compensates for not considering attenuation.
Properties of Sounds according to Speed of sounds in various materials:
1. Find the wavelength in air at 20°C of an 18-Hz sound wave, which is one of the lowest frequencies that is detectable by the
human ear.
λ= =
2. What is the wavelength of an 18-Hz sound wave in freshwater at 0°C?
λ= =
3. Find the frequency of a sound wave moving through aluminium at 25°C with a wavelength of 1.25 m.
f= =
4. If you shout across a canyon and hear the echo 0.80 s later, how wide is the canyon?
v = , so d = vt = (343 m/s)(0.40 s) = 137 m
5. A 2280-Hz sound wave has a wavelength of 0.655 m in an unknown medium. Identify the medium.
λ = , so v = λf = (0.655 m)(2280 Hz) = 1493 m/s
This speed corresponds to water at 25°C.
Doppler Effect Review:
6. A fire truck is moving at 35 m/s, and a car in front of the truck is moving in the same direction at 15 m/s. If a 327-Hz siren
blares from the truck, what frequency is heard by the driver of the car?
7. A train moving toward a sound detector at 31.0 m/s blows a 305-Hz whistle. What frequency is detected on each of the
following?
8. History of Science In 1845, Dutch scientist Christopher Buys-Ballot developed a test of the Doppler Effect. He had a trumpet
player sound an A note at 440 Hz while riding on a flatcar pulled by a locomotive. At the same time, a stationary trumpeter
played the same note. Buys-Ballot heard 3.0 beats per second. How fast was the train moving toward him?
9. You are in an auto traveling at 25.0 m/s toward a pole-mounted warning siren. If the siren’s frequency is 365 Hz, what
frequency do you hear? Use 343 m/s as the speed of sound.
10. You are in an auto traveling at 55 mph (24.6 m/s). A second auto is moving toward you at the same speed. Its horn is
sounding at 475 Hz. What frequency do you hear? Use 343 m/s as the speed of sound.
