Sound

What is sound?

Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a
person's or animal's ear.

Source Medium Receiver

Sources

Vibrating membranes/solid surfaces percussion instruments (drum, xylophone)

The thinner and tighter the membrane the more it vibrates, the higher the note.

In a xylophone, shorter plates produce higher pitch notes when struck.

Vibrating columns of air wind/brass instruments (flute, clarinet, trumpet)

Different notes are created by shortening or lengthening the air column inside the instrument.

Shorter air columns = higher frequency = higher sound/note

Vibrating strings - string instruments (violin/ cello)

Length - Shorter sting = higher frequency = higher note

Thickness Thinner string = higher frequency = higher note
Tightness more tightening = higher frequency = higher note
The type of material also can affect the frequency, for example metal strings will vibrate
less than violin/guitar strings.

Note higher pitch does not mean louder sound.

Volume and pitch

Sound travels in waves. When sound is made there are 2 main characteristics that can be
measured.
The height/size of the wave is the volume or loudness. The number of waves per second is the
frequency/pitch. Pitch is measured in Hertz (Hz). Human hear sounds between 20-20000Hz