Department of Education

General Physics 1
Grade 12
Sound and Waves
Second Quarter - Week 5

Russel Van Erick F. Ramos

Writer

Mark Archei O. Javier

Validator

Eduardo M. Kondo
Armida S. Oblinada
Quality Assurance Team

Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa City

Student Center for Life Skills Bldg., Centennial Ave., Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City
(02) 8805-9935 / (02) 8805-9940
Most Essential Learning Competencies

1. Describe qualitatively and quantitatively the superposition of waves

(STEM_GP12MWS-lle35);
2. Apply the condition for standing waves on a string (STEM_GP12MWS-lle35);
3. Relate the frequency and wavelength of sound with the motion of the listener and
Relate density, specific gravity, mass and volume to each other
(STEM_GP12MWS-lle37 &40).

1. Sound waves can be classified as?

A. transverse B. longitudinal C. both a and b D. neither a, nor b
2. If you double the wavelength of a wave on a particular string, what happens to
the wave speed 𝑣 and the frequency 𝑓?
A. 𝑣 doubles and 𝑓 is unchanged
B. 𝑣 is unchanged and 𝑓doubles;
C. 𝑣 becomes one-half as great and 𝑓 is unchanged
D. 𝑣 is unchanged and 𝑓 becomes one-half as great

1. A wave is any disturbance that ____________ from one region to another.

2. A mechanical wave travels within some material called the ________.
3. The wave speed 𝑣 depends on the type of wave and the __________ of the medium.
4. In a _______ wave, the motion of each point of the medium is periodic with
frequency 𝑓 and period T.
5. The wavelength 𝜆 is the distance over which the wave pattern repeats, and the
amplitude A is the maximum displacement of a particle in the medium. The
product of 𝜆 and 𝑓 equals the wave_______.

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Wave Intensity

Waves need a medium to propagate to. Waves on a string carry energy in just one
dimension of space, along the direction of the string. Other types of waves including: (a)
sound waves in air, and (b) seismic waves in the body of the earth carry energy across
all three dimensions of space.
● If waves spread out equally in all directions from a source, the intensity at a
distance r from the source is inversely proportional to 𝑟 2
● This follows directly from energy
conservation. If the power output of the
source is P, then the average intensity 𝐼1
through a sphere with radius 𝑟1 and
surface area 4(𝜋)(𝑟1 ) 2 is:
𝑃
𝐼 1 = 4𝜋𝑟2
1

where:
𝐼 = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, the time average rate at
which energy is transported by the wave
per unit area, across a surface
perpendicular to the direction of
propagation; It is measured in watts per
𝑊
square meter ( )
𝑚2

P = power output of the source; Watts (W)

r = radius; meters (m)

The average intensity 𝐼2 through a sphere with

a different radius 𝑟2 is given by a similar expression. If no energy is absorbed between
the two spheres, the power P must be the same for both, and
2 2
4(𝜋)(𝑟1 ) (𝐼1 ) = 4(𝜋)(𝑟2 ) (𝐼2 )

● The intensity I at any distance r is therefore inversely proportional to 𝑟 2 . This

relationship is called the inverse-square law for intensity.
● Inverse-square law for intensity:
2
𝐼1 (𝑟2 )
= 2
𝐼2 (𝑟1 )
Sample Problem:
A siren on a tall pole radiates sound waves uniformly in all directions. At a
𝑊
distance of 15.0 m from the siren, the sound intensity is 0.250 2 . At what
𝑚
𝑊
distance is the intensity 0.010𝑚2?
𝑊 𝑊
Given: 𝑟1 = 15.0𝑚, 𝐼1 = 0.250 , 𝐼2 = 0.010
𝑚2 𝑚2

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 Required: 𝑟2

Solution:
2
𝐼1 (𝑟2 )
=> Using the Inverse-square law for intensity, = 2
𝐼2 (𝑟1 )

(𝐼 )2
=> 𝐼2 = [𝑟1 ][√(𝐼1)2 ]
2

𝑊 2
(0.250 2 )
=> 𝐼2 = [15.0𝑚][√[ 𝑚
𝑊 2
]
(0.010 2 )
𝑚

=> 𝐼2 = 75.0 m

Superposition of Waves

When two waves overlap, the

actual displacement of any point on
the string at any time is obtained by
adding the displacement the
point would have if only the first wave
were present and the
displacement it would have if only
the second wave were present.

In other words, the wave

function that describes the
resulting motion in this situation is
obtained by adding the two wave
functions for the two separate
waves.
Principle of Superposition:
𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝑦1 (𝑥, 𝑡) + 𝑦2 (𝑥, 𝑡)
Specifically, the wave equation is
linear; that is, it contains the function 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡) only to the first power (there are no terms
1
involving 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡)2 , 𝑦(𝑥, 𝑡)2etc.).
Because this principle depends on the linearity of the wave equation and the
corresponding linear-combination property of its solutions, it is also called the principle
of linear superposition.

Standing Waves on a String

In a wave that travels along the string, the amplitude is constant and the wave
pattern moves with a speed equal to the wave speed.
Here, instead, the wave pattern remains in the same position along the string and its
amplitude fluctuates.
There are particular points called nodes (labeled N in Fig. 15.23e) that never
moves at all.
Midway between the nodes are points called antinodes (labeled A in Fig. 15.23e)
where the amplitude of motion is greatest.

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Because the wave pattern doesn’t appear to be moving in either direction along the
string, it is called a standing wave. (To emphasize the difference, a wave that does move
along the string is called a traveling wave.)

Doppler Effect
You’ve probably noticed that when a car approaches you with its horn sounding,
the pitch seems to drop as the car passes. This phenomenon, first described by the
19th-century Austrian scientist Christian Doppler, is called the Doppler effect.
When a source of sound and a listener are in motion relative to each other, the
frequency of the sound heard by the listener is not the same as the source frequency.
A similar effect occurs for light and radio waves.
To analyze the Doppler effect for sound, we’ll work out a relationship between the
frequency shift and the velocities of source and listener relative to the medium (usually
air) through which the sound waves propagate.
To keep things simple, we consider only the special case in which the velocities of
both source and listener lie along the line joining them.
Let 𝑣𝑠 and 𝑣𝐿 be the velocity components along this line for the source and the listener,
respectively, relative to the medium.
We choose the positive direction for both 𝑣𝑠 and 𝑣𝐿 to be the direction from the
listener L to the source S.
The speed of sound relative to the medium, 𝑣, is always considered positive.

Let us study this two types of situations:

Moving Listener and Stationary Source and Moving Source and Moving Listener
Moving Listener and Stationary Source
Let’s think first about a listener L moving with velocity toward a stationary source S
𝑣
(Fig. 16.26). The source emits a sound wave with frequency 𝑓𝑠 and wavelength 𝜆 = . The
𝑓𝑠
figure shows four wave crests, separated by equal distances 𝜆. The wave crests
approaching the moving listener have a speed of propagation relative to the listener of
(𝑣 +
𝑣𝐿 ).
So
the

frequency 𝑓𝐿 with which the crests arrive at the listener’s position (that is, the frequency
the listener hears) is:

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 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑓 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑓
𝑓𝑓 = = [𝑓𝑓. 1]
𝑓 𝑓
( )
𝑓𝑓
𝑓+𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓
or 𝑓𝑓 = ( ) (𝑓𝑓 ) = (1 + ) (𝑓𝑓 )[𝑓𝑓. 2]
𝑓 𝑓
Take note: Equation to is applicable for moving listener, and stationary source
So a listener moving toward a source (𝑣𝐿 > 0), as in Fig. 16.26, hears a higher
frequency (higher pitch) than does a stationary listener. A listener moving away
from the source (𝑣𝐿 < 0) hears a lower frequency (lower pitch).

Moving Source and Moving Listener

Now suppose the source is also moving, with velocity (Fig. 16.27). The wave speed
relative to the wave medium (air) is still 𝑣; it is determined by the properties of
the medium and is not changed by the motion of the source. But the wavelength
𝑣
is no longer equal to 𝑓 . Here’s why. The time for emission of one cycle of the wave
𝑠
1 𝑣
is the period 𝑇 = . During this time, the wave travels a distance 𝑣𝑇 = and the
𝑓𝑠 𝑓𝑠
𝑣𝑠
source moves a distance 𝑣𝑠 𝑇 = . The wavelength is the distance between
𝑓𝑠
successive wave crests, and this is determined by the relative displacement of
source and wave. As Fig. 16.27 shows, this is different in front of and behind the
source. In the region to the right of the source in Fig. 16.27 (that is, in front of the
source), the wavelength is

𝑓 𝑓𝑓 𝑓−𝑓𝑓
𝜆 𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = − = [Eq.3]
𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓
Take note: Equation 3 to is applicable for wavelength in front of a moving source

𝑓+𝑓𝑓
𝜆 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = [Eq. 4]
𝑓𝑓

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 Take note: Equation 4 to is applicable for wavelength behind a moving source
● The waves in front of and behind the source are compressed and stretched
out, respectively, by the motion of the source.
● To find the frequency heard by the listener behind the source, we
substitute [Eq. 4] into [Eq. 1]:

𝑓+𝑓𝑓
𝑓𝑓 = =
𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
𝑓+𝑓𝑓
𝑓+𝑓𝑓
( )
𝑓𝑓
simplifying it further,

𝑓+𝑓𝑓
𝑓𝑓 = ( ) (𝑓𝑓 ) [Eq.5]
𝑓+𝑓𝑓
Take note: Equation 5 is the formula for Doppler effect; when the situation given
is with a moving source and a moving listener.
Sample Problem: A police car’s siren emits a sinusoidal wave with frequency 𝑓𝑠 = 300𝐻𝑧.
𝑚
The speed of sound is 340 𝑠 and the air is still. (a) Find the wavelength of the waves if
the siren is at rest. (b) Find the wavelengths of the waves in front of and behind the
𝑚
siren if it is moving at 30 .
𝑠
𝑚
Given: 𝑓𝑠 = 300𝐻𝑧, 𝑣𝑠 = 340 𝑠

Required: (a) 𝜆𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 , and (b) 𝜆𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 and 𝜆𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑑

Solution:

Illustration:

(a) When the source is at rest,

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 𝑓
𝑓 340
=> 𝜆 = = 𝑓
= 1.13𝑓
𝑓𝑓 300 𝑓𝑓

(b) From [Eq. 1], in front of the siren,

𝑓 𝑓
𝑓−𝑓𝑓 340 − 30
=> 𝜆𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝑓𝑓
= 𝑓
300 𝑓𝑓
𝑓
= 1.03 𝑓

From [Eq. 4], behind the siren,

𝑓 𝑓
𝑓+𝑓𝑓 340 + 30
=> 𝜆𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = = 𝑓 𝑓
= 1.23 𝑓
𝑓𝑓 300 𝑓𝑓

=> Based on the results, the wavelength is shorter in front of the siren and

longer behind it, as we expect.

Materials needed: Paper(notebook/yellow

pad/bond paper), and pen
Instructions:
Figure 15.22 shows two wave pulses with different shapes traveling in different
directions along a string. Make a series of sketches like Fig. 15.21(located on the
Superposition of waves page) showing the shape of the string as the two pulses
approach, overlap, and then pass each other.

● Wave power: Wave motion conveys energy from one

region to another.
● For waves that spread out in three dimensions, the
wave intensity 𝐼 is inversely proportional to the square
of the distance from the source.
● When both ends of a string with length 𝐿 are held
fixed, standing waves can occur only when L is an
𝜆
integer multiple of 2.

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 ● Each frequency with its associated vibration pattern
is called a normal mode.
● Doppler effect: The Doppler effect for sound is the
frequency shift that occurs when there is motion of a
source of sound, a listener, or both, relative to the
medium. The source and listener frequencies 𝑓𝑠 and 𝑓𝐿
are related by the source and listener velocities 𝑣𝑠 and
𝑣𝐿 relative to the medium and to the speed of sound
𝑣.

1. For the wave motions discussed in this chapter, does the speed of
propagation depend on the amplitude? What makes you say this?
2. Why do you see lightning before you hear the thunder? A familiar rule of
thumb is to start counting slowly, once per second, when you see the
lightning; when you hear the thunder, divide the number you have
reached by 3 to obtain your distance from the lightning in kilometers (or
divide by 5 to obtain your distance in miles). Why does this work, or does
it?
3. Children make toy telephones by sticking each end of a long string
through a hole in the bottom of a paper cup and knotting it so it will not
pull out. When the spring is pulled taut, sound can be transmitted from
one cup to the other. How does this work? Why is the transmitted sound
louder than the sound traveling through air for the same distance?

Instructions: Each problem is worth 5 points (1 point for identifying the given
quantities, 1 point for identifying the unknown quantity, 1 point for
illustration/drawing the set-up, 1 point for the effort of making a solution, 1
point if the answer is correct)
𝑊
1. A jet plane at takeoff can produce sound of intensity 10.0 𝑚2 at 30.0m
away. But you prefer tranquil sound of normal conversation, which is
𝜇𝑊
1.0 𝑚2 . Assume that the plane behaves like a point source of sound. (a)
What is the closest distance you should live from the airport runway to
preserve your peace of mind? (b) What intensity from the jet does your
friend experience if she lives twice as far from the runway as you do? (c)
What power of sound does the jet produce at takeoff?

9
 2. Two train whistles, A and B, each have a frequency of 392 Hz. A is
stationary and B is moving toward the right (away from A) at a speed
𝑚
of 35.0 𝑠 . A listener is between the two whistles and is moving toward the
𝑚
right with a speed of 15.0 (Fig. E16.45). No wind is blowing.
𝑠

Answer the following questions.

A. What is the frequency from A as heard by the listener?
B. What is the frequency from B as heard by the listener?

C. What is the beat frequency detected by the listener?

Book Reference:
● Young and Freedman. Copyright ©2012, 2008, 2004 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing
as Addison-Wesley,1301 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA, 94111. Sears and
Zemanski’s University Physics with Modern Physics 13th editio

Answer key:

Pre-test Check your understanding

1.) b 1.) No
2.) d 2.) Light travels faster than sound
3.) String becomes the sound waves’ medium,
sound is louder in a telephone cup than in
a free space because of undisturbed path.

Looking back Post Test

1.) propagates,
2.) medium,
3.) properties, 1.)
4.) periodic,
5.) speed
2.)
6.) simple harmonic

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