SOUND

SOUND WAVES

Sound waves are longitudinal waves that are made up of a series of compressions and rarefications caused
by vibrations.

A longitudinal wave is a disturbance the displacement of which is in the direction of propagation.

Unlike electromagnetic waves, sound waves cannot be transmitted through a vacuum and require a medium
through which to move. The medium can be a solid, liquid or gas. Sounds travel best in solids because their
particles are close together. The order of increasing efficiency in the transmission of sound waves is: gas,
liquid, solid.

Wavelength is the distance between two corresponding points on two successive waves. For example, in
the case of a sound wave, wavelength would be the distance between the centres of two successive
compressions.

Frequency is the number of waves passing a given point in one second.

Amplitude is the maximum displacement attained.

Sound waves transmit energy and can therefore do work.

SPEED OF SOUND

The speed of sound can be calculated using the formula: distance

Speed = distance/time
speed time
where speed (velocity) is in m.s-1, distance in m and time in s.
The distance travelled by sound can be calculated using the formula: distance = speed x time.

OR v = f where v = velocity/speed (m,s-1), f the frequency (Hz) and  the wavelength (m).

Example 1

In an experiment to determine the speed of sound in air using a starter’s pistol over a distance of 500 m, the
time between seeing the smoke from the starter’s pistol until the sound is heard is 1,5 seconds. Calculate
the velocity of sound.
m.s-1

Example 2

The velocity of sound in water at 20oC is 1 480 m.s-1. Calculate the distance travelled by a sound through
water in 10 s.
Distance = speed x time = 1 480 x 10 = 14 800 m

Example 3

A guitar string vibrates with a frequency of 512 Hz. If the speed of sound in air is 340 m.s-1, calculate the
wavelength of the wave motion by which the sound of the string is propagated.

Example 4

Middle C on the piano has a frequency of 256 Hz and a wavelength of 1,33 m. Calculate the velocity with
which the note travels through air.

V = f = 256 x 1,33 = 340,48 m.s-1

The following are a few facts about sound:
Sound travels faster at higher temperatures.
Sound travels better and faster in liquids than in air.
Solids transmit sound best, fastest and furthest.
The greater speed in liquids and solids is due to the greater elasticity of the solid and liquid phases.

ECHOS

Sound is reflected in the same way that light is. The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

Echoes are repetitions of sound caused by the reflection of sound waves from a hard surface such as a wall
or cliff.

Boats are usually fitted with echo sounders to determine the depth of the water under the boat. The echo
sounder transmits a sound that is reflected off the seabed and received by a microphone under the boat.
The depth of the water is therefore half the distance travelled by the sound.

Example

The echo sounder of a ship transmits a sound from its hull and receives the echo 3 s later. If the speed of
sound in sea water is 1 500 m.s-1, calculate the depth of the sea.

distance = speed x time = 1 500 x 3 = 4 500 m The depth will therefore be 4 500/2 = 2 250 m

An echo will only be heard by the human ear if a person is standing more than 17 metres away from the
reflecting surface. The ear is capable of hearing the same sound repeated only after 0,1 s. Since the speed
of sound in air is 340 m.s-1, sound will travel 34 m in 0,1 s. The person will therefore have to stand more
than 17 m from the surface.

CHARACTERSITICS OF SOUND

A noise is caused by an irregular vibration while a musical note is caused by a regular vibration.

1. Pitch

The pitch of a note is determined by its frequency. The higher the frequency, the higher is the pitch.

Three factors determine the pitch of a piano string:

a. length, b. thickness, and c. tension.

2. Volume

The volume of a note is determined by its amplitude. The larger the amplitude, the louder is the note.

3. Quality

The quality of a note determines the difference in sound between a note played on a piano and the
same note played on a violin. The quality of a note is produced by faint overtones formed along with
the fundamental noted.