Sound

Making Sounds and Learning about Oscilloscope

LO: To observe different sound waves through an oscilloscope..

GCS Values: Kindness / Honesty / Integrity / Respect

 LO: To observe different sound waves through an oscilloscope.

What is Oscilloscope?

• A microphone converts sound energy into electrical energy in the form of

electronic signals.

• A computer or an oscilloscope can be used to display these electronic

signals, which show the same changes in amplitude and frequency as the
sound waves.

• When these signals are observed on the oscilloscope, the oscilloscope

pattern will indicate the same changes in amplitude and frequency which
correspond to the wave's loudness and pitch.
GCS Values: Kindness / Honesty / Integrity / Respect
LO: To observe different sound waves through an oscilloscope.

Steps to follow

• Connect the microphone to the oscilloscope.

• Test the microphone displays a signal by humming.
• Adjust the time base of the oscilloscope until the signal fits on the screen.
• Strike the tuning fork on the edge of a hard surface to generate sound
waves.
• Hold the tuning fork near to the microphone and observe the sound wave
on the oscilloscope screen.
• Repeat the steps with different frequency tuning forks and observe the
sound waves.
GCS Values: Kindness / Honesty / Integrity / Respect
LO: To observe different sound waves through an oscilloscope.
Observation table

Sound type Waves formed Conclusion

Sound at high pitch A lower frequency
sound is perceived as a
Sound at low pitch lower note or pitch.

Sound at high volume A higher amplitude

sound wave is a louder
sound.
Sound at low volume

GCS Values: Kindness / Honesty / Integrity / Respect

LO: To observe different sound waves through an oscilloscope.
Exam Style question AFL Progress check

1. Analyze How is the Sound waves leave a source with a certain amount of
amplitude of a sound wave related to energy and, therefore, a certain amplitude. Loudness is
energy? how you perceive the energy of a sound wave. A wave with
a greater amplitude will produce a louder sound and will
have higher energy.

2. Which wave will produce louder

sound?

Wave D below has a larger amplitude than wave E. This

means wave D shows a LOUDER
sound than wave E

GCS Values: Kindness / Honesty / Integrity / Respect

Thank you