CLASS 10 ICSE

PHYSICS
CHAPTER: SOUND
PART A

LESSON A.1
SOUND WAVES

1. Sound is produced when a body vibrates and it reaches us through the vibrations of the particles of
surrounding medium. Thus, sound requires a medium for its propagation.
2. The vibrations of the body produce vibrations in the particles of surrounding medium which travel in form
of waves with a certain speed depending upon the density and elasticity of the medium.
3. When these vibrations reach our ear, the sound is heard. Our ears are sensitive only to a limited range of
frequencies from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. This range of frequency is, therefore, called the range of audibility.
However, the audibility range of a person decreases as he gets older since the hearing sensitivity of ears
falls for both the low and high frequencies. The sound of frequency above 20,000 Hz is called the
ultrasonic, while the sound of frequency below 20 Hz is called the infrasonic.
4. When sound wave travels in a medium, the maximum displacement of the particle of medium on either
side of its mean position, is called the amplitude (a) of the wave.
5. The time taken by the particle of medium to complete its one vibration, is called the time period (T) of the
wave.
6. The number of vibrations made by the particle of the medium in one second, is called the frequency (f) of
the wave. The frequency of a wave is same as the frequency of the source producing it.
7. The distance travelled by a wave in one time period of vibration of the particle of the medium, is called the
wavelength (k). The distance travelled by the wave in one second is called the wave velocity (V).
8. The wave velocity V, frequency f and wavelength  is related as:
V = f

Rana Academy ranaaacademy@gmail.com @MyRanaAcademy Page 1 of 3

9. The time period of wave T and its frequency f are related as:
1
f=
T
10. The sound waves necessarily require a medium for their propagation. The transfer of energy by waves is
through the vibrations of the medium particles about their mean positions. When the medium particles
vibrate, there is a change of kinetic energy into the potential energy and vice versa, so sound waves are
also called the elastic or mechanical waves.
11. The mechanical waves are of two kinds: (I) longitudinal waves, and (2) transverse waves.
12. If the vibrations of medium particles are along the direction of propagation of the wave, thus forming
compressions and rarefactions in the medium, the wave is called a longitudinal wave e.g. sound waves in
air, in solid and inside a liquid.
13. On the other hand, if the medium particles vibrate normal to the direction of propagation of the wave,
forming crests and troughs, the wave is called a transverse wave e.g. sound waves in a solid and on the
surface of a liquid. Transverse waves are formed only in those media which possess rigidity and that is why
they can travel only in solids and on the surface of a liquid.
14. When a wave travelling in one medium passes to another medium (i.e., in refraction), the speed,
wavelength and intensity of the wave will change, but the frequency of wave will not change. The direction
of travel of wave will also change except for normal incidence (i.e., for i = 0°).
15. The sound waves differ from the electromagnetic waves (e.g., y-rays, X-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light,
infrared rays, micro waves, and radio waves). The electromagnetic waves are formed by the periodic
vibrations of the mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields in a plane normal to the direction of
wave propagation. The electromagnetic waves are thus the transverse waves, but unlike sound waves they
can travel through vacuum also. The speed of electromagnetic waves is different in different media and it
is maximum (equal to 3 x 108 m s–1) in vacuum (or air). The electromagnetic waves transfer energy in form
of photons.

Rana Academy ranaaacademy@gmail.com @MyRanaAcademy Page 2 of 3

Rana Academy ranaaacademy@gmail.com @MyRanaAcademy Page 3 of 3