PHYSICS 1

USC-TC
 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WAVE

-is a disturbance that propagates through space and time,

usually with transference of energy.
- any vibratory motion is the source of a wave.
 PROPERTIES OF A WAVE
Wavelength – the distance from crest to crest, trough to trough
or between successive points in a wave (measured in meters).
Amplitude – the highest displacement that a wave can make
(measured in meters).
Period – the time it take for a wave to complete once cycle
( measured in seconds).
Frequency – the number of cycles a wave can make per unit
time (measured in Hertz – Hz).
Velocity – it refers to the distance traveled by a wave per unit
time (measured in m/s).
 TRANSVERSE WAVE

-the type of wave in which the direction of wave travel

is perpendicular to the direction of the vibrating
source.
Examples: vibrating guitar string and light.
 LONGITUDINAL WAVE

- is one in which the direction of the vibrating source is

along the direction of wave travel.
Example: sound wave
 SOUND WAVE

-a longitudinal vibratory disturbance that travels in a

medium and can be heard by the human ear when
in the approximate frequency range 20 – 20,000Hz.
 COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND
• sound wave carries mechanical energy;
• sound travels through a medium;
• pitch is the subjective impression of sound
• 20 to 20,000 Hz is the normal human range
• travels at 330m/s in dry air;
• the speed of sound is dependent on wind conditions,
temperature, and humidity;
• the speed of sound increases by 0.6 m/s for each degree rise

in temperature;
• a t normal room temperature of around 20ºC, sound travels at
340m/s;
• sound travels 4 times faster in water than its speed in air. In
metals it travels 15 times.
HOW SOUND PROPAGATES THROUGH A MEDIUM

-sound is propagated by means of the relay of

vibration of the particles of the medium.
 REFLECTION OF SOUND

- it refers to the bending of sound as it hits a

reflecting barrier.
 SOME PROPERTIES OF REFLECTION
• Echo is the common term for reflection of sound.

• The fraction of energy reflected is large if the

reflecting surface is rigid and smooth, and small if
the reflecting surface is soft and rough.

• The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of

reflection (smooth surface).

• Reverberation is a case of multiple reflections.

Applications of the Reflection of Sound

SONAR – Sound Navigation and Ranging.

- used to search objects undersea.
- used to measure ocean depths.
 APPLICATIONS OF REFLECTION OF SOUND

one of the basis for the design of the ultrasound

device.
 APPLICATIONS OF REFLECTION OF SOUND

Reflection of sound is considered in the design of

concert halls, cinemas, opera houses.
 Refraction

- the bending of a wave as it passes through either through a

non-uniform medium or from one medium to another, caused
by differences in wave speed.
Some of the facts Associated to Refraction

• together with reflection, it is one of the basis for the

design of the ultrasound device.

• it explains why sound is more audible during night time

than day time.
 Forced Vibration

-the setting up of vibrations in an object by a vibrating force.

Examples: stringed musical instruments, the vibration of
factory floors.
 Natural Frequency

- a frequency at which an elastic object naturally tends to

vibrate, so that minimum energy is required in order to
produce a forced vibration or to continue vibrating at that
frequency.
- dependent on the mass and density of materials
- explains why different objects produce different pitches.
 RESONANCE

- the response of a body when the forcing

frequency matches the natural frequency of the
body.
 Some Facts Associated to Resonance

• explains why glasses sometimes break at the

entrance of sound.

• structures may collapse with sound whose frequency

matches the natural frequency of the building.
 INTERFERENCE

- the patterned form by the superposition of

different sets of waves that produces mutual
reinforcements in some places and cancellation in
others.
 CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE

- constructiveinterference occurs whenever waves come

together so that they are in phase with each other. This
means that their oscillations at a given point are in the
same direction, the resulting amplitude at that point
being much larger than the amplitude of an individual
wave.
 DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE

- destructive interference occurs when waves come

together in such a way that they completely cancel
each other out. When two waves interfere
destructively, they must have the same amplitude in
opposite directions.
- applied in sound control technology
 DOPPLER EFFECT

- a change in the observed frequency of a wave, as of

sound or light, occurring when the source and observer
are in motion relative to each other, with the frequency
increasing when the source and observer approach
each other and decreasing when they move apart. The
motion of the source causes a real shift in frequency of
the wave, while the motion of the observer produces
only an apparent shift in frequency.
 PROBLEM SOLVING

1. A depth-sounding vessel surveys the ocean bottom

with ultrasonic sound that travels at 1530m/s in sea
water. How deep is the water if the time delay of the
echo from the ocean floor is 2 seconds.
2. An ultrasound has a speed of 1500 m/sec in tissue. a.)
Calculate the smallest detail visible with 2.0 MHz
ultrasound. b.) To what depth can the ultrasound prove
effectively? c.) How long does it take the echo to return
to the probe from a depth of 0.10 m?
 PROBLEM SOLVING

3. In some of Doppler’s experiments, musicians

riding on an open train car played notes that were
observed by a stationary observer as the train
approaches an passed by. Calculate the observed
frequency (a) as the train approaches and (b) as
the trains moves away, given that the frequency
the musicians are playing is 220Hz, the velocity of
the train is 15 m/sec, and the velocity of the sound
is 341 m/sec.
 PROBLEM SOLVING

4. An ambulance with a siren emitting a steady

frequency of 1200 Hz is moving at 120 km/hr.
What frequency is observed by a stationary
observer as the ambulance approaches? As it
moves away
END…

As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or

not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be
wise or foolish.
- Demosthenes
Quiz

1. Describe how SONAR is able to measure ocean depths.

2. Explain why sound is more audible at night than at day

time.