Book Chapters 16 and 17 Unit 8 - Waves and Sound

Waves are everywhere! Examples of waves: Visible light Radio Microwaves Water Sine, Cosine Stadium Earthquake Slinky String

What is a Wave? A wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium from one location to another location. A wave transports energy but not matter. (The medium is only temporarily displaced and will return to its rest position.) A wave is an energy transport phenomena.

Types of Waves Transverse The vibration of the individual particles of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation Longitudinal The vibration of the individual particles of the medium is parallel to the direction of wave propagation

Properties of Waves

Example Problem #1

Example Problem #2

Another Way of Classifying Waves Mechanical Are NOT able to transport energy through a vacuum (empty space). Require a medium Ex: sound Electromagnetic Are able to transport energy through a vacuum (empty space). Do NOT need a medium. Ex: light

Sound Waves Mechanical because they require a medium. Longitudinal because they oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave. Cause compressions and rarefactions among the air molecules.

How Do Sound Waves Work? A vibrating object (such as a person’s vocal cords, a guitar string, or a tuning fork) causes a disturbance in the air molecules. The frequency of the sound wave refers to how often the particles vibrate when a wave passes through. (Unit: Hertz = vibrations per second) The period is the amount of time between compressions or rarefactions OR can be calculated as the reciprocal of the frequency.

Frequencies We Can Hear Any sound with a frequency below the audible range of human hearing (20 Hz) is known as infrasound. Any sound with a frequency above the audible range of human hearing (20,000 Hz) is known is ultrasound. AnimalMinimumMaximum Human20 Hz20,000 Hz Dog50 Hz45,000 Hz Cat45 Hz85,000 Hz Bat120,000 Hz Dolphin200,000 Hz Elephant5 Hz

Pitch and Music The sensation of frequency is commonly referred to as pitch. High frequency = high pitch and vice versa. Certain sound waves when played simultaneously will produce a pleasant sensation when heard. These are referred to as consonant. These pairings of sound waves form the basis of intervals in music.

Sound Intensity

Decibels

Example Problem #3 The table at the right represents the decibel level for several sound sources. Use the table to make comparisons of the intensities of the following sounds. How many times more intense is the front row of a Smashin' Pumpkins concert than... a.... the 15th row of the same concert? b.... the average factory? c.... normal speech? d.... the library after school? e.... the sound that most humans can just barely hear?

Example Problem #3

The Speed of Sound

Example Problem #4 What is the speed of sound in air when the temperature is 77°C? (77)=378 m/s What is the temperature when the speed of sound is ? = (temp)→temp=20°C

The Speed of Sound

The Doppler Effect The variation of the frequency heard when a source of sound and the ear are moving relative to each other. The frequency heard is different from frequency emitted. If you are in front of the sound, you hear a high frequency, behind it you hear a low frequency.