Sound: Sound is a form of energy & wave or disturbance that gives us the sensation of hearing.

It is produced via
vibration.It is a type of longitudinal wave, since the particles of medium vibrate back and forth when it passes
through it and with a series of C’s and R’s. It is also a mechanical wave since it needs a ,medium to propagate.
Sound needs medium to propagate bcoz if there is no medium, then there will be no particles that will vibrate
and produce sound, and hence no C’s and R’s will be formed resulting in no formation of sound.

 Propagation of sound:
When an object vibrates it sets the particles of the medium around it vibrating, the particles do not travel all the
way from the object to the ear. A particle in contact with the object first starts vibrating, it then exerts a force on
the neighbouring particle which as a result starts vibrating due to which the initial particle stops. This process
continues until sound reaches the ear. Sound travels through the medium and takes the energy up to the
listener. When a vibrating object vibrates forth then the air surrounding it gets compressed making a region of
high pressure Compression(C), and when the object vibrates back then the air surrounding it moves backwards,
making a region of low pressure Rarefaction(R). Pressure is related to the number of particles of a medium in a
given volume. More density of pressure gives more pressure and vice versa. Thus, sound propagation can also be
visualized as propagation of density or pressure variations. These make the sound wave or disturbance that
propagates through the medium.

 Characteristics of Sound:

1. One oscillation is change in density from one max val to one min val and again to the max val.
2. Wavelength(λ.) is the distance between 2 consecutive C’s or R’s. It’s SI unit is (m), shown as lambda.
3. Frequency(ν) is the number of oscillations in a unit time. It’s SI unit is (Hz), represented as nu.1Hz = 1v/s.
4. Pitch is how the brain interprets the frequency of an emitted sound to be sharp or shrill. Pitch ∝ Frequency.
5. Time Period(T) is the time taken for one complete oscillation. It’s SI unit is second(s). T=1/v and v=1/T.
6. Timberness enables us to distinguish two sounds of same pitch and loudness.
7. Intensity is the amount of sound passing each second through a unit area.
8. Tone is a sound of single frequency whereas Note is a sound of multiple frequencies.
9. Speed(V) of sound is distance travelled by it at a given time interval. V = λv. It depends on the temp of
medium.
10. Amplitude(A) is the max displacement of the particles from their undisturbed positions, when a wave passes.
SI unit = (m). Amplitude depends on the force with which an object is made to vibrate, therefore loudness of
sound is depends on amplitude. Basically loudness is something through which our ears detect sound energy.If
two sounds with the same intensity were to come then one will be heard louder since our ears will detect it
better.

 Reflection of Sound
Bouncing back of sound due to being hit by a hard, opaque object in its path, is called reflection of sound.
1. Incident, Normal, Reflected ray all lie in the same plane.
2. Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection.

Echo, is the sensation of hearing the same voice repeatedly due to successive reflections. To hear a distinct echo,
the time interval between the original sound and the reflected one must be atleast 0.1 seconds. At 22 degrees,
with v = 344m/s, hence the total dist travelled is 344m/s * 0.1s = 34.4m, dividing it by 2 we get 17.2m for echo.
For Echo to fin distance, we use the formula, Speed x time = Distance/2.
For Echo to fin time, we use the formula, Time = Distance*

Reverberation, is the persistence of sound due to repeated reflection to the point where it is no longer audible.
Certain measures are taken to reduce reverberation.
1. In big halls roofs, walls are covered with sound absorbent materials like, compressed fibreboard, draperies.
2. The seat materials are also selected on the basis of there sound properties.
3. Creating a dome like ceiling.
4. Adding curtains, since sound reflects from hard objects.
5. Adding holes, so that sound waves can escape, etc are some ways to control reverberation.

Uses of Multiple reflections:

Infrasounds, are used by Whales and and Elephants to communicate, Rhinos use a frequency as low as 5Hz. It is
also observed that earthquakes produce low frequency infrasound before the main wave, alerting the animals.

Ultrasounds, are produced by Dolphins, Bats, Porpoises, Rats and Moths of certain families.

It’s Applications:
1. Used to clean parts located in hard to reach parts in industries, big machines, electronic components. Objects are
placed on a cleaning sol, where ultrasonic waves are sent. Due to high v, particles get detached and the object is
cleaned.
2. Used to detect cracks or flaws in underground pipes and metallic components used for huge buildings etc, which
are invisible from outside. Ultrasonic waves are used to pass through the metallic pipes, and detectors are used
to detect the transmitted waves. If there is even a small deflect, waves reflect back indicating the flaw or defect.
3. Ultrasound Scanner is an instrument that uses ultrasonic waves to get images of internal organs of a body. In this
technique ultrasonic waves travel through the body and get reflected from a region where there is a change of
tissue density, these waves are then converted to electrical signals to generate images which are displayed in the
monitor
4. EchoCardioGraphy, the process in which ultrasonic waves are made to reflect fro various parts of heart and
create it’s image.
5. UltraSonoGraphy using Ultrasound Scanner is done by doctors to image the internal organs of a patient and
check if there is a defect or abnormality in the organ. It is also used for the examination of the foetus during
pregnancy.

Hearing Aid, is an electronic batter operated device. It receives sound through a microphone converts the sound
waves to electrical signals, which are then amplified by an amplifier and then given to the speaker of hearing aid.
The speaker then converts the amplified electrical signal to sound and sends to ear for clear hearing.