HOW IS SOUND PRODUCED,

PROPAGATED AND PERCEIVED?

for ADVANCED PHYSICS
Special Science High School Grade 10
Quarter 3/ Week 4

1
 FOREWORD

We humans communicate with each other through

sound. It enables us to send across a message to someone,
be it a comment, a joke, or a cry for help. It aids us in letting
out our emotions and facilitates an effective transfer of
information, making it a channel for our enjoyment and
enhancement.

This self – learning kit discusses about how sound is

produced propagated, and perceived.

2
 OBJECTIVES:
1. Describe the characteristics of sound waves.
2. Discuss how sound is produced, propagated and perceived.
3. Identify the factors that affect the speed of sound.
4. Describe how speed of sound is measured.
5. Identify the different types of wave interactions.
6. Compare and contrast music and noise.

Learning Competencies
1. Relate the frequency (source dependent) and wavelength of sound with
the motion of the source and the listener
(STEM_GP12MWSIIe-37)
2. Solve problems involving sound and mechanical waves in contexts such as,
but not limited to, echolocation, musical instruments, ambulance sounds
(STEM_GP12MWSIIe-38)

I. WHAT HAPPENED
PRE-ACTIVITIES/PRE-TEST:

Matching Type
Directions: Match the items in column A with those in column B. Write only the
letter of your best answer on your notebook.

A B

_____ 1. compression waves a.

!
_____ 2. wave velocity in fluids b.
"

_____ 3. unpleasant sound c. stationary waves

____ 4. unit comparing intensity of d.

sounds
_____ 5. intensity of sound e. frequency
_____ 6. frequency of a sound wave f. Doppler Effect

3
_____ 7. wind instrument g. echo

_____ 8. apparent change in frequency h. decibel

of a wave due to relative motion i. quality
of the source and the observer j. pitch

_____ 9. reflected sound wave produced by k. trumpet

the interference of two waves l. sound waves
traveling in opposite directions, m. noise
having the same wavelength n. 25, 000 Hz

_____ 10. the number of cycles per second o. piano

of a sound wave
Adapted from: You and the Natural World Series: Physics by Navaza and Valdes, 2001

II. WHAT I NEED TO LEARN

DISCUSSION

Sound Waves
Sound is a mechanical wave that results from the back and forth vibration
of the particles of the medium through which the sound wave is moving. If a sound
wave is moving from left to right through air, then particles of air will be displaced
both rightward and leftward as the energy of the sound wave passes through it.
The motion of the particles is parallel (and anti-parallel) to the direction of the
energy transport. This is what characterizes sound waves in air as longitudinal
waves.

Production of Sound
Sound is produced when an object vibrates, creating a pressure wave. This
pressure wave causes particles in the surrounding medium (air, water, or solid) to
have vibrational motion. As the particles vibrate, they move nearby particles,
transmitting the sound further through the medium. The human ear detects sound
waves when vibrating air particles vibrate small parts within the ear.
In many ways, sound waves are similar to light waves. They both originate
from a definite source and can be distributed or scattered using various means.
Unlike light, sound waves can only travel through a medium, such as air, glass, or
metal. This means there’s no sound in space!

https://www.pasco.com/products/guides/sound-wave

4
 Sound waves are composed of compression and rarefaction patterns.
Compression happens when molecules are densely packed together.
Alternatively, rarefaction happens when molecules are distanced from one
another. As sound travels through a medium, its energy causes the molecules to
move, creating an alternating compression and rarefaction pattern. It is important
to realize that molecules do not move with the sound wave. As the wave passes,
the molecules become energized and move from their original positions.

https://www.pasco.com/products/guides/sound-waves

Propagation of Sound

Sound is a sequence of waves of pressure which propagates through

compressible media such as air or water. (Sound can propagate through solids as
well, but there are additional modes of propagation). During their propagation,
waves can be reflected, refracted, or attenuated by the medium. The purpose of
this experiment is to examine what effect the characteristics of the medium have
on sound.

All media have three properties which affect the behavior of sound propagation:

1. A relationship between density and pressure. This relationship, affected

by temperature, determines the speed of sound within the medium.
2. The motion of the medium itself, e.g., wind. Independent of the motion of
sound through the medium, if the medium is moving, the sound is further
transported.
3. The viscosity of the medium. This determines the rate at which sound is
attenuated. For many media, such as air or water, attenuation due to viscosity is
negligible.

Perception of Sound
Sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through a narrow passageway
called the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum.
The eardrum vibrates from the incoming sound waves and sends these
vibrations to three tiny bones in the middle ear. These bones are called the
malleus, incus, and stapes.

The bones in the middle ear amplify, or increase, the sound vibrations and
send them to the cochlea, a snail-shaped structure filled with fluid, in the inner ear.
An elastic partition runs from the beginning to the end of the cochlea, splitting it

5
into an upper and lower part. This partition is called the basilar membrane
because it serves as the base, or ground floor, on which key hearing structures sit.

Once the vibrations cause the fluid inside the cochlea to ripple, a traveling
wave forms along the basilar membrane. Hair cells—sensory cells sitting on top of
the basilar membrane—ride the wave. Hair cells near the wide end of the snail-
shaped cochlea detect higher-pitched sounds, such as an infant crying. Those
closer to the center detect lower-pitched sounds, such as a large dog barking.

As the hair cells move up and down, microscopic hair-like projections

(known as stereocilia) that perch on top of the hair cells bump against an
overlying structure and bend. Bending causes pore-like channels, which are at
the tips of the stereocilia, to open up. When that happens, chemicals rush into the
cells, creating an electrical signal.

The auditory nerve carries this electrical signal to the brain, which turns it into
a sound that we recognize and understand.

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/how-do-we-
hear#:~:text=Sound%20waves%20enter%20the%20outer,bones%20in%20the%20middle%20ear.

https://www.britannica.com/science/ear/The-physiology-of-hearing

Pitch

The pitch is the highness or lowness of a sound. It depends almost

completely on the frequency of the sound wave.

Frequency – the number of sound waves that passes through a point in a certain
amount of time, such as one second. The greater the frequency, the higher the
pitch.

Hertz – the unit used to measure frequency and so pitch is measure in hertz.
The human ear can hear sounds of frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20000 Hz,
this is called audio frequency range.

Ultrasonics – are sound waves of frequency above 20000 Hz.

Infrasonics – are those of frequency below 20 Hz.

6
 https://www.compadre.org/osp/EJSS/4489/274.htm

A change in the frequency of sound that is caused by the movement of

either the source or the listener, or both, is known as the Doppler effect, named
after the Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who discovered it.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-3/The-Doppler-Effect

Loudness
Loudness refers to how loud or soft a sound seems to a listener. The loudness
of sound is determined, in turn, by the intensity of the sound waves. Intensity is a
measure of the amount of energy in sound waves. The unit of intensity is the
decibel (dB).
The loudness of a sound is also determined by the sensitivity of the ear. The
human ear is more sensitive to some frequencies than to others. The volume we
receive thus depends on both the amplitude of a sound wave and whether its
frequency lies in a region where the ear is more or less sensitive.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-examples-of-sound-pressure-levels-in-relation-to-hearing-threshold-and-
pain_tbl1_282001874

7
Intensity – physical quantity that depends on the amplitude of sound but is more
convenient for relating amplitude to perceive loudness.

Timbre

The timbre (tone color or tone quality) of a sound is used to distinguish

between two different sounds that have the same pitch and loudness. This tone
quality is very important because it helps us identify what produced the sound.

The tone quality of a sound depends on the waveform of the sound wave.
If two have different waveforms, we usually perceive different tone qualities. The
simplest waveform is that of a pure tone.

https://www.webassign.net/questi
on_assets/eraucolphysmechl1/
lab_6_1_intro/manual.html

Adapted from: Practical and Explorational Physics by Padua, Crisostomo, Ramos and Rabago, 2003

Speed of Sound

The speed of sound waves does not depend on the source but on the
medium through which they move. Several factors affect the speed of sound as
it travels through a medium.

Density: Sound waves move well through dense materials. The speed of sound is
also affected by air density.
Elasticity: Sound waves move fast through elastic materials. The molecules of these
materials return quickly to their original positions after a disturbance.
Temperature: The speed of sound waves in air also depends on the temperature
of the air. Sound waves travel faster through warm air than through cool air.

https://www.sarthaks.com/246036/the-speed-of-sound-at-a-particular-
temperature-in-various-media-is-listed-in-the-table
Adapted from: Practical and Explorational Physics by Padua, Crisostomo, Ramos and Rabago, 2003

8
 The speed of sound in ideal gases is represented by the equation

𝛾𝑃
𝑣=#
𝜌

Where: P – the pressure of gas in N/m2

ρ – density of gas in kg/m3
γ – a constant which is related to the nature of the gas
(1.67 for monoatomic gases and 1.40 for diatomic
gases)

For large volumes of fluid and simple solids, the equation for the speed of
sound is

𝛽
𝑣=#
𝜌

Where: β – bulk modulus of the medium

ρ – density of the medium

For sound waves in rods, the speed of sound is obtained by using the
equation

Where: Y – Young’s modulus of the medium

𝑌 ρ – density of the medium
𝑣=#
𝜌

Sample Problem 1:

What is the bulk modulus of water where the speed of sound is 1450 m/s?

Given: vsound = 1450 m/s = 1.45 x 103 m/s

Find: β Note: 1 N = 1 kg•m/s2

𝛽 = 𝑣!𝜌
𝛽
𝑣=# !
𝜌 10" 𝑚
𝛽 = '1.45 𝑥 0 (1.0 𝑥 10" 𝑘𝑔/𝑚" )
𝑠
𝛽
𝑣! =
𝜌 β = (2.10 x 106 m2/s2)(1.0 x 103 kg/m3)
β = 2.10 x 109 kg • m/s2/m2 or N/m2

9
Sample Problem 2:

In the middle of a thunderstorm, a lightning bolt flashes. It takes Roberto 5

seconds to hear the thunder afterwards. How far is the source of lightning from
Roberto? The temperature is 22OC.

Given: speed of sound at 22OC (v20) = 346 m/s

increase in speed (i) = 0.6 m/s
time lag (t) = 5 sec
Find: distance of lightning from Roberto (d)

Solution:

a. Find speed of sound in air b. Find the distance

v22 = v20 + 2i d = (v22)t

v22 = 346 m/s + 2(0.6 m/s) d = (347.2 m/s)(5s)
v22 = 347.2 m/s d = 1736 m

Resonance

Objects vibrate at their own particular frequency, known as natural

frequency. A particular pitch is a result of the frequency of a sound wave.

Resonance – the vibration of an object at its natural frequency. It is the common

cause of sound production in musical instruments.

Musical Sounds

There are different kinds of sound. You hear many kinds of music
produced by different kinds of musical instrument. The variety of
sounds produced by these instruments is a result of the manipulation
of the properties of sound – frequency, intensity, and timbre.

Music

The characteristics of musical sounds are pitch, rhythm, melody, harmony,

and quality.

Note – the most basic element of music which is a sound played at a specific
frequency.

Pitch – the highness or lowness of the note

10
Intensity – the loudness of the note

Rhythm – the repeating pattern of beats and makes it possible to keep time to the
music.

Melody – a series of pitches

Harmony – produced when three or more notes are played together

Consonant – music with pleasing combination

Dissonant – music with non-pleasing combination

Consonant Interval – if two notes played together and work well

Noise
This is characterized by loud sounds which can disturb one’s mental or
physical health.

It is generally regarded as unwanted sound and a subtle pollutant which

can threaten the well – being of an individual.

The distinction between music and noise is mathematical form. Music is ordered
sound. Noise is disordered sound.

Music and noise are both mixtures of sound waves of different frequencies.
The component frequencies of music are discrete (separable) and rational (their
ratios form simple fractions) with a discernible dominant frequency. The
component frequencies of noise are continuous (every frequency will be present
over some range) and random (described by a probability distribution) with no
discernible dominant frequency.

Musical Instrument
Musical instruments are classified into three main groups – stringed, wind,
and percussion.

https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/musical-instrument-set_8610228.htm

11
Stringed Instruments – produced a tone when their strings vibrate. When the strings
vibrate more, the volume sound increases. Examples are guitar, violin, and piano.

Wind Instruments – contain a column of air that vibrates when air is blown into the
instrument. Examples are trumpet, flute, and saxophone.

Percussion Instruments – produce sound when they are struck. The sound intensity
depends on how hard one strikes the instrument. Examples are drums, cymbals,
and xylophones.

III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

EVALUATION/POST TEST:

Multiple Choice Test

Directions: Choose the letter of your best answer. Write answers on your
notebook.

_____ 1. If the velocity and frequency of a wave are both reduced to one – half,
the wavelength is _______________.
a. half as large c. twice as large
b. the same d. doubled

_____ 2. Sound waves travel faster in water than in air because water has a
greater ______________.
a. density c. number of molecules
b. bulk modulus d. volume

_____ 3. How fast is a wave moving if its wavelength is 10 meters and its frequency
is 110 Hz?
a. 11 m/s c. 100 m/s
b. 1100 m/s d. 120 m/s

_____ 4. A high – frequency sound has _______________.

a. low pitch c. high pitch
b. low energy d. a and b

_____ 5. The part of the ear where the sound is converted into electrical energy
and sent to the brain as nerve pulses is the _____________.
a. tympanum c. ear canal
b. cochlea d. hair cells

12
 _____ 6. Shortening a vibrating string makes the pitch of the sound produced
________.
a. higher then lower c. higher
b. lower d. remains the same

_____ 7. Sound waves travel faster in _________________.

a. a vacuum b. air c. liquid d. solid

_____ 8. A thick string compared to a thin one of the same lengths and tightness
produces sounds of ______________.
a. the same pitch c. higher pitch
b. lower pitch d. lower then higher pitch

_____ 9. In wind instruments short air columns _________________.

a. sound higher than long ones
b. sound lower than long ones
c. sound the same as that of long ones
d. sound higher then lower than long ones

_____ 10. A closed-organ pipe 0.65 m long is vibrating in its fundamental mode. If
the speed of sound in air at 15OC is 340 m/s, what is the frequency if the
temperature of the air is 25OC?
a. 346 Hz b. 115 Hz c. 260 Hz d. 133 Hz

_____ 11. When a sound wave travels from one place to another, what is
transported?
a. air b. density c. energy d. nothing

_____ 12. Which of the following has the most effect on the speed of sound in air?
a. amplitude c. wavelength
b. frequency d. temperature

_____ 13. The loudness (or intensity) of a sound wave is related to its ________.
a. duration c. amplitude
b. frequency d. wavelength

_____ 14. Sound energy passing per second through a unit area held
perpendicular is called _______________.
a. intensity c. amplitude
b. frequency d. quality

_____ 15. If you have to wait 10 s between the arrival of the flash and the thunder,
you know that the lightning bolt occurred ________ away.
a. 1/10 mile b. 2 miles c. 5 miles d. 10 miles

Adapted from: You and the Natural World Series: Physics by Navaza and Valdes, 2001

13
 References

Alicia L. Padua, Ricardo M. Crisostomo. 2003. Practical and

Explorational Physics. Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.
Delia C. Navaza, Bienvenido J. Valdes. 2001. Physics. Quezon City:
Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
Silverio, Angelina A. 2007. Exploring Life Through Science: Physics.
Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Links:
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/u11l1c.cfm#:~:text=A%20sound
%20wave%20is%20a,the%20bunching%20up%20of%20sound.

https://pages.jh.edu/virtlab/ray/acoustic.htm#:~:text=The%20Propagation%20of
%20sound&text=Sound%20is%20a%20sequence%20of,or%20attentuated%20by%
20the%20medium.

https://intl.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10/sound/10-sound-03

https://physics.info/music/

https://coolscienceexperimentshq.com/musical-jars/

https://www.britannica.com/science/ear/The-physiology-of-hearing
https://www.compadre.org/osp/EJSS/4489/274.htm
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-3/The-Doppler-Effect
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-examples-of-sound-pressure-levels-in-
relation-to-hearing-threshold-and-pain_tbl1_282001874
https://www.webassign.net/question_assets/eraucolphysmechl1/lab_6_1_intro/
manual.html
https://www.sarthaks.com/246036/the-speed-of-sound-at-a-particular-
temperature-in-various-media-is-listed-in-the-table
https://medium.com/@shivamclassy/how-to-protect-your-musical-instruments-
from-common-damages-24a56710ded6

14
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

FAY C. LUAREZ, TM, Ed.D., Ph.D.

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Acting CID Chief

NILITA L. RAGAY, Ed.D.

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMDS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS – Division Science Coordinator

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)

ERICSON B. ELNAR
Writer

ERICSON B. ELNAR
Lay-out Artist
_______________________________
ALPHA QA TEAM
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA
ADELINE FE D. DIMAANO
VICENTE B. MONGCOPA
FLORENTINA P. PASAJINGUE

BETA QA TEAM
ARNOLD D. ACADEMIA
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA
ADELINE FE D. DIMAANO
ROWENA R. DINOKOT
GENEVA FAYE L. MENDOZA
VICENTE B. MONGCOPA
FLORENTINA P. PASAJINGUE

DISCLAIMER

The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide
accessible learning modality to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The
contents of this module are carefully researched, chosen, and evaluated to comply with the set
learning competencies. The writers and evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to
information and illustrations used to substantiate this material. All content is subject to copyright and
may not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent from the division.

15
SYNOPSIS
This self-learning kit will serve
as a guide how sound is
produced, propagated, and 11. C 12. D 13. C 14. A 15. B

perceived. This will also discuss 6. C 7. D 8. B 9. A 10. D

about musical sound and how it 1. B 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. B

is different from noise. You can Post Test:

also read about the factors 10. E 9. G 8. F 7. K 6. J

affecting the pitch, the loudness,

5. B 4. H 3. M 2. D 1. L

timbre, and the speed of sound.

Pretest
Answer Key

WRITER, LAY-OUT ARTIST

ERICSON B. ELNAR, Secondary School Teacher III

of Zamboanguita Science High School,
Zamboanguita Negros Oriental. A graduate of
Bachelor of Technician Education major in
Electronics Technology and Mathematics and
currently taking up Master of Arts in Mathematics
Teaching (CAR) at Negros Oriental State
University. He has been teaching for eleven
years in the said institution.

16