The Nature and Characteristics of Sound

The Nature and
Characteristics of Sound
Acoustics
Presented by:
Jenimel G. Tranquillero
Cindy V. Merisco
BSEd Physical Science 3A
Facilitated by:
Mary Grace B. Galagate
Professor
THINK ABOUT THIS?
What is life without sound?

NATURE OF SOUND
Sound waves are compressional

waves produced by longitudinal
vibrations of molecules in gases
and other media.
NATURE OF SOUND
Vibration of molecules refers to

the to-and-fro oscillation of
molecules as a disturbance
travels through a medium.
NATURE OF SOUND
Elasticity is the capacity of

matter to transmit sound depends
upon its property. Elastic solids are
good media for transmitting
sound.
NATURE OF SOUND
Sound is a longitudinal wave

created by vibrating objects and
capable of producing a
sensation in our auditory system.
NATURE OF SOUND
The audible range of frequency

for humans is from 20 – 20, 000 Hz.
NATURE OF SOUND
Our ability to hear high-

frequency sounds deteriorates with
age. As one grows older, he might
have difficulty hearing high-
frequency sound.
NATURE OF SOUND
Persons who are always exposed

to loud sounds for long periods of
time may suffer from impaired
hearing, particularly in the higher
frequencies.
NATURE OF SOUND
Animals have different audible
ranges.
Dogs: 50 – 45, 000 Hz
Cats: 45 – 85, 000 Hz
Bats: up to 120, 000 Hz
Elephants: 5 – 10, 000 Hz
NATURE OF SOUND
Infrasound or infrasonic waves are

sounds with frequencies lower than
20 Hz.
Ultrasound or ultrasonic waves are
sounds with frequencies higher than
20, 000 Hz. (Acoustics window)
NATURE OF SOUND
NATURE OF SOUND
Sound is a mechanical wave. It
requires a medium to propagate. It
cannot travel in a vacuum.
No sound will be heard if a
ringing bell is placed inside an
evacuated jar.
NATURE OF SOUND
The nature and propagation of

sound waves may be
demonstrated by a tuning fork. The
tuning fork is just a metal object
with two prongs.
NATURE OF SOUND
NATURE OF SOUND
Compression or Condensation is a
process in a region produced
density and pressure higher than the
normal. The forward vibration of the
prongs pushes the air molecules to
the right and compresses them.
NATURE OF SOUND
Rarefaction is a process where

prongs move back, they produce
a region of decreased density
and pressure.
NATURE OF SOUND
NATURE OF SOUND
NATURE OF SOUND
Sounds that we hear every

day may be classified a noise
or music.
NATURE OF SOUND
Music is produced by regular

and uniform vibrations that
create a pleasant sensation to
the ear because there is rhythm
and harmony. (relax-feeling)
NATURE OF SOUND
Noise is produced by irregular

and erratic vibrations that create
an unpleasant sensation to the
ear. (stress-feeling)
NATURE OF SOUND
NATURE OF SOUND
Formula:
𝒀
𝒗 = √ for solids
𝝆
𝜷
𝒗 = √ for liquids and gases
𝝆
𝜸𝑷 𝜸𝑹𝑻
𝒗 = √ =√ for gases
𝝆 𝑴
NATURE OF SOUND
Y is the Young’s Modulus
𝝆 is density
𝜷 is the bulk modulus
𝜸 is the ratio of specific heat at constant pressure to
the specific heat at constant volume.
R is the universal gas constant (8.314 J/mol.K
T is absolute temperature
M is the molecular mass.
NATURE OF SOUND
PROBLEM:
Air is a common medium where
sound propagates. What is the
speed of sound in air at 0 degree
Celsius.
NATURE OF SOUND
PROBLEM:
Air is a common medium where
sound propagates. What is the
speed of sound in air at 0 degree
Celsius.
NATURE OF SOUND
SOLUTION:
We assume that air is 80% nitrogen
and 20% oxygen. The molecular
masses of nitrogen gas and oxygen
gas are 28g/mol and 32g/mol.
Computing the molecular mass of
air.
NATURE OF SOUND
M = 0.8 (28 g/mol) + 0.2 g/mol
(32 g/mol)
= 29 g/mol
= 0.029 kg/mol
NATURE OF SOUND
We are given T = 273 K, R = 8.314
joule/mol.K, and 𝛾 = 1.40
𝛾𝑅𝑇
v=√
𝑀 𝐽
1.40 𝑥 8.314 𝑥 273𝐾
=√ 𝑚𝑜𝑙
0.029 𝑘𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
= 331 m/s
NATURE OF SOUND
PROBLEM:
How deep is the school of fish if the
sonar echo is received 0.050 s after it
was sent? The bulk modulus of water
is 2.2 x 109 N/𝑚2 and density of sea
water is 1 030 kg/𝑚 .
3
NATURE OF SOUND
SOLUTION:
𝜷
𝒗= √
𝝆
𝟐.𝟐 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝑵/𝒎
= √
𝟏 𝟎𝟑𝟎 𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝟑
= 1 460 m/s
NATURE OF SOUND
Distance?
d = vt
= (1 460 m/s) (0.050 s)
= 73 m
NATURE OF SOUND
Velocity of Sound
The speed at which sound travels
depends on the media through which
the sound is traveling. It is much faster
in a solid than in a liquid or gas. Light
travels faster than sound. (Lightning)
NATURE OF SOUND
Speed of sound in normal

air is 343 m/s.
In water the speed of
sound is 1433 m/s.
NATURE OF SOUND
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND
Pitch (frequency) refers to

the highness or lowness of a
sound. It depends upon the
frequency of the sounding
object.
It should also be recalled

that the high-frequency
sound gives rise to short
waves and low frequency
sound to long waves.
A low-pitched sound must

be a low frequency sound
consisting of long waves.
It refers to the number of

sound waves you are
sending out per second.
Loudness (intensity) of sound is

closely associated with intensity
and the sensation in the ear
that depends on the energy in
the sound wave.
Intensity refers to the energy

delivered to a unit area of a
surface per unit time. SI unit:
(watts/m2)
Greater intensity means
louder sound.
Loudness may be increased in three

different ways:
The energy of sound is increased.
The sound waves are prevented from
spreading in different directions.
Sound waves are collected and
focused at the receiving end.
10-12 watt per square centimeter

has a sound level of
b = 10 log10 (10-12/10-16)
= 40 decibels (dB).
Decibel is derived from the name

of its discoverer,
Alexander Graham Bell
(March 3, 1847 – August 2, 1922).
The unit decibel (dB) is

not actually a unit, it is
dimensionless.
Quality (timbre) is that

property of a tone that
distinguishes it from another
tone of the same pitch and
intensity produced by a
different instrument.
Hermann Helmholtz found

out that the quality of a sound
is determined by the number
and relative intensities of the
harmonics superimposed with
the fundamental.
Do this?
Perform the differences of

noise and music (by group).
Thank you!

The Nature and Characteristics of Sound

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Nature and Characteristics of Sound

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Nature and Characteristics of Sound

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What is the nature of sound?

What is the nature of sound?

What are some characteristics of sound?

What are some characteristics of sound?

The Nature and

What is life without sound?

Sound waves are compressional

Vibration of molecules refers to

Elasticity is the capacity of

Sound is a longitudinal wave

The audible range of frequency

Our ability to hear high-

Persons who are always exposed

Infrasound or infrasonic waves are

The nature and propagation of

Rarefaction is a process where

Sounds that we hear every

Music is produced by regular

Noise is produced by irregular

Speed of sound in normal

Pitch (frequency) refers to

It should also be recalled

A low-pitched sound must

It refers to the number of

Loudness (intensity) of sound is

Intensity refers to the energy

Loudness may be increased in three

10-12 watt per square centimeter

Decibel is derived from the name

The unit decibel (dB) is

Quality (timbre) is that

Hermann Helmholtz found

Perform the differences of

You might also like