Unit-16

Sound
What is sound?

• Sound is a form of energy like heat energy,

light energy, potential energy and kinetic
energy. It causes a sensation of hearing in
our ears.
• Sound helps us communicate with each
other.
How is sound produced?
Sound is produced due to the vibration of object.
• The motion of materials or objects causes
vibration.
• Vibration is a kind of rapid to and fro motion of an
object a central position. It is also referred to as
oscillation.
Examples:
(a) A stretched rubber band when plucked vibrates
and produces sound.
(b) In the music room of your school you hear the
sounds made by musical instruments like flute,
tabla, harmonium, guitar etc. because of vibration.
(c) When a spoon is beaten on the plate, it starts
vibrating and produces sound.
How human produces
sound?
Sound Produced by Humans:
• In humans sound is produced because of
vibration of his voice box or larynx.
• It is situated at the upper end of windpipe. There
are two stretched membranes called vocal cords
attached in larynx with a narrow slit between
them for passes air.
• Muscles attached to the vocal cords can make
the cords tight or loose. When the vocal cords
are tight and thin, produce different type or
quality of voice.
Propagation of sound
The travelling of sound is called propagation of sound.
• Sound is propagated by the to and fro motion of
particles of the medium i.e, because of the
disturbance of particles of the medium. Wave is a
phenomenon or disturbance in which energy is
transferred from one point to another without any
direct contact between the points. So, sound is
considered as a wave.
How sound travels?
A medium is necessary for the propagation of
sound.
• The matter or substance through which sound is
transmitted is called a medium. The medium can
be solid, liquid or gas.
• Sound cannot travel in vacuum. A true vacuum
refers to the complete absence of matter. Sound
wave can travel only through matter.
• We hear sound which comes to us through air
medium particles.
• Aquatic animals communicate as sound travels
through water.
How we hear sound
How we hear sound
We hear Sound through Our Ears:
• The funnel shaped outer ear collects the sound.
The sound wave passes through the ear canal to
thin and stretched membrane called eardrum or
tympanum. The ear drum vibrates and produces
vibrations.
• The vibrations are amplified by the three bones of
the middle ear called hammer, anvil and stirrup.
The middle ear then transmits the sound wave to
the inner ear.
• In the inner ear the sound wave converted into
electrical signals by cochlea and send to the brain
through the auditory nerves. The brain interprets
the signals as sound. That is how we hear
How we hear sound
Amplitude, Time
Period and Frequency

• Sound is produced by to and fro motion of an

object is known as vibration. This motion is also
called oscillatory motion or periodic motion
Amplitude
• In a sound wave, the maximum displacement
associated with the particle constituting a wave
is called its amplitude.
• It is represented by ‘A’. SI unit is metre.
Amplitude
Frequency
The number of vibrations and oscillations
completed by an object in one second is the
frequency of the sound.
• Frequency = Number of Oscillation/ Total time
ⱱ = 1/T
• Frequency is expressed in hertz. It is represented
by Hz.
• A frequency of 20 Hz is twenty oscillation per
second.
• If an object oscillates or vibrates 80 times in 1
second, then its frequency will be equal to 80
hertz.
Frequency

From above figure waves have same amplitude but number of vibrations in one
second are different. So their frequencies are different.
Frequency
Time period
The time taken by object or the particle of the
medium for completing one oscillation or
vibration is called the time period.
• It is represented by ‘T’. SI unit is second.
• Time period = Time/ Numbers of oscillation or
vibration.
Loudness & Pitch
• Loudness: Loudness of sound is the measure of
sound energy reaching the ear per second.
Loudness or softness of a sound depends upon
its amplitude. Loudness of sound is
proportional to the square of the amplitude of
the vibration producing the sound.
Loudness α (Amplitude)2

If the amplitude becomes twice, the loudness

increases by a factor of 4. Loudness of sound is
measured in decibel (dB).
Loudness
• Thefollowing table gives different types
loudness of sound coming from various
sources.
Loudness
Pitch
Pitch is the sensation (Brain interpretation) of the
frequency of an emitted sound.
• The pitch of sound (Shrillness or flatness)
depends on the frequency of vibration.
• Sound with greater frequency is shriller and has
higher pitch. Sound with lower frequency is less
shrill and of lower pitch.
• Examples:
(i) Children and women produce high frequency
sound so their sound is shriller or higher pitch. On
the other hand, an adult male produces lower
frequency sound so his sound is less shrill or lower
pitch.
(ii) A drum produces lower frequency sound which
is less shrill or lower pitch, while a whistle
produces higher frequency sound which is shriller
or higher pitch.
Types of sounds
• Audibleand Inaudible Sound:
(i) Sounds of frequency range between 20 Hz to
20,000 Hz are called audible sound. The human
beings can hear the sound range between 20
hertz to 20,000 hertz.
(ii) Sound of frequency below 20 hertz and
above 20,000 hertz is called sound of inaudible
range . Humans cannot hear the sound of
inaudible range.
(iii) Many animals, such as dogs, cats, etc. can
hear the sound with frequency above 20,000
hertz.
Noise and Music
• Noiseand Music:
1. Noise: It is the sound that is unpleasant to
hear. (E.g., Sound produced by vehicles)
2. Music: It is the sound that is pleasant to hear.
(E.g., Sound coming out of musical instruments)

• Noise Pollution:
(i) Presence of excessive, loud, unwanted or
unbearable sound to our ears sounds in the
environment is called noise pollution.
(ii) Examples: sounds of vehicles, explosions
including bursting of crackers, machines,
loudspeakers, television with high volume,
loudspeakers etc
Problems due to noise pollution
(i) Due to noise pollution many types of health
related problems occurs, such as lack of sleep
(insomnia), hypertension (High blood pressure),
loss of hearing, anxiety, etc. Sound above 80 dB is
very painful to hear.

(ii) A person who is exposed to loud sound

continuously may get permanent or temporary
impairment of hearing or loss of hearing.
Measures to limit noise
Noise can be limited or controlled by controlling the noise
source. Noise pollution can be controlled by taking
following steps:
(i) TV, radio or loudspeakers should be played at low
volume.
(ii) By installing high quality silencing devices in vehicles,
air craft engines, industrial machines and home
appliances.
(iii) We should not use loud vehicle horns.
(iv) Noise producing industries should be set up away
from residential areas.
(v) Trees absorb sound. So plantation of trees should be
done along the road sides and around buildings
(vi) Awareness campaign and noisy operations should be
done to make people aware about the harmful effects of
noise pollution and measures to control noise pollution.
Thank You