Propagation of Sound Waves

SYLLABUS
ure of sound waves, Requirement of medium
Nature a
for sound waves to travel; propagation and speed in
media: comparison with speed of light. diferen
Scope Sound propagation, terms- frequency (, wavelength (A), velocity (V), relation
aroblems), effect of different factors on the speed of sound; comparison of V= fa (simple numerical
consequences of the large difference in these speeds in air, thunder and lightning. speed of sound with speed of
light,
Infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonicfrequencies and their applications.
Scope Elementary 1deas and simple applications only. Difference between ultrasonic and supersonic.

(A) PRODUCTION AND PROPAGATION OF SOUND WAVE

8.1 SOUND AND ITS PRODUCTION FROM It is noticed that the string starts vibrating and
VIBRATIONS simultaneously a sound is heard. After some time
Everyday we hear sounds from various sources. when the string stops vibrating, no sound is heard.
For example, sound of a morning alarm, church bell, Experiment (2) Take a thin wire and stretch it
school bell, car horn, a dog barking, music from between two nails about a metre apart. Place a small
different instruments, etc. Although we do not see bit of paper as rider near the middle of the wire and
sound coming to us, but sound reaches our ears in the pluck the wire near the rider as shown in Fig. 8.2.
form of waves formed due to vibrations of particles
It is observed that the rider flies off as the wire
of the medium (i.e. air). The waves carry mechanical starts vibrating and a sound is heard. After some time
energy of the vibrating particles with them so as to when the wire stops vibrating, no sound is heard.
produce a sensation of hearing in our ears. Thus

Sound is a form of energy that produces the

.

. ...
WIRE
sensation of hearing in our ears.

Sound is produced by vibrations

OI
Sound is produced when a body vibrates. Fig. 8.2 A vibrating wire produces sound
Following experiments demonstrate this fact.
Experiment (3): Take a
Experiment (1) : Stretch a string by holding one
end in mouth between the teeth and the other end in
tuning fork which is a

rectangular rod of steel

one hand as shown in Fig. 8.1. Pluck it by the other (or aluminium) bent iin U THE BALL
TABLE TENNIS
hand near the middle. shape, with a metallic MOVES
AWAY BALL
stem at the bend. Strike
RUBBER STRING
VIBRATING
its one arm on a rubber PRONGS
pad and bring it near
TUNING
a table tennis ball FORK

suspended by a thread as Fig. 8.3 A vibrating tuning

shown in Fig. 8.3. fork producing sound

It is noticed that as the arm of the vibrating

Fig. 8.1 A vibrating rubber string produces sound
tuning fork is brought close to the ball, the ball jumps
173
 of sound. This can
toand fro and sound of the vibrating tuning fork is propagation
demonstrated by the lowing easily be
heard.When its arm stops vibraing. the ball becu xperiment.
eriment (Bell jar experiment
stationary and no sound is heard.
Experiment (4): Take and beat it. The electric belland air tight glass oell ake
an n

the bell jar. The

drum a
electric bell is suspended inside
membrane vibrates which can be felt by touching Jar. The
is connected to a vacuum
it and the sound of the drum is
heard. As the bell jar 8.4. pump
the circuit of electric
as shown
membrane stops vibrating, no sound is heard. This in Fig. As
bell is
completed by pressing thekey, the
showsthat the vibrating drum_ produces sound. electric bell is seen to st+ke the
he gong
gong
hammer ofthe
repeatedly
Experiment (5) : If the string of a sitar (or guitar and the sound of the bell is heard.
IS plucked, the string starts vibrating and its sound
is heard. Now keeping the key pressed, air is
withdrawn from the jar by starting gradu
Similarly on blowing a whistle, the air inside the
pump. It is noticed that the loudness of sound Wum
whistle starts vibrating and a sound is heard. on decreasing as the air is taken goes
out-from the bell
rom theabove experiments, it is concluded that jar and finally
no sound is heard when the
enttre
sOund is produced when a body vibrates. the
As it stops air from jar has been drawn out. The
ammer
vibrating, the sound produced by it ceases. hus of electric bell is still seen striking thegong
which that the
A vibrating body is source of soun.
repeatedly means
gong still is
vibrating to produce sound (ashammer strikes the
a

Sound is a form of energy: Mechanical energy gong), but it is not heard.

is
required to start vibrations in a body producing Explanation : When the hammer of the bell
sOund. The vibrations of the
body are transmitted in hits the gong, sound is produced due to the vibrations
a medium in the form of waves from that point to the of the gong which travels through air to the wall of
next and so on. These waves on reaching our ears, the jar. This causes the wall of jar to vibrate due to
produce vibrations in the eardrum which are perceived which the air outside the jar is also set in vibration
as sound by us. Thus, sound is a form of energy. Thus sound is heard by us. But when air has been
8.2 SOUND PROPAGATION REQUIRESA removed from the jar, sound produced due to
MATERIAL MEDIUM vibrations of the gong could not travel to the wallLof
the jar, so wall could not vibrate and no sound is
Sound produced by a vibrating body travels heard. This
clearly demonstrates that sound requirs
from one place to other through the mechanical a material medium for its transmission and it cannot
vibrations of the particles of a medium in form of
waves. Thus a material medium is required for the
travel through vacuum. Thus,
A material medium is necessary_for the
BATTERY KEY
propagation of sound from one place to another

Requisites of the medium

The mediumrequired for propagation ofsound
must possess the following three properties:
BELLJAR i) The medium must be elastic so thatits particles
ELECTRIC BELL
may come back to their initial positions after
displacement on cither side. i.e. the particlesae
capable of vibrating about their mean positions.
TO VACUUM PUMP
(11) The medium must have inertia so that i1s
particles may store mechanical energy.
Fig.8.4 Sound requires medium (bell jar experiment)

174
 so that right side near the strip in their undisturhed (or
i) The medium should be frictionless of normal) position.
there is no loss of energy in propagation
sound through it. As the strip moves to the right from a to h in
Fig. 8.5(b), it pushes the particles of air in lavers in
Sound can propagate- not only in gases, but
front of it. So the particles of air in these layers ger
Some materials such as
aso in solids and liquids. closer to each other i.e.. air of these layers gets
sound through
ai Water, iron etc., can easily transmit other hand, compressed (or compression is formed at The C).
On the
them from one place to another. particles of these layers while moving towards right.
most of the sound
blanket, thick curtains etc., absorb push and compress the layers next to them.
which
on them and transmit or
reflect only a small Thus the
incident then compress the next layers and so on.
fraction ofit. disturbance moves forward in form of compression.
On moon, but they
travel in The particles of the medium get displaced,
vacuum.
Sound cannot
can
moon, one do not move along with the compression.
there is no medium, therefore on
others.
nothear the sound produced by As the metal strip starts returning from b to a
in front. the
require any material in Fig. 8.5(c) after pushing the particles
Note : Light does not
and thus can particles of air near the strip starts returning
back to
medium for its propagation of the
as well. their mean positions due to the elasticity
vacuum
propagate through medium.
A MEDIUM to c in
PROPAGATION OF SOUND IN When the strip moves to the left from a
8.3
of air near it
When a source of sound vibrates, 1titcreatc" Fig. 8.5(d), it pushes back the layers
(i.e., the of very
disturbance in the medium near
towards its left and thus produces a space
periodic The disturbance low pressure on its right side.
The air layers on the
state of particles
of medium changes).
waves. This can in this region hus
then travels in the medium in form of right side of the strip expand of low
the following examples. forming the rarefied air layers. This region
be understood by called the rarefaction R
pressure is
it
a thin metal strip. Keeping
Example 1: Take its normal
fix its lower end. Push its upper
end to o n e
When the strip returms from c to
vertical, the rarefaction R
then release it. As it
vibrates (i.e. m o v e s
position a in Fig. 8.5(e). it pushes
side and
and left) sound is
heard. forward and the air layers near the strip again pass
alternately to the right of
undisturbed or normal through their mean positions due to the elasticiry
shows the
Fig. 8.5(a) air layers on the the medium.
metal strip and the
position of the In this manner, as strip moves to the right and
Air ayers and rarefaction
Metal strip
left repeatedly, the compression
II|I||1|I one after the other
which carry
(a) Normal condition regions are produced
disturbance with it with a definite speed
the
ab nature of the
medium. Graduaily
depending on the
loses its energy to the
due to friction. the strip
(b)
and the disturbance dies
out
medium
to and fro motion of the strip
One complete which
compression and one rarefaction
(c) forms one
This wave in which
R C constitute one wave.
together
about their mean
the of medium vibrate
particles
direction of propogation
of sound.
(d)
positions, in the sound travels in
wave. Thus
is called a longitudinal the
waves. Actually

(e) air in form of longitudinal

in solids. liquids
w a v e s can be produced
in air
longitudinal
Fig.8.5 Propagation of disturbance
175
as well as gases. At compressions, the density and
The wave in which the particl.

pressure of the medium is maximum, while at vibrate about their mean position of medium
rpendicular to the direction of
raretaction
is minimum.
the density and pressure of the medium perpe

wave, is called the. transverse wave.

wave is composed of a crest and
propagation ection
o
Example 2: In the above example, formation
position of max1mum upward
transverseThe
a rough.
of waves in air could not be seen by the eye. The displaceme- is
a crest, while the position of maximu
Tormation of waves can easily be seen on the num called
displacement is called trough. They dowward
a
Surface of water. If we drop a
piece of stone m
the still water of a pond, we hear the sound or alternating in time at posit a
Transve rsekeepwaveson
can only be produced in solids
ids and on
stone striking the water surface. Actually a the
disturbance is produced in water at the point where
the stone strikes it. This disturbance spreads in all
of liquids. They cannot be produ
and in gases.
produced inside lsurface
iquids
directions radially outwards in form of circular Characteristics of wave motion: (A.
ad awave
waves (or ripples) on the surface of water as is produced by the periodic disturbanc
poina
in the medium.
shown in Fig. 8.6.
(2) Due to propagation of wave in a mea
PIECE OF STONE the particles of medium vibrate about tham
positions (without leavingttheir
their
mean
positions)
and
is transferred with a constant speed from one. energy
from one place
of the medium to the other place.

Fig.8.6 Ripples (or waves) formed on the surface of water

8.4 SOME TERMS
MOTION
RELATED TO WAVE
on dropping a piece of stone in i

Now if we place a piece of cork on the water

) Amplitude: Whena wave passes
througha
medium, the maximum displacement of the partice
surface at some distance away from the point where
the stone strikes the water, we notice that the cork
of the medium on either side of its mean position, is
called the amplitude of wave. It is denoted by the
does not mnove ahead, but it moves up and down, letter a. Its S.I. unit is metre (m).
while the wave moves ahead. The reason is that the
cork along with the particles of water (or medium) (ii) Time period: The time taken by a
start vibrating up and down at the point where the particle of a medium to complete its one vibration
stone strikes. These particles then transfer their energy is called the time period of wave. It is denoted by
to the other neighbouring particles and they the letter T. Its S.I. unit is second (S).
themselves come back to their mean positions. This (ii) Frequency : The number of vibrations
process continues and thus the disturbance moves made by a particle of a medium in one second is
ahead on the water surface in form of waves as shown called the frequency of wave. It is the same as
in Fig.8.7. The waves die out as soon as the energy the number of waves passing through a point in
one second. It is denoted by the letter f,. n or
imparted by the stone gets dissipated. However, it is
possible to obtain a continuously travelling wave if a v (nu). Its S.I. unit is second (symbol s) or

periodic disturbance is produced at the point on the hertz (symbol Hz).

water surface that was struck by the stone. T are related
The frequency f and time period
Direction of motion of as
Cork
Crest Crest disturbance . (8.1
-- -0---------
--E Irougn:Iougl-:Piece of stone- ---

*In time Ts, number of vibrations = 1

Fig. 8.7 Propagation of disturbance on the surface of water. I n 1 s, number of vibrations = 1/T =f

176
 a wave is equal
to the presented by the letter T. Note that cach particle of
The frequency of the medium goes through such motion, not
1s the
vibration of its sOurce. It
frequency of but after another as the wave
source which produces
the simultaneously, one
characteristic of the moves in the medium.
not depend on the amplitude
disturbance. It does
which 8.9
of vibration or on
the nature of medium in Displacement-distance graph: Fig.
shows the displacement-distance graph of a
the wave propagates.
transverse wave at an instant. Here amplitude of
iv) Wavelength The distance travelled by
vibration oJ a parucles of wave is shown by the letter a and
the wave in one time period of wavelength is shown by the letter . The curve
is called its wavelength.
particle of the medium, of
It is denoted by the letter
(lambda). Is S.l. unt snows he displaced positions of particles
medium trom their mean positions at an instant
in
on the medium
is metre (m). Its value depends when wave propagates through the medium. It is
which the wave travels.
also called snap-shot of a wave.
the distance between
longitudinal wave,
In a
or between
two
two consecutive compressions
to one
consecutive rarefactions
is equal
wave, the
wavelength, while in
a transverse
Distarce
consecutive crests or
distance between two
is equal to one .
tween two
consecutive troughs
Fig.8.9 Displacement- distance graph of a wave
yelength.
distance trave!led by 8.5 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
(v)Wave velocity: The
WAVELENGTH, WAVE VELOCITY AND
second is called its wave velocity
or
a wave in one
with which energy is FREQUENCY
wave speed. It is the speed
place to another place by Let velocity of a wave be V, time period T
transferred from one
individual frequency f and wavelength . By the definition of
wave motion. It isnot the velocity of an
mean position. It is wavelength.,
particle vibrating about its
the letter V. Its S.I. unit is
metre per
denoted by Wavelength = Distance travelled by the wave
second (m s'). in one time period i.e., in T
It may be noted that the wave velocity is seecond
constant for a given medium. It depends on the Wave velocity x Time period
elasticity and the density of the medium. The = Vx T

velocity changes when the wave passes from one

medium to the other medium. Or VT= .(8.2)
Displacement-time graph: Fig. 8.8 shows the
variation of displacement with time for a particle of
But
T
. From eqn. (8.2),
the medium at a given position, when a wave
propagates through the medium. It is called
Vx
displacement-time graph. In Fig. 8.8, the amplitude
is represented by the letter a and time period is or
V ..(8.3)
Therefore,
Wave velocity Frequency
= x
Wavelength
ime t
8.6 SPEED OF SOUND IN DIFFERENT MEDIA
While standing at some distance from a
Fig.8.8 Displacement - time graph of a particle of a wave blacksmith, it is our common experience that when
177
 the blacksmith srike his hamner on au inNI HeKO%
the sound
proluced on striking thw haner is and dant Hev eiti
t th heat
a short-while ater the hamner is sevn stuikIIng andPi tlhe m
Similarly the sound ol a vracker IN heavd only a loue Ae f the
MAN
later than it has
exploded (i.e., when tlash iN een
This indieates that sound
does not rearh u MAN iN ven as
instantaneously but i tuavels in a mediun wih a
Tinite speed and it takes somme tinne to
wach UN th
the place where it is
producod.
The speed of sound in a medum deponls (mn The value ot y kepeNN n the maltiny.
the following nwo lactors edin or air, y is 4
(i) the elasticity E of the mediunm, and This moditied tomula (eqn. 8.6)
a
(ii) the density p of the nedium oreet value vt the yNedd of sunmd. At N the
The speed of sound in a medium is given by ai,laking Y 4 = T0l 10 N N.TP.
the relation
which agees with the evjermental vatlue
(8.4)
The syeed of wund is dhtlerent in diterent mota
where E is the modulus of The speed of wund N mone in olids, less
elasticity (Young's
modulus in case of solids or bulk modulus in case ot liguids and least n gases ( sInee solids une
fluids ) and p is the density of the uh w r clastic than liuqunls and gases), The
mediunn. Need of sund is nearly St00 nms 'in steel, 14s
Newton assumed that when sound travels in
a gas, the temperature of gas dloes not change (i.e.. msin water anl AO m s 'in au ator
the propagation of sound is an isothemal
change). Table below gives the speed of sound in
For isothermal change, modulus of elasticity is ditteent media at oC.
cqual to the pressure i.. E =P Thus fro Speed ol sound in o e media
eqn. (8.4), specd of sound in a gas is given as
Medium Spevd of suund ( lu ms')
P (tnes
V (8.5)
Au
Carbon dioxile
For air at normal temperature and presure (N.T.P). lydrvgen 70
P= 101 x l0° N m p= 1-293 kg m ', so Vcomes liquids
outto be 2795 ms' But experimentally the speed Alcobol

ofsound in air is found to be nearly 330 ms. Thus Tupentine

Water
speed of sound calculated by using Newton's formula Solids
eqn. (8.5) is found to be lower than the experimental Copper
value. Steel
Glass $5000
Later on, the scientist Laplace applieda
CGiranite
correction to the above relation. According to
Laplace, when sound travels in a gus, during the Examples showing that the speed of sound fn
formation of compression and rarefaction, thhere is steel is more than that in air
no exchange of heat in the medium i.e., the
() It sound is
produced at one cnl ol a very
propagation of sound is an adiabatic change. For
long steel bar, two sounds are heand at the other ent
an adiabatic change. modulus of elasticity E =
YP One which reaches first, is
propugated through s
Fluids include liquids und gase and the other which is hearnd later, is though an.
178
 (2) A person living near the railway track
often presses his ear against the steel rail to guess
air at oC is 30 m sA 25C, the spoed otM
sound in this air will e
whether a train is coming or not. The reason is

that the vibratio produced by the moving wheels

V'=V+061r= 30+06l x 25= u5 25 m
af train, travel much faster through the steel rail i) Eeet of humidin The syvnd of wun
m air inereases with the incase in humialin in
han through air. So sound is heard
through track
much before it is heard through air. Thus the
air. The density of water vapour is about th tumes
rson by hearing the sound through the steel rail
person

of the the density of dry air at ondinary temperaun

gets
an
indicat coming of train well
therefore the increase of moisture in air tends t
sOund is heard.
before its decrease the density of air. Hence the spNed t
FACTORS AFFECTING THE SPEED OF sound in the humid air is greater than the speed ot
8.7
SOUND IN A GAS sound in dry air. ln other wonds, the svnunl inavels

The speed of sound in

gas is affected by
a faster in humid air than in dry air
in () density, (1i) temperature (iv) Epect of direetion ef wind : The speed
the change
and (iv) direction of wind. ef sound increases or decruses avwnding to the
(i) humidity. direction of travel of wind. If wind is blowing in
() of density : From relation
Effect the direction of propagation of sound. the speed
the of sound inereases, while if it is blowing in a
i t isclear that V ie.. speed
V direction opposite to that of the sound, the specd
inversely proportional
to the square
of sound is of sound decreases.
the gas. The density of oxygen
If V is the speed of sound in still air and Wis
root of density
of
the hydrogen, therefore the
density of the speed of wind. the speed of sound bccomes
is 16 times four times the speed
in hydrogen is V+Wwhen wind blows in the dinection of travel of
speed of sound
V- Wwhen
ofsound in oxygen
sound and the speed of sound becomes
ii Efect of temperature: The speed of wind blows in to the direetion
the direction opposite lies
increases with the increase in of travel of sound. In general. speed in betwen
sound in a gas
Ihe reason is that with these values.
the gas.
temperature of
the density of gas Erample : The sound of a distant musie is
temperature.
the increase in
the speed of sound and loudly heand if it is coming with the
decreases and consequently quickly
the of sound is directly
speed wind. On he other hand. it is difficult to hear if the
increases. In fact,
root of temperature of wind blows in opposite direction.
proportional to the square
the medium i.e., V
«
T where T is the 8.8 FACTORS NOT AFFECTING THE SPEED
in the Kelvin scale. OF SOUND IN A GAS
temperature of the gas
about The speed of sound in a gas is not affected by
The of sound in air increases by
speed
change in (i) pressure. (ii) amplitude of
for each degree wave,
0-61 m s- (or 61 per second)
cm the
that the rise and (ii) wavelength or frequeney of wave.
celsius rise in temperature (provided

() Effect of pressure: The speed ofsound

in temperature is not very large). i.e., in a
formula
0-61t ..(8.7) gas is independent of pressure. In the
V= Vo +
P remains unchanged with the
still V=. the ratio
Example: The speed of sound in the dry
increases, volume
change in pressure. When pressure
decreases, but remains unchanged, so density
mass
Velocity of sound in hydrogen Density of oxygen
remains constant.
Velocity of sound in oxygen Density of hydrogen increases, such that the ratio Plp
P of a gas is doubled.
For example, if pressure
16 volume becomes half, so density p gets
doubled

179
 EXERCISE-8(A)

19. Define the term wave velocity. Write its

I. What causes sound ? Write its S.l.
wa unit.
20. Draw displacement-ume graph
of
As. Sound is cnused due to vibrations of a body.
a
wave ard shew
2. What is sound ? How is it
on it the amplitude
and time
period of wave
produced ? 21. Draw a displacement-dis graph of
a wave
3.
Complete the following sentence mark on it, the amplitude
of wave
by and
the
Sound is produced by a . . . . body. and wavelength of wave by the letter leter a

Ans. vibrating are the wave velocity V, fr.

22. How
.Deseribe a simple experiment which demonstrates that
the sound produced by a tuning fork is due to
and wavelength A
relationship.
of a wave related ?
uencyf
erive ne
vibrations of its arms. of the medium
23. State two properties on
5. Deseribe in brief, with the aid of a labelled which ththe
diagram
an experiment to demonstrate that a material medium
speed of sound in it depends.
Ans. (i) Elasticity (ii) den
is necessary for the propagation of sound.
24. Arrange the speed of sound in gases V sity
6. There is no atmosphere on moon. Can you hear other
in ascending order. olids V
and liquids V, an
people on the moon's surface Ans. No.
Ans. V,< V<V
7. State three characteristics of the medium required 1or 25. State the speed of (i) light and (i) sound inair?
the propagation of sound ? Ans.(i) Speed of light 3 x 10 =

8. Explain with an example, the propagation of sound i) Speed of sound 330 m =

in a medium. 26. Compare approximately the speed of sound

in
9. Choose the correct word/words to complete the water and steel.
Ans. I:4:15
following sentence 27. Answer the following:
When sound travels in a medium ... (the particles
i) Can sound travel in vacuum?
of the medium, the source, the disturbance, the i ) How does the speed of sound differ in difer
medium) travels in form of a wave media ?
erenn
Ans. the disturbance Ans. (i) No (ii) Speed of sound is maximum :

10. Name the two kinds of waves in form of which sound solids, less in liquidsand least in
gase
travels in a medium. 28. Flash of lightning reaches us earlier than the
Sound
of thunder. Explain the reason.
1. What is a longitudinal wave ? In which medium:
Ans. Light travels much faster than
solid, liquid or gas, can it be produced? sound

12. What is a transverse wave ? In which medium: solid, 29. If you place your ear close to an iron railing which
is struck some distance away, you hear the sound
liquid or gas, can it be produced ?
twice. Explain why ?
13. Explain the meaning of terms compression and
Ans. Sound travels in iron faster than in air, so first the
rarefaction in relation to a longitudinal wave.
sound through iron rail is heard and then the sound
14. Explain the terms crest and trough in relation to a
through air is heard
transverse wave.
30. The sound of an explosion on the surface of a lake
15. Describe an experiment to show that in wave motion, is heard by a boat man 100 m away and by a di
only energy is transferred, but particles of mediumn 100 m below the point of explosion.
do not leave their positions. (i) Who would hear the sound first : boat man or
16. Define the term amplitude of a wave. Write its S.I. diver?
unit. ii) Give a reason for your answer in part (i).
17. What do you mean by the term frequency of a (ii) If sound takes time t to reach the boat man. hos
wave ? State its S.I. unit. much time approximately does it take to reach th

18. How is the frequency of a wave related to its time diver?

Ans. (i) diver (ii) sound travels faster in wakT
period ?
than in air (i) 025
t
Ans. Frequency = 1/time period

182
 lactors alfect, if at all, the 3. Sound in air
31, How
do the following propagates in form ol
in air (a) longitudinal wave (b) transverse wave
speed of sound temperature of air,
of sound. (1) (c) both longitudinal and transverse waves
) frequency
(iv) moisture in air ?
of air, (d) neither longitudinal nor transverse wave.
(11) pressure
(i) Speed of sound increases
Ans. (i) No effect intemperature (1ii) No effect
Ans. (a) longitudinal wave
increase 4. The
with the speed of light in air is:
i n c r e a s e s with the increase of
of sound (a) 3 x 10 ms-
v) Speed moisture in air. (b) 330 ms
with change in
(c) 5100 ms- (d) 3x 1010 ms
sound change
the speed of
32. How does
and (i)
wavelength, of sound wave?
Numericals
Ans. (a) 3 x 10%ms
i) amplitude change.
Ans.G) No change (i) No 1. The heart of a man beats 75 times a minute. What
m o r e : humid

medium the speed of

sound is is its (a) frequency and (b) time period ?
33. In which answer.
r e a s o n to your Ans. (a) 1-25 s, (b) 0-8 s
? Give a
air or dry air decreases
Reason: Density of air 2. The time period of a simple pendulum is 2 s. Find
humid air.
Ans. In its frequency. Ans. 0-5 Hz
and V*
with the
increase of moisture 3. The separation between two consecutive crests
with
air vary in a transverse wave is 100 m. If wave velocity is
of sound in
How does the speed 20 m s, find the frequency of wave. Ans. 0-2 Hz
4.temperature ?
increases by 0-61 m
s 4. A longitudinal wave travels at a speed of 03 msl and
of sound
Ans.The speed for each 1C rise in
temperature.
the frequency of wave is 20 Hz. Find the separation
determine the speed between the two consecutive compressions.
experiment to the 10 m (or 1-5cr)
Ans. 15x
simple is made in
35.Describe
a
What approximation
of sound in air. 5. A source of wave produces 40 crests and 40 troughs
?
method described by you in 0.4 s. What is the frequency of the wave ?
sentences:
Ans. 100 Hz
36. Complete the following . it requires
through
* * * *

cannot travel 6. An observer A fires a gun and another observer B at

(a) Sound
******************************** a distance 1650 m away from A hears its sound. If
a of
medium, the particles the speed of sound is 330 m s, find the time when
sound travels in a
(b) When disturbance .. ********

medium .. but the B will hear the sound after firing by A. Ans. 5 s
of compression
w a v e is composed 7. The time interval between a lightning flash and the
(c) A longitudinal
first sound of thunder is 5 s. If the speed of sound
and ******************

crest and
wave is composed of in air is 330 ms', find the distance of flash from
transverse
(d) A
the observer. Ans. 1650m
** ****

=
*********************. A Wavelength. 8. A boy fires a gun and another boy at a distance hears
Wave velocity
medium (b) do not move, moves the sound of fire 2:5 s after seeing the flash. If speed
Ans. (a) vacuum,

ahead (c) rarefaction (d) trough (e) frequency. of sound in air is 340 m s , find the distance
Multiple choice type: between the boys. Ans. 850 m
. Thecorect statement is 9. An observer siting in line of two tanks, watches the
both require medium for flashes of two tanks firing at each other at the same time,
(a) Sound and light
propagation
but he hears the sounds of two shots 2 s and 35 s after

(b) Sound can travel in vacuum, but light cannot seeing the flashes. If distance between the two tanks is
510 m, find the speed of sound. Ans. 340 ms
(c) Sound needs medium, but light does not need
10. How long will sound take to travel in (a) an iron
medium for its propagation
rail and (b) air, both 3:3 km in length ? Take speed
(d) Sound and light both can travel in vacuum.
of sound in air to be 330 m s- and in iron to be
Ans. (c) Sound needs medium, but light does
5280 m s Ans. (a) 0-625 s. (b) 10 s
not need medium for its propagation.
11. Assuming the speed of sound in air equal to
2. The speed of sound in air at 0°C is nearly 340 m s and in water equal to 1360 m s
(a) 1450 ms- (b) 450 m s-l find the time taken to travel a distance 1700 m by sound
(c) 5100 ms- (d) 330 ms in (i) air and (ii) water. Ans. (i) 5 s (ii) 1-25 s
Ans. (d) 330 m s-l
183
 (B) INFRASONIC, SONIC AND
ULTRASONIC
QUENCIES
FHREQUENCIES
8.11 Frequency ranges
for hearing and
INFRASONIC, SONIC
FREQUENCES
AND ULTRASONIC by humans and animals speaking
The human ear is able to hear sound in a Object Frequency range of
hearing
and
speaking
frequency range of about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
(or 20 kHz) ie., the audible 10 Hz 100 kHz
Bat
range of frequency 13 80 Hz - 60 kHz
20 Hz to 20 kHz. We
cannot hear sounds ot 2. Cat
frequencies less than 20 Hz or more than 20 kHz. 3 20 Hz 50 kHz
Dog
Actually the audible range of frequency varies from 4. Dolphin
200 Hz 150 kHz
90 Hz - 1-0 kHz
person to person and it also varies with the age of Grasshopper
the person. The audible of 20 Hz 20 kHz
range frequency
of a Humans
person decreases as he gets older since his ears lose
the hearing sensitivity particularly to the high 8.12 ULTRASOUND AND ITS AP
APPLICATIONS
frequencies. Children can hear sounds of somewhat We have learned that the sound of
higher frequencies say up to 30 kHz, while an old above 20,000 Hz is called ultrasound. Ultrasou irequene
ultrasound. Ultrasoun
person can hear sounds only up to frequencies 12 can travel quite freely in solids and liquids, hu
ut in
kHz. Hence the audible range of frequency for an intensity falls. In medium, it
gases its
a

the same speed with which the audible sound travel

travelswith
average person is considered to be from 20 Hz to
20 kHz. Even in the audible range, the human ear In air, the speed of ultrasound is 330 m s-l
is not equally sensitive to all frequencies. The
Properties of ultrasound
human ear is most sensitive in the range 2000 Hz
Ultrasound has all properties similar to that
to 3000 Hz, where it can hear even a very feeble
Sound.
of ordinary sound, but because of high frequencies
ultrasound has the following two additional
The sound of frequency in the range 20 Hz to
properties which the audible sound does not
20 kHz is called the sonic or audible sound; possess.
the sound of frequency less than 20 Hz is ) The energy carried by ultrasound is very high.
known as infrasonic sound (or simply
i) The ultrasound can travel along a well defined
infrasonic), while the sound of frequency
straight path. It does not bend appreciably at
greater than 20 kHz is known as ultrasound (or
the edges of an obstacle because of its small
ultrasonic). wavelength (i.e., it has high directivity)
Animals can produce and hear sounds of The above two properties of ultrasound makes
frequencies below 20 Hz as well as above 20 kHz. it very useful to us for many purposes.
Different animals have different ranges of audible
frequencies. Elephants and whales can produce
Applications of ultrasound
Few applications of ultrasound are given below.
infrasonic sounds of frequencies less than 20 Hz.
Some fishes can hear sounds of frequencies in the (1) Bats avoid obstacles in their path by producing
range of 1 Hz to 25 Hz. Some animals can produce and hearing the ultrasound. They produce
ultrasonic sounds and communicate in them. A ultrasound which returns after striking an
dog can hear sounds of frequencies up to nearly obstacle in their way. By hearing the reflectd
50 kHz, a bat up to about 100 kHz, while dolphins sound, they judge the direction of the obstacle
can hear sounds of even higher frequencies up to in their way and from the time interval (when
150 kHz. they produce ultrasound and then receive them
ack), they judge the distance of the obstac

184
 Ultrasou is used for drilling holes making
or helps detect stones, tumors, et. in them.
to
Echo cardiography is used to obtain the imaye
sof desired shapes in materials like glass.
of the heart.
cleaning inute objects such as the parts of to remove
(6) Ultrasound is used in surgery
F o r

watches and electronic components. ultrasound

wa
break the snmall
cataract and in kidneys to
s used. The objects are placed in a cleaning
stones into fine grains.
coltion and ultrasonic waves are sent into the sound
causes high
frequency vibrations (7) In SONAR (abbreviated form of
solution. This to detect and find
the
in the solution
and makes cleaning efticient. navigation and ranging)
ultrasound is
distance of objects under water,
For detection of defects in metals, ultrasound
4 used.
Ultrasound passes through the object
is used.
defect (such as a crack or cavity), Difference between ultrasonic and supersonie
if there is no for ultrasound
object. But if there is some defect, a The word ultrasonice is used
in the above 20 kHz), while
reflected back. (i.e., sound of frequency
part of ultrasound gets which travel with a
the human organs, ultrasound is supersonic is used for objects
5) For imaging of sound in air (ie.
widely used. Ultrasonography or ultrasound is speed greater than the speed
concord jet planes and
obtain the images of patient's organs 330 m s or Mach 1) e.g.
used to

(such as liver, gall bladder, uterus, etc.). It fighter planes.

EXERCISE-8(B)

of frequency? 8. What is ultrasound ?

mean by the audible range
1. What do you Ans. Sound of frequency above 20 kHz.
within which the sound
Ans. The range of frequency speed of ultrasound in air.
called the audible 9. State the approxinmate
a human being is
can be heard by
Ans. 330 ms
range of frequency. it useful
for properties of ultrasound that make
2. What is the
audible range of frequency 10. State wo
Ans. 20 Hz to 20 kHz to us.
humans ?
Ans. (i) High energy content. (ii) high directivity.
human ears
of frequencies are the
3. For which range locate the obstacles and prey
most sensitive ? Ans. 2000 Hz to 3000 Hz 11. Explain how do bats
ultrasonic sound or in their way.
4. Which has a higher frequency ultrasound.
infrasonic sound
Ans. Ultrasonic sound. 12. State wo applications of

Multiple choice type :

Complete the following
sentences
5.
can hear sounds of frequencies A hear the sound of frequency
can
(a) An average person 1. man

in range
the (O
. . . . . . .
. . . . .

(a) 1 Hz (b) 1000 Hz

Ans. (b) 1000 Hz
(b) Ultrasound is of frequency .

(c) 200 kHz (d) 5 MHz

(c) Infrasonic sound is

of frequency . that make it useful
SOund. 2. The properties of ultrasound
(d) Bats can produce and
hear. ..
are
. SOund.
(e) Elephants produce (a) high power and high speed
.

above 20 kHz
Ans. (a) 20 Hz, 20 kHz (b)
ultrasonic (e) infrasonic. (b) high good directivity
power and
(c) below 20 Hz (d) (c) high frequency and high speed
below:
6. Name the sounds of the frequencies given
40 kHz (d) high frequency and bending
around objects. the
(a) 10 Hz (b) 100 Hz (c) 1000 Hz (d)
Ans. (b) high power and good directivity
audible (d) ultrasonic.
Ans. (a) infrasonic (b) audible (c)
to vibrations 3. Sonar makes use of:
7. Can you hear the sound produced due
(b) ultrasound
(a) infrasonic sound
of a pendulum ? Give reason.
seconds'
Ans. No. Reason The frequency of sound produced (c) ordinary sound (d) light.
Ans. (b) ultrasound
Hz which
due to vibrations of seconds' pendulum is 0-5
is an infrasonic sound.
85