You are on page 1of 26

a range of compression wave frequencies to which the human ear is sensitive

SOUND

The audio spectrum extends from approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Range of Some Common Sounds

Intensity Range for Some Common Sounds

Sounds are produced by vibrating matter.

1. reeds 2. strings

3. membranes 4. air columns

Sound is a mechanical wave (longitudinal). It will not travel through a vacuum.

Sounds possess the characteristics and properties that are common to all waves.

Just like all longitudinal (compression) waves, sound waves possess a velocity, frequency, wavelength, phase, period, and amplitude.

Sound waves also reflect, refract, diffract, and interfere.

The velocity of sound in air depends on the air temperature. The speed of sound in dry air is 331.5 m/s at 0 C. This speed increases with temperature: about 0.6 m/s for every 1 C increase in temperature.

Sound generally travels fastest in solids and slowest in gases, but there are some exceptions.
Medium Velocity (m/s) Air 330 Helium 930 Oxygen 320 Sea water 1520 Glass 5500 Lead 1230 Copper 3800 Medium Velocity (m/s) Carbon dioxide 260 Hydrogen 1270 Water 1460 Mercury 1450 Granite 5950 Pine wood 3320 Aluminium 5100

The human ear relates amplitude to loudness and frequency to pitch.

Listen to various sound frequencies here and mixtures of sound waves here.

Click here to make your own sound waves. You should hear that frequency relates to pitch and amplitude relates to loudness (for a given frequency).

Sound waves refract.

Click here to view a simulation of the refraction of sound waves.

The interference of sound waves can cause beats


Click here and here to run computer simulations of interfering sound waves that result in discernable beats. View interference beats here and here. What are evidences of reflection and the diffraction of sound?

All objects have a natural frequency of vibration.

* Fact *

of vibrations of a natural rate by a vibrating source having the same frequency


sympathetic vibrations

Resonance - the inducing

Famous Bridge Collapses: Evidences of Resonance?


Tacoma Narrows link Others link

A resonant air column is simply a standing longitudinal wave system, much like standing waves on a string.

tube in which one end is open and the other end is closed

closed-pipe resonator

open-pipe resonator tube in which both ends are open

A closed pipe resonates when the length of the air column is approximately an odd number of quarter wavelengths long.

l = {(1,3,5,7,)/4} * l
With a slight correction for tube diameter, we find that the resonant wavelength of a closed pipe is given by the formula: l = 4 (l + 0.4d), where l is the wavelength of sound, l is the length of the closed pipe, and d is the diameter of the pipe.

An open pipe resonates when the length of the air column is approximately an even number of quarter wavelengths long.

l = {(2,4,6,8,)/4} * l
With a slight correction for tube diameter, we find that the resonant wavelength of an open pipe is given by the formula: l = 2 (l + 0.8d), where l is the wavelength of sound, l is the length of the closed pipe, and d is the diameter of the pipe.

Click here to see a simulation of standing waves in a resonant tube (closed and open).
Learn more about resonance here.

Note

Can you look at this chart of notes and frequencies for the white keys and decide where black keys should be placed?

Frequency (Hz) 220

B
C D

247
261.5 293.5

E F
G A

329.5 349
392 440

B
C D E

494
523 587 659

F
G

698
784

Now look at a graph of those values. Does this graph help you decide?
Frequencies
800 700 600 500 400 300 200 A B C D E F G A B C D E F G

Frequencies
800 750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G

Note

Frequency (Hz)

A B

220 247

C
D E

261.5
293.5 329.5

F
G A B C D E F G

349
392 440 494 523 587 659 698 784

You might also like