Sound Waves

What this topic covers

Sources of sound. Transmission of sound waves: Experiment to show material medium is required. Speed of sound in solid, liquid and air (comparison, dependence on temperature and pressure). Echoes and reverberation: Use of echoes in mineral exploration and ocean depth determination. Thunder and multiple reflections as examples of reverberation. Noise and music. Characteristics of sound: Pitch, loudness and quality. Vibration in strings: Use of sonometer to demonstrate dependence of frequency (f) on length (l), tension (T) and mass per unit length (m) of string. Use of formula: f₀ = (1/(2l))√(T/m) in solving simple numerical problems. Applications in stringed instruments (e.g., guitar, piano, harp, violin). Forced vibration: Use of resonance boxes and sonometer. Resonance. Harmonies and overtones: Use of overtones to explain quality of musical note. Applications in percussion instruments (e.g., drum, bell, cymbals, xylophone). Vibration of air in pipes (open and closed pipes): Measurement of velocity of sound in air or frequency of tuning fork using resonance tube. Use of relationship v = fλ in solving numerical problems. End correction to be mentioned. Applications in wind instruments (e.g., organ, flute, trumpet, horn, clarinet, saxophone).