100 likes | 271 Views
Sound Waves. What is Sound?. Sound is caused by a vibration of atoms in pulses. Each sound wave pulses with a certain frequency. The vibration pulse causes areas of compressions and rarefactions in the atoms of the medium. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BUvWRCBGM
E N D
What is Sound? • Sound is caused by a vibration of atoms in pulses. Each sound wave pulses with a certain frequency. The vibration pulse causes areas of compressions and rarefactions in the atoms of the medium. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BUvWRCBGM • Sound is a longitudinal /compressional wave, which is a type of mechanical wave. • Sound waves can be caused by transverse waves such as those produced when you pluck or strum a guitar string. The energy in the transverse wave is transferred into a longitudinal wave; each crest creates an area of compression in the air around the string. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKF6nFzpHBU
Properties and Observations • Speed • Wavelength • Frequency • Amplitude • Pitch • Loudess
Speed of Sound • Sound waves travel the best in solids and worst in air. • The closer together the atoms are, the faster the sound will travel. • Sound will not travel in a vacuum, such as space because there is no matter/medium for the wave to vibrate.
Pitch • Pitch is determined by frequency. • The higher the frequency the higher the pitch. • Each pitch as a set frequency therefore to change pitch one must change wavelength or speed.
Loudness • Loudness is a result of amplitude of the sound wave. • The more energy you put into the sound wave the higher the amplitude and the louder the sound. • The high the amplitude the louder the sound. This is why amplifiers make sound louder.
Wavelength and Frequency • Since speed is controlled by the medium the wave is travelling through: • When the speed is constant (no change in medium) in order for pitch to change the frequency must change, in order to change frequency the wavelength must change. • As wavelength increases frequency decreases, which causes pitch to decrease. • As wavelength decreases frequency increases, which causes pitch to increase.
Medium and Frequency • When the medium in which the wave is travelling changes the speed changes. • When the speed changes the wavelength and frequency change inversely and create a different pitch.