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Physics > Sound > Flashcards

Sound Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of wave is sound?

A

Sound is a longitudinal wave

The vibrations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

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2
Q

What causes sound?

A

Sound is caused by objects vibrating or oscillating

These vibrations create compressions and rarefactions in the medium.

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3
Q

How do sound waves travel through the air?

A

Through compressions and rarefactions

The vibrations are passed through the air by areas of high and low pressure.

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4
Q

What happens when sound waves reach a person’s eardrum?

A

The eardrum vibrates

This allows people to hear the sound.

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5
Q

Can sound waves travel through a vacuum?

A

No, sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum

Sound waves need a medium to travel through.

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6
Q

How are sound waves affected by surfaces?

A

Sound waves are reflected by flat, hard surfaces and absorbed by soft and rough surfaces

Examples include carpet and curtains.

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7
Q

What happens to sound waves when they enter denser materials?

A

They speed up

Sound waves can also refract as they change direction.

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8
Q

What is the approximate speed of sound in air?

A

Roughly 330 m/s

This speed can vary based on environmental conditions.

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9
Q

How can the speed of sound be measured?

A

Using the formula speed = distance / time

The distance is the total distance traveled by sound, and time is the duration taken.

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10
Q

Describe a basic experiment to measure the speed of sound.

A
  1. Stand outside facing a large building.
  2. Measure the distance to and from the building.
  3. Bang two wooden blocks together.
  4. Use a stopwatch to time when the sound is heard as an echo.
  5. Calculate speed using distance and average time

Repeat the experiment to exclude anomalies.

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11
Q

What tool can display sound waves?

A

An oscilloscope

A microphone connected to an oscilloscope can convert sounds into visual displays.

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12
Q

How do you calculate frequency using an oscilloscope?

A

Find the period of the wave as frequency = 1/ time period.

The time period is determined by measuring the time taken for one complete wave cycle.

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13
Q

What does the time base on an oscilloscope indicate?

A

The time base tells us what each square of the axis is worth, e.g., 0.2s/div means each division represents 0.2 seconds.

This helps in measuring the period of the wave accurately.

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14
Q

How do you determine the period of a wave using an oscilloscope?

A

Count the number of divisions in one wavelength and multiply by the time base.

One wavelength is measured from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave.

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15
Q

What is the human hearing range in terms of frequency?

A

20Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Age and ear damage can reduce the upper limit of this range.

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16
Q

Which animals can hear frequencies above the human hearing range?

A
  • Bats and Dolphins: up to 100,000 Hz
  • Dogs: 40,000 Hz to 60,000 Hz

These animals have specialized hearing adaptations.

17
Q

What is ultrasound?

A

Sound with frequencies above 20,000 Hz that cannot be heard by humans.

Ultrasound has various applications including medical imaging and cleaning.

18
Q

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

A

High frequency waves have shorter wavelengths.

This means that as frequency increases, the distance between wave peaks decreases.

19
Q

How does frequency affect pitch?

A
  • High frequency waves have a high pitch
  • Low frequency waves have a low pitch

Pitch is perceived based on the frequency of sound waves.

20
Q

What is amplitude in sound waves?

A

The height from the midpoint of a wave to the crest or trough.

Amplitude affects the loudness of the sound.

21
Q

How does amplitude relate to sound volume?

A
  • Larger amplitude makes a loud sound
  • Smaller amplitude makes a quiet sound

Amplitude is visualized as the height of the wave on a diagram.

22
Q

What is the wave equation for frequency?

A

Frequency = 1/ Time Period.

This equation is fundamental in wave physics.

23
Q

What is the wave speed equation?

A

Wave speed = wavelength x frequency.

This equation shows the relationship between wave speed, wavelength, and frequency.

Physics (12 decks)

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