Professional Documents
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6.6
What is
sound
waves?
Sound waves are produced when a vibrating object causes the air molecules
around it to ___________.
When a tuning fork vibrates, layers of air vibrate and the sound energy is
propagated through the air around it in the form of waves.
When the tuning fork moves forwards, the air is ______________.
When the tuning fork moves backwards, the air layers are pulled apart and
cause a ____________.
Therefore, a series of compression and rarefactions will produce sound.
How is
sound
produced by
a vibrating
objects?
Why does
sound waves is
a longitudinal
waves?
Explain how
the loudness
relates to
amplitude?
Explain how
pitch relates
to frequency
The air particles vibrate backward and forward in the direction ____________
to the direction of propagation of the sound wave.
Wavelength of sound, = the distance between two successive regions of
compression or two successive regions of rarefaction.
A high pitch sound corresponds to a high frequency and a low pitch sound
corresponds to a low frequency of vibration.
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To investigate the relationship between the amplitude and the loudness of sound
The audio signal generator is switched on and the frequency of the sound wave is adjusted to a
suitable level. The loudness of the sound is varied from a lot to a high level gradually. Observe the
shape of the sound wave displayed on the screen of oscilloscope.
Write: low / medium / high
Wave form
Amplitude of sound
wave
Loudness of sound
Frequency of sound
wave
Pitch of sound
Infrasound
Less than 20 Hz
Normal audible
range
20 Hz to
20 000 Hz
Ultrasound
Higher than
20 000 Hz.
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Ultrasound in medicine
Sonar
Sonar is the technique of using ultrasound to locate underwater
objects or to measure the depth of a seabed.
Ultrasound signal is sent out from a transmitter.
Its echo from the seabed is detected by a receiver which is
connected to an electrical recording circuit.
The time interval, t between the sending and receiving of the
ultrasound signal after reflection from the seabed is measured.
d v
t
2
sound in water.
A bat can navigate in darkness
When ultrasonic waves emitted by the bat hit an object, they are
reflected back and received by the bat.
The time between the emission of the sound waves and
reception of the reflected waves enables the bat to estimate the
position of the object accurately.
This enables the bat to adjust its direction to avoid knocking at
the object.
Calculate
distances
using the
reflection of
sound waves.
Exersise 1
An ultrasonic wave is used to determine the depth of a seabed. A pulse of
ultrasound is generated and travels to the seabed and reflected by it. The
time taken by a pulse of ultrasonic wave to travel to and fro the seabed is
-1
0.28 s. It the speed of sound in the water is 1 500 ms , calculate the depth
of the seabed.
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C
D
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[1]
(c) The distance between the two
loudspeakers is 1.5 m. At 10.0 m
from the loudspeakers, the distance
between two adjacent rows of
students is 4.0 m. Calculate the
wavelength of this sound wave.
[2]
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Diagram 1
(a) State the physical quantity that
affects the pitch of the sound.
(b) When a high pitch sound is
generated, only student C can hear
the sound clearly. When a low pitch
sound is generated, all the three
students can hear the sound clearly.
Explain the situation.
[4 m]
(c) Diagram 2 shows a radar system at
an airport. Signals are transmitted
from the radar system to determine
the position of an aeroplane.
Diagram 2
Table 3 shows the specifications of four
system, K, L, M and N, that can be used to
determine the position of an aeroplane.
Radar
system
Diameter
of the
parabolic
disc/ m
Distance
of the
signal
receiver
from the
centre of
the
parabolic
dics
Types of
wave
transmitted
Height of
the
parabolic
disc
from the
ground
10
12
Same
as the
focal
length
Less
than
the
focal
length
Same
as the
focal
length
Less
than
the
focal
length
Microwave
Microwave
Radiowave
Radiowave
High
Low
Low
High
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