Sound
1. What is Sound?
Sound is a form of energy which produces a sensation of hearing in our ears.
2. How sound is produced?
Sound is produced due to vibration . When any object strike with any thing it produces vibration and produce sound. The sound of the human voice is produced due to vibrations in the vocal cords.
3. What is Vibration?
Vibration means a kind of rapid to and fro motion of an object
4. How sound is propagated through medium to listener?
Sound is produced by vibrating objects. The matter or substance through which sound is transmitted is called a medium. It can be solid, liquid or gas. When an object vibrates, it sets the particles of the medium around it vibrating. The particles do not travel all the way from the vibrating object to the ear. A particle of the medium in contact with the vibrating object is first displaced from its equilibrium position. It then exerts a force on the adjacent particle. As a result of which the adjacent particle gets displaced from its position of rest. After displacing the adjacent particle the first particle comes back to its original position. This process continues in the medium till the sound reaches your ear. The disturbance created by a source of sound in the medium travels through the medium and not the particles of the medium.
5. Why sound is visualized as a wave?
A wave is a disturbance that moves through a medium when the particles of the medium set neighbouring particles into motion. They in turn produce similar motion in others. The particles of the medium do not move forward themselves, but the disturbance is carried forward. This is what happens during propagation of sound in a medium, hence sound can be visualized as a wave. Sound waves are characterized by the motion of particles in the medium and are called mechanical waves.
6. What is a wave?
"A disturbance or vibration in a medium (or space) that travels through the medium, carrying energy from one point to another without the transfer of matter."
7. Define the types of wave ?
Generally waves may be classified as Mechanical wave and electromagnetic wave.
Mechanical waves : these are wave which require medium to travel like sound waves, water waves.
Electromagnetic waves: these are waves which do not require any medium to travel like radio waves.
8. differentiate between longitudinal wave and Transversal wave ?
Transverse wave and longitudinal wave are classification of wave on basis of wave propagation.
Here is a clear differentiation between transverse and longitudinal waves in a tabular form:
| Aspect | Transverse Waves | Longitudinal Waves |
|---|---|---|
| Direction of Vibration | Particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. | Particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. |
| Motion of Particles | Creates crests (high points) and troughs (low points). | Creates compressions (regions of high pressure) and rarefactions (regions of low pressure). |
| Requirement of Medium | Requires a medium with rigidity or elasticity (e.g., solids, surfaces of liquids). | Requires a medium that supports compression and expansion (e.g., solids, liquids, gases). |
| Examples | - Water waves (surface) - Waves on a stretched string - Seismic S-waves | - Sound waves in air - Compression waves in a spring - Seismic P-waves |
| Travel in Vacuum | Some transverse waves, like electromagnetic waves (light), can travel in a vacuum. | Longitudinal waves cannot travel in a vacuum as they require a medium. |
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| BR Foundation |
Examples in Real Life:
- Transverse Waves: Light, waves on water surfaces, vibrations on a rope.
- Longitudinal Waves: Sound waves, earthquake P-waves, pressure waves in a slinky.
This table captures the distinctions along with examples for better understanding.