Chapter 13: Sound Revision Notes

Sound is produced by a vibrating (the to and fro or back and forth motion of an object) body.

Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and are audible when they reach a person's or animal's ear is sound.

Source

• In humans, the sound is produced by the voice box or the larynx (the vibrations of the vocal chords).

• Sound is transmitted through a medium (gas, liquid, or solid). It will not be able to travel in a vacuum.

• The eardrum detects sound waves. Vibrations are sent to the inner ear. The signal then travels to the brain. That's what we've heard.

Amplitude, Time Period, and Frequency of a Vibration

• The amplitude of a vibrating body is defined as the largest extent of vibration from its mean position.

• One oscillation is defined as a complete to and fro movement of the pendulum around its mean point. The time period is the amount of time it takes for a vibrating particle to complete one oscillation.

Frequency:

• The frequency of a vibrating body is defined as the number of oscillations it produces in one second.
• The hertz is the unit of frequency (Hz).

SOUND CHARACTERISTICS

(i) Loudness:

• The sensation in the ear that allows us to tell the difference between a loud and a quiet sound.
• The louder the sound produced, the greater the amplitude of vibration.

(ii) Pitch:

• The sound properties that separate a strident sound from a quiet sound.
• The higher the vibration frequency, the higher the pitch and shrillness (example: a whistle).
• The lower the vibration frequency, the lower the pitch (example: a drum).

SOUND TYPES

(i) Audible Sound: Humans can hear vibrations with a frequency of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).

(ii) Inaudible Sound: Sounds with frequencies greater than 20,000 Hz and less than 20 Hz are inaudible to the human ear.

• Noise is a term used to describe sounds that are startling or unpleasant.

• Musical sound is a type of sound that has a pleasant effect on the ear.

NOISE POLLUTION

• Excessive or unwanted sounds cause noise pollution and can harm people's health.
• Noise pollution can induce insomnia, hypertension (high blood pressure), anxiety, and other health problems.
• Being continuously exposed to a loud sound may cause a temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Source

MEASURES TO LIMIT NOISE POLLUTION

• Noise pollution should be avoided as much as possible: control the noise sources.
• Aircraft engines, transport vehicles, industrial machines, and household appliances must all have noise-cancelling devices installed.
• Less use of horns.
• Noisy industries to be set up away from residential areas.
• Noise pollution can be reduced by planting trees along the roadside and elsewhere.

Source: Chapter-13.pmd (ncert.nic.in)