SOUND
When does sound occur?
An object produces sound when it vibrates in matter. This could be a solid, such as earth; a liquid, such as water; or a gas, such as air. Most of the time, we hear sounds traveling through the air in our atmosphere.
When something vibrates in the atmosphere, it moves the air particles around it. Those air particles in turn move the air particles around them, carrying the pulse of the vibration through the air.
Does sound travel as waves?
Sound waves are longitudinal waves that must pass through a medium. All sounds are caused by vibrations which travel at different speed. For instance, sound travels faster in solids such as steel because particles are closer.
In a vacuum there are no particles, therefore the energy cannot be passed or transferred.
What is the pitch, the frequency, the volume?
When an object or substance vibrates, it produces sound:
▪ the greater the amplitude, the louder the sound
▪ the greater the frequency, the higher the pitch.
When the sound waves have the same frequency, the sounds have the same pitch
When a sound has a greater amplitude, it is louder.
When the sound waves have the same amplitude, so the sounds have the same loudness
When a sound has a greater frequency, it is higher pitched.
When does sound occur?
An object produces sound when it vibrates in matter. This could be a solid, such as earth; a liquid, such as water; or a gas, such as air. Most of the time, we hear sounds traveling through the air in our atmosphere.
When something vibrates in the atmosphere, it moves the air particles around it. Those air particles in turn move the air particles around them, carrying the pulse of the vibration through the air.
Does sound travel as waves?
Sound waves are longitudinal waves that must pass through a medium. All sounds are caused by vibrations which travel at different speed. For instance, sound travels faster in solids such as steel because particles are closer.
In a vacuum there are no particles, therefore the energy cannot be passed or transferred.
What is the pitch, the frequency, the volume?
When an object or substance vibrates, it produces sound:
▪ the greater the amplitude, the louder the sound
▪ the greater the frequency, the higher the pitch.
When the sound waves have the same frequency, the sounds have the same pitch
When a sound has a greater amplitude, it is louder.
When the sound waves have the same amplitude, so the sounds have the same loudness
When a sound has a greater frequency, it is higher pitched.
How do we hear?
The sound waves enter the ear and move down the ear cannal to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates and this causes the malleus, the incus and the stapes behind the drum to vibrate as well. A fluid in a container called the cochlea begins to vibrate. Tiny hairs inside the cochlea sway to the vibrations. These hairs produce electrical signals through a nerve to the brain. Inside the brain, the signals are interpreted as sounds.
The sound waves enter the ear and move down the ear cannal to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates and this causes the malleus, the incus and the stapes behind the drum to vibrate as well. A fluid in a container called the cochlea begins to vibrate. Tiny hairs inside the cochlea sway to the vibrations. These hairs produce electrical signals through a nerve to the brain. Inside the brain, the signals are interpreted as sounds.