Physics ยท Chapter 06
๐ Sound Waves
How sound travels and echoes.
๐ก Sound is a Wave
Sound is a vibration travelling through air (or water, or solids). When a guitar string vibrates, it pushes air particles, which push the next, and so on โ like a chain reaction reaching your ear.
Frequency is how many waves per second (measured in Hertz, Hz). High frequency = high pitch (squeaky). Low = low pitch (deep).
Amplitude is wave height โ bigger amplitude = louder sound.
v = f ร ฮป
In air, sound travels at about 343 m/s. That's why you see lightning before hearing thunder.
Sound waves โ compression and rarefaction, frequency determines pitchWikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Ultrasound scan โ medical use of sound waves above 20,000 HzWikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
๐ฌ
The Travelling Wave
AnimationSound waves ripple outward from the speaker, reach the ear. Adjust pitch and volume below.
๐งช
Tune the Sound
ExperimentDrag pitch and volume. Higher frequency โ more waves squeezed together. Bigger amplitude โ louder peak.
2 Hz
50
PitchMedium
LoudnessNormal