STUDENT WORKSHEET

SUBJECT MATTER : Sound Waves

SUB MATERIALS : Characteristics, Sources and Propagation Speed of Sound
Waves

Group :
Name of Students :
1. 4.
2. 5.
3. 6.

PROBLEMS
Have you ever played an instrument? The guitar is a musical instrument that is much-
loved person. When someone play the guitar, there must be strings are pressed. Why was it
done by that person? Guitar comprises six strings are different, the bottom is the thickest
string and the top is the thinnest string. Why guitar designed in a way? What does press the
strings with thick / thin strings to the sound?

HYPOTHESES
Formulation of a hypothesis to answer the problems above and can be tested using the
following tools and materials.
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................

OBJECTIVE
Understand the concept of tones in the strings and pipe organ

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

 Guitars
 Bookreference
 Internet

84
THEORY
 Sources of Sound

Not all sound is nice to be heard. A regular sound is nicer to be heard. The regular
sound is called a tone. The tone is having certain frequency pattern. The tone can be produced
by musical instruments with strings, such as guitar, violin, cello, and lute, or by other
instruments such as flute, trumpet, saxophone, piano, and organ.

1. String
A string with length ℓ is tightened up at both ends (Figure 2.5). If the string is picked,
the initial disturbance wave will be combined with the reflected waves from both ends
forming a stationary wave or a standing wave. The picked string will produce a sound with
certain frequency. The frequency of sound can be calculated by noticing the formed harmonic
patterns.

a. Base Tone
If the string is picked and the pattern generated is similar to Figure 2.5, it is said that the
string is producing the base tone or the first harmonic. In this pattern, a half wave pattern is
formed. Hence, the strings length is equal to a half wavelength, ℓ = ½𝜆 or 𝜆=2 ℓ.
b. The First Overtone
If the generated wave pattern is similar to Figure 2.5, it means that the string is producing
the first overtone or the second harmonic. In this pattern, one wavelength is formed. So, the
string’s length is equal to one wavelength, ℓ = 𝜆.
c. The Second Overtone
If the generated wave pattern is similar to Figure 2.5, it means that the string is
producing the second overtone or the third harmonic. In this pattern one and a half
wavelength is formed. So, the string’s length is equal to one and a half wavelength ℓ = 3𝜆/2
2
or 𝜆 =3 ℓ.

85
 2. Organ Pipe
Beside at the string, harmonic pattern can also be formed in an air chamber, such as
an organ pipe. The organ pipe is used in an organ musical instrument. There are two types of
organ pipe that we will learn which are an open organ pipe and a closed organ pipe. We will
learn the harmonics patterns at these organ pipes.
a. Open Organ Pipe
An open organ pipe is an air pipe or air chamber which is open at both ends. We will
learn the harmonic patterns at this open organ pipe.

Figure 2.6 Open Organ Pipe

b. Closed Organ Pipe

A closed organ pipe is an air chamber (pipe) with one of its end is closed, whereas the
other end is open. The harmonic patterns in the closed organ pipe are different from the
harmonic patterns at the open organ pipe.

Figure 2.7 Closed Organ Pipe

86
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Activity I:
1. Take one guitar in good condition
2. Try ring of the strings without pressure
3. Watch and listen carefully!
4. Then try to press the strings before you ring.
5. Watch and listen carefully!
6. Write down your observations qualitative results!
Activity II:
1. Take the guitar in good condition
2. Try to ring the thickest strings without strings pressed.
3. Watch and listen carefully!
4. Then try to hit the thinnest strings without pressing the strings
5. Watch and listen carefully!
6. Write down your observations qualitative results

DATA ANALYSIS
Based on data collection, analyze hypotheses and the results of the study of literature you!
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
Based on a simple investigation, the influence of the strings is pressed by not pressed against
the sound of the guitar strings? Give your analysis!
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
Based on a simple investigation, how the effect of the thick and thin strings to the sound
produced by the guitar string? Give your analysis!
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................

87
CONCLUSIONS
a. Based on the results of the study of literature, how the relationship between the emphasis
the string with the sound produced?
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
b. Pursuant to the results of the study of literature, how the relationship between the thick /
thin strings to the sound produced by the guitar strings?
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
c. Is the literature study results fit with the results of your observations?
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
d. Mention what factors are affecting the sound produced by the guitar!
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................

88
 STUDENT WORKSHEET

SUBJECT MATTER : Sound Waves

SUB MATERIALS : The Intensity of Sound Waves

Group :
Name of Students :
1. 4.
2. 5.
3. 6.

PROBLEM
If someone banging on the table in front of his friends close to him will hear from a
blow table, another friend who was in the corner of the classroom also listen to the sound
caused by the punch table, but there is a difference between the sound, which is heard by a
friend who was in front of him as he hit the table compared with your friends in a corner of
the classroom. Why is that? How the sound source can be made? How strong comparative
weakness of the sound is heard if the distance observer with a different sound source?

Hypotheses
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................

EXPERIMENT OBJECTIVES

1. To find out how to produce the sound source.

2. Knowing the relationship between the observer distances from the sound source with the
strength of the sound is heard.

3. Comparing the strength of the sound heard by the observer at a distance to the sound
source

89
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
 Tables:1 piece
 Beater:1 piece
 Meter:1 piece

THEORY
 Intensity and Sound Intensity Level
1. Sound Intensity
Sound intensity is the amount of sound energy per second for every unit area of plane.
The energy per second is power (P). So, the sound intensity is the power per unit area.
Mathematically the sound intensity (I) passing through an area of A can be stated as:
𝑃
𝐼=
𝐴
SI unit for sound intensity is W/m2.
If the sound source is a point, the positions of points having the same intensity are in
the form of spherical shell.
The sound intensity at a distance R from the source point of sound having the power P is
formulated as:
𝑃 𝑃
𝐼 = 𝐴 =4𝜋𝑅²

A human ear has limited ability. The human ear can only detect sound in a certain
intensity range. The lowest intensity that is able to be detected by a normal human ear is
called the threshold intensity of hearing. Its value is about 10-12 W/m2 at the frequency of 1
KHz.
The highest intensity that is able to be detected by human ear without feeling pain is
called the pain threshold. Its value is about 1 W/m2 at the frequency of 1 KHz.

2. Sound Intensity Level

Because the very wide range of the intensity between the threshold intensity of
hearing and the pain threshold (1012W/m2), a more practical measure is created to describe
the sound intensity. This practical measure is called the sound intensity level.
The sound intensity level is derived from the logarithm value of the ratio between
sound intensity (I) and the value of the threshold intensity of hearing (I0) as defined by the
𝐼
formula: 𝑇𝐼 = 10 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝐼

90
 The sound intensity level is measured in decibel unit (dB) after Alexander Graham
Bell.

STEP EXPERIMENT
1. Positioning table at the measurement reference point distance to the observer.
2. Positioning the observer at a distance of 2 meters from the table, by measuring meter.
3. Hit the tables in a style that is not too large, until the resulting sound.
4. Observers observe noise caused batted table
5. Observers positioned 4 meters away from the table by measuring meter,
6. Hit the table with a style that is not too large, until the resulting sound
Observers observe noise caused by desks is beaten and compares with sound is heard
at a distance of 2 meters from the table.

DATA ANALYSIS
What happens when you hit the table with the bat?
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
When there are members of groups that are at a distance of 2 meters from the table, and the
table was hit what happens?
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
When one member of the group who are in the last 2 meters, 2 meters further away from the
starting point, what happens? is there any difference from before?
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................

91
 STUDENT WORKSHEET
" RAPID PROPAGATION OF SOUND”

Group :
Members :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Learning Instructions!
1. Read Literature relating to the rapid propagation of sound
2. Read carefully before you do the experiment
3. Experiment according to the steps that have been presented
4. Collect the experimental results

Objectives:
After this experiment, students are expected to explain the difference in the propagation of
sound in the medium of air (gas), liquids and solids.

Experiment:
“Rapid Propagation Of Sound On Various Mediums”

Problem:
When someone who is at a certain distance (eg 100 m) of you hit an object (eg a
gong), will be observed that the voice sounds to you after a while the person is hitting the
gong. In fact, you know that the incidence of "hitting the gong" and the gong sounds occur at
the same time. Thunder and lightning ensued simultaneously (at the same time), but we
always see lightning before you hear thunder. Of the two examples above show that to travel
from the place of origin of vibration (sound source) to our ears, the sound takes the so-called
rapid propagation of sound. Well, how quickly calculate the propagation of sound? Is it the

92
same propagation speed of sound in a different medium? To solve the problems above, do
this experiment.

Answer (Hypothesis):
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
....................................... .................................................. ..................................................
...................................

Tools & Materials

1. Plastic cups former 2 pieces
2. Yarn
3. Trunk matches

Work Steps:
1. Punch a hole through the bottom of each plastic cup.
2. Tie the thread at the bottom of a plastic cup. To the barrier, use a matchstick.
3. Ask for help from friends to pull each plastic cups so that the yarn is quite tense.
4. Bring the plastic cups on your ears and ask your friends to say something. Were you
able to hear the sound clearly your friend?
5. Then ask your friend speaks slowly as before, but do not use a toy phone. Can you
hear your friend clearly?
6. Compare the sound you hear when propagating through the thread (solids) with the
sound you hear when airborne (gas)
7. 7. Fill observations into the table.

93
Table Observations

voice that came over the The voice that came over the
telephone toys (medium solid) air

(Clear / Less clear) * (Clear / Less clear) *

(Signs *: scratch one)

From the table above observations indicate that the voice sounded over the phone
........................ toys (medium thread / solid) than through the air. We can conclude that sound
travels better than in ................ ....................... ......

Questions:
1. Why is the sound travels faster in the medium solids than the liquid medium and the
air? Refer to the particle theory!
Answer:

2. The sound propagates faster in the medium than medium ..................... ...................
..and than medium ................................

Conclusion:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Discuss with friends in your group!!! American Indians always put his ear to the ground to
determine the tramp of horses approaching them. Why did they do it? Why when we put her
ear to the railroad tracks, we could hear the train coming, but the train is still far off

94