YEAR 8 SCIENCE

CHAPTER 11: SOUND

11.1 CHANGING SOUNDS
oAny object can make a sound when it vibrates.
oA vibration is a movement about a rest
position. The movement may be
described as a to-and-fro movement.
11.1 CHANGING SOUNDS

Video on vibration that produces sound:

11.2 LOOKING AT VIBRATIONS
oThe amplitude of a vibration is the
greatest distance the object moves from
its rest position.
oFrequency is the number of vibrations
per second.
oSound waves are longitudinal waves with regions of high and low
pressure.
11.2 LOOKING AT VIBRATIONS

O = Rest position

Amplitude of a vibration
11.2 LOOKING AT VIBRATIONS

Sound waves have regions of high and low pressure

11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS
oSound waves can travel in a gas, liquid or a solid because they all contain
particles. When an object vibrates it makes the particles next to it in the gas,
liquid or solid vibrate too.

Production of sound by vibration

11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS

oAs the vibrating object moves towards the air particles, it packs the
particles closer together and this causes the air pressure at that place to
increase.
oAs the vibrating object moves away from the air particles, it gives them more
space and they spread out. This causes the air pressure at that place to
decrease.
oThis makes alternate regions of high and low pressure which travel
through the air away from the vibrating object.
11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS

Regions of high and low pressure move away from the vibrating object
11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS
oSound waves travel the fastest in solids followed by liquids and gases.
This is because the particles in solids are closely packed. The particles in
liquids are further apart than in solids. The particles in gases are very far
apart.

Arrangement of particles in solids, liquids and gases

11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS
oThe humpback whale emits a series of sounds, called songs, which travel
thousands of kilometres through the ocean. It uses its songs to communicate
with other whales.
oA snake detects vibrations in the ground
with its lower jawbone. The bone
transmits vibrations to the snakes ear
and allows the snake to detect the
footsteps of a prey.
11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS

Video on sound waves used by humpback

whales to communicate:
11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS
oSound waves cannot pass through a vacuum because it does not contain
any particles.
oWhen a vacuum is established in the bell jar, the bell cannot be heard
although the hammer can be seen striking it.
11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS

Sound cannot be heard through vacuum

11.3 HOW SOUND TRAVELS

Video on sound in vacuum:

11.4 SOUNDS ON A SCREEN
oAn oscilloscope is an instrument which allows you to see sounds waves.
oWhen a microphone is connected to an
oscilloscope, it will allow you to see a
picture of the sound waves, as a line on a
screen (trace).
11.4 SOUNDS ON A SCREEN

An oscilloscope displaying the sound wave

11.4 SOUNDS ON A SCREEN
oThe loudness of a sound is related to the amplitude of its sound waves and is
measured in decibels.
oA sound wave with a small amplitude will produce a quiet sound that has a
small amount of energy.
oA sound wave with a large amplitude will produce a loud sound that has a large
amount of energy.
11.4 SOUNDS ON A SCREEN

A loud sound and a quiet sound

11.4 SOUNDS ON A SCREEN
oThe pitch of a sound depends on the number of sound waves it produces in a
second as it vibrates.
oThe number of waves per second is called the frequency. The unit for frequency is
hertz (Hz).
oThe higher the frequency of the sound wave, the higher the pitch of the sound.
11.4 SOUNDS ON A SCREEN

A high-frequency sound and a low-frequency sound

11.5 HOW WE HEAR
oThe ear is the organ of the body that detects sound waves.

The structure of the human ear

11.5 HOW WE HEAR
oSequence of vibration transfer:

The
11.5 HOW WE HEAR
oThe ear of a young person is sensitive to frequencies in the range 20 to 20000
Hz but the ability to detect the lower and higher frequencies decreases with age.
oSounds above 20 000 Hz are known as
ultrasound. Bats use ultrasound to find
their way around by listening to echoes.
oSome people may have a restricted range of hearing due to nerve damage.
They may not be able to hear some low-pitched or high-pitched sounds.
11.5 HOW WE HEAR
oDeafness can be caused in the following ways:
(i) Hole in the eardrum
(ii) Permanent damage to the nerve in the
cochlea
(iii) Ear wax in the outer ear (temporary
deafness)
(iv) Growth of tissue in the middle ears