ICSE Class 10 Physics – Chapter 7: Sound (Complete Notes)
1. Nature of Sound
• Sound = mechanical energy produced by vibrations.
• Requires a medium (cannot travel in vacuum).
• Type of wave: Longitudinal (particles vibrate parallel to wave direction).
• Regions: Compression (C) = high pressure, Rarefaction (R) = low pressure.
2. Wave Characteristics
• Wavelength (λ): distance between two successive compressions/rarefactions (m).
• Frequency (f): number of vibrations per second (Hz).
• Time Period (T): time for one vibration, T = 1/f.
• Velocity (v): speed of sound wave, v = f × λ.
3. Characteristics of Musical Sound
• Pitch: depends on frequency (↑ f = ↑ pitch).
• Loudness: depends on amplitude (↑ amplitude = louder).
• Quality (Timbre): depends on waveform (distinguishes sources).
4. Range of Hearing
• Human range: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz.
• Infrasonic: < 20 Hz (whales, elephants).
• Ultrasonic: > 20,000 Hz (bats, dogs).
5. Speed of Sound
• Solids > Liquids > Gases.
• Approx speeds: Air = 330 m/s, Water = 1500 m/s, Steel = 5000 m/s.
• In gases: v ∝ √T (T in Kelvin).
6. Echo
• Definition: Reflection of sound heard after time gap.
• Conditions: Distance ≥ 17 m (time ≥ 0.1 s), surface hard.
• Formula: d = (v × t)/2.
• Uses: SONAR, measuring distance.
7. Reverberation
• Persistence of sound due to repeated reflections.
• Too much = noisy, unclear sound.
• Controlled by curtains, carpets, acoustic panels.
8. Resonance
• When forced vibration frequency = natural frequency → large amplitude.
• Examples: tuning forks, soldiers break step on bridges.
9. Uses of Ultrasound
• Medical: ultrasound scans.
• Industrial: detect cracks, clean delicate parts.
• SONAR: depth of sea, submarine detection.
10. Important Formulas
• Wave speed: v = f × λ.
• Time period: T = 1/f.
• Echo distance: d = (v × t)/2.
• Speed in gases: v ∝ √T.
