Sound
Tamil Nadu Board · Class 9 · Science
Quick revision notes for Sound — Tamil Nadu Board Class 9 Science. Key concepts, formulas, and definitions for last-minute revision.
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1. Production and Propagation of Sound
- Sound is produced by the vibration of objects (e.g., tuning fork, vocal cords, strings of musical instruments).
- Sound needs a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) for propagation. It CANNOT travel through vacuum.
- Bell-Jar Experiment proves sound cannot travel through vacuum: as air is pumped out of the jar containing a ringing bell, the sound becomes fainter and finally disappears.
2. Characteristics of a Sound Wave
- A sound wave is completely described by five characteristics: Amplitude, Frequency, Time Period, Wavelength, and Velocity (Speed).
- Amplitude (A): Maximum displacement of medium particles from rest position. SI unit: metre (m). Larger amplitude → louder sound.
- Frequency (n): Number of complete vibrations (cycles) per second. SI unit: hertz (Hz) or s⁻¹.
3. Distinguishing Sounds – Loudness, Pitch, and Timbre
- Sounds can be distinguished by three qualities: Loudness, Pitch, and Timbre (Quality).
- LOUDNESS depends on the amplitude of the sound wave. Greater amplitude → louder sound. Loud sound has higher energy and travels farther.
- Intensity of sound is the amount of energy crossing per unit area per unit time, perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Unit: decibel (dB), named after Alexander Graham Bell.
4. Speed of Sound
- Speed of sound is the distance travelled by a sound wave per unit time in an elastic medium.
- Speed of sound varies with the medium: fastest in solids, slower in liquids, slowest in gases.
- Speed of sound in air at 0°C = 330 m/s; at 25°C = 340 m/s. Speed increases with increase in temperature.
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