Sound

What type of wave is a sound wave

It is mechanical and longitudinal wave

What does the loudness of sound depend on

It depends on the amplitude of the wave (the great the amplitude the greater the loudness)

What does the pitch of sound depend on

It depends on the frequency of the wave (the higher the frequency the higher the pitch)

What range of frequencies can the human ear hear

It can hear 20-20000 Hz

Uses of sound waves in technology

Ultrasound for medical scans

Resonance

If the frequency of a periodic force is applied to a body is the same or near its natural frequency, then the body will vibrate with a very large amplitude

Example of resonance

A Barton’s pendulum

Fundamental frequency

It occurs if a string is vibrating with an antinode at its centre and a node at each end (and no other nodes or antinodes)

What is the distance between two (anti)nodes

Wavelength/2

What is the distance between an antinode and the next node

Wavelength/4