Sound Waves Study Guide

These flashcards summarize key concepts about sound waves, their characteristics, and related phenomena to support exam preparation.

Sound waves

Mechanical waves that require a medium to travel.

Longitudinal wave

A type of wave where particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave.

Rarefaction

The region in a longitudinal wave where particles are spread apart.

Compression

The region in a longitudinal wave where particles are closer together.

Wavelength measurement in longitudinal waves

Measured from one crest to the next, reflecting the distance between compressions.

Pitch

Quality of sound related to frequency; determines if sound is perceived as high or low.

Infrasonic

Sound waves below 20 Hz, not heard by humans.

Ultrasonic

Sound waves above 20,000 Hz, not heard by humans.

Inverse square law

As distance from a sound source doubles, sound intensity decreases to a quarter.

Doppler effect

Change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.

Resonance

The phenomenon where an object vibrates with increased amplitude due to another vibrating object.

Timbre

The quality of a sound that differentiates it from other sounds playing at the same frequency, affected by harmonics.

Beats frequency

The number of beats heard per second when two sound waves of different frequencies interact.

Fundamental frequency in an open pipe

Determined by the length of the pipe, calculated as f = v/λ for fundamental frequencies.

Speed of sound determination

Calculated based on observed resonance lengths and known frequencies in a closed tube.