Sound Waves

Terms to Know

• sound/vibration
• amplitude
• frequency (hertz)
• wave length
• longitudinal wave
• super sonic
• pitch

Sound

• a mechanical wave that is created by a vibrating object
• the vibration is sent in a to-and-fro movement through a medium (solid, liquid,gas)

Super sonic

• is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound (Mach 1)
• This speed is approximately 343.2 m/s

Amplitude

• height of wave from zero
• reference point must be either given or in the middle of the highest point to the lowest point
• Middle of peak and trough

Frequency

• The number of waves that pass at a given point in a second.
• Measured in Hertz (Hz)
• 1Hz = one Oscillation/second
• The zero line is our time line

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Wave length

• Measure from peak to peak
• Or from trough to trough
• longer the wave length = lower pitch

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Pitch

• The quality of a sound that is given by the rate of vibrations producing it
• higher frequency = higher the pitch
• short wave length = higher pitch
• Note: listen to high pitch sound

Longitudinal Wave

• vibrations that go parallel to the direction that the sound wave moves
• See animation