Sound is a form of energy that travels in waves through a medium, such as air or water. Sound waves are produced by vibrating objects, such as a guitar string or a speaker. But what determines how much energy a sound wave has? And how does that affect the way we perceive sound?
Contents
Amplitude and Frequency of Sound Waves
The energy of a sound wave is most closely related to its amplitude and frequency. The amplitude is the maximum displacement of the medium from its equilibrium position, as shown in Figure 1. The frequency is the number of cycles per second, measured in hertz (Hz).
The greater the amplitude and frequency, the more energy the sound wave has. The amplitude and frequency also determine the loudness and pitch of the sound, respectively.
Loudness and Pitch of Sound Waves
The loudness of a sound is related to how much energy it carries, which depends on its amplitude. The louder the sound, the higher the amplitude. The human ear can detect sounds with amplitudes ranging from about 10^-12 m to 10^-3 m, corresponding to sound intensities from 0 dB (threshold of hearing) to 120 dB (threshold of pain).
The pitch of a sound is related to how fast it oscillates, which depends on its frequency. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. The human ear can detect sounds with frequencies ranging from about 20 Hz to 20 kHz, corresponding to musical notes from low bass to high soprano.
Examples of Sound Waves with Different Energies
To illustrate how the energy of a sound wave is related to its amplitude and frequency, let us consider some examples of sound waves with different energies.
- A whisper has a low amplitude and a low frequency, so it has low energy and low loudness and pitch.
- A normal conversation has a moderate amplitude and a moderate frequency, so it has moderate energy and moderate loudness and pitch.
- A shout has a high amplitude and a high frequency, so it has high energy and high loudness and pitch.
- A subwoofer produces sound waves with a low amplitude and a very low frequency, so it has low energy but high loudness (due to resonance) and very low pitch.
- A whistle produces sound waves with a high amplitude and a very high frequency, so it has high energy but low loudness (due to attenuation) and very high pitch.
Conclusion
The energy of a sound wave is most closely related to its amplitude and frequency. The greater the amplitude and frequency, the more energy the sound wave has. The amplitude and frequency also determine the loudness and pitch of the sound, respectively.
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