Properties of Sound
Sound can have different pitches and volumes. The pitch of a sound is how high or how low it is. For example, an average dog growling produces a lower pitch than an average bird singing a song. Furthermore, tuba that can play lower pitches than a flute. There are several physical properties of the vibrating material that affect the resulting pitch of the sound. Changing these properties will change the pitch the object produces when vibrating. These properties include:
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1. Thickness: A vibrating object with a greater thickness will produce a lower pitch and will vibrate slower. A vibrating object with alesser thicknesswill produce a higher pitchand will vibrate faster. For example, a thick guitar string will produce a lower pitch when plucked than the pitch a thin string will produce.
2. Length: A vibrating object with a longer length will produce a lower pitch and will vibrate slower. A vibrating object with a shorter length will produce a higher pitch and will vibrate faster.For example, a longer guitar string will produce a lower pitch when plucked than a shorter string.
3. Tension: Tension is the tightness of an object. For example, a tightly stretched rubber band or string. A vibrating object under greater tension will produce a higher pitch and will vibrate faster. A vibrating object under lesser tension will produce a lower pitch and will vibrate slower. For example, stretching a rubber band as much as possible and plucking it will produce a higher pitch than if the rubber band is under less tension.
2. Length: A vibrating object with a longer length will produce a lower pitch and will vibrate slower. A vibrating object with a shorter length will produce a higher pitch and will vibrate faster.For example, a longer guitar string will produce a lower pitch when plucked than a shorter string.
3. Tension: Tension is the tightness of an object. For example, a tightly stretched rubber band or string. A vibrating object under greater tension will produce a higher pitch and will vibrate faster. A vibrating object under lesser tension will produce a lower pitch and will vibrate slower. For example, stretching a rubber band as much as possible and plucking it will produce a higher pitch than if the rubber band is under less tension.
Frequency is the rate at which a vibration occurs. A higher pitch will have a higher frequency and a shorter wavelength. A lower pitch will have a lower frequency and a longer wavelength.
Sources:
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://www.flickr.com/photos/30478819@N08/33737319113
Image 2: http://www.howmusicworks.org/103/Sound-and-Music/Amplitude-and-Frequency
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://www.flickr.com/photos/30478819@N08/33737319113
Image 2: http://www.howmusicworks.org/103/Sound-and-Music/Amplitude-and-Frequency