Sound waves transfer energy to our ears in the form of a longitudinal wave. A loudspeaker pushes air particles to collide with other air particles and the energy is transferred via particle collisions.
There are regions of the wave where the particles are all squashed together and regions where they're spread apart. The squashed areas are called compressions, the spread out areas are called rarefactions. These can clearly be seen with a piece of equipment called a Ruben's Tube.
Task - Add label arrow to link the key word to the sound wave diagram.
Watch the demonstration
Answer the question on the companion sheet.
The shape of a sound wave on an oscilloscope changes the way that we hear it. The shape will change the volume and the pitch of the sound wave
Volume is the overall loudness of the sound
Pitch is how high or low it is.
Here we have 4 sounds on an oscilloscope
A = the lowest in pitch because it has the lowest frequency and longest wavelength
B= the loudest because it has the largest amplitude
C = the quietest because it has the smallest frequency
D = the highest in pitch because it has the highest frequency and shortest wavelength
Anna Th'died
The quietest of all the ghosts, she makes deep groans all night
M.T. Tomb
Very rarely heard, the crew only managed to record 2 wavelengths of him
R.U.Next
Fairly quiet but screams out loud when he sees his murderer M.T.Tomb
Willy Beback
A ghost that like to sing, has a loud high pitched voice
Diane Rott
M. T. Tomb's girlfriend. She's Quite loud but the crew only managed to record 2 and a half wavelengths of her voice
Barry D'Alyve
Most feared, the loudest in the house with a high pitched scream all night long
The Most Haunted team left their microphones and oscilloscopes in the Haunted House overnight and the following sound waves were recorded during the night.
Can you match the sound waves to the correct ghosts and explain why you think you are correct!
The range of human hearing is for 20 - 20,000Hz, but reduces with age. By the time your 40 you'll only be able to hear up to 14,000Hz like Mr Higgins
How does that compare to the animal kingdom?
Answer the question on the companion sheet