Properties of Sound Waves Pt 1

UNIT 4 WAVES

Lesson 11: Properties of Sound Waves (part 1)

6.P.1 Understand the properties of waves and the

wavelike property of energy in earthquakes, light and

sound waves.

6.P.1.3 Explain the relationship among the rate of vibration, the
medium through which vibrations travel, sound and hearing.

What are some
ways that you
could describe

sounds?

Sound Waves

Properties of Sound Waves
Intensity
Loudness
Frequency
Pitch

PHET Simulation: Wave on a String

Observe what

happens when you
move the wrench

up and down

slowly versus when
you move it up and
down quickly with

a lot of energy.

​ https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/wave-on-a-string/latest/wave-on-a-string_en.html

Audio Response

What did you observe (slow movement)?

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

What did you observe (quick movement)?

Open Audio Recorder

Sound Waves

Properties of Sound Waves
• Intensity – the amount of

energy the wave carries per
second through a unit of area

• Amplitude increases with

increased energy

• Measured in watts per

square meter (W/m2)

Sound Waves

Properties of Sound Waves
• Loudness – how strongly

audible something sounds to
you; how you perceive it

• It is often confused with

volume. Volume is how you
manipulate or change how
loud something is.

• The higher the amplitude, the

louder something will sound.

Sound Waves

Properties of Sound Waves
• Loudness or sound intensity

is measured in decibels
(dB).

• Decibels shows the amount

of air pressure displaced by
sound, which affects how it
hits your eardrum and its
perceived level of loudness.

• Maximum safe level is 85

dB

Open Ended

What is high intensity and how does it affect sound loudness?

Open Ended

What is low intensity and how does it affect sound loudness?