Grade 10
  1. Mechanics  1.1. Dynamics  1.1.1. Motion in one dimension  1.1.2. Motion in two dimensions  1.1.3. Displacement and Distance  1.1.4. Speed and Velocity  1.1.5. Acceleration  1.1.6. Graphical representation of motion  1.1.7. Equations of motion  1.1.8. Free fall and acceleration due to gravity  1.1.9. Projectile motion  1.1.10. Relative speed  1.2. Dynamics  1.2.1. Newton's Laws of Motion  1.2.2. Inertia and mass  1.2.3. Force and its types  1.2.4. action and reaction force  1.2.5. Friction and its effects  1.2.6. Coefficient of friction  1.2.7. Circular motion  1.2.8. Centripetal force and centripetal acceleration  1.2.9. Momentum and Impulse  1.2.10. Conservation of momentum  1.2.11. Newton's third law and applications  1.3. Work, Energy and Power  1.3.1. Work done by the force  1.3.2. Work–energy theorem  1.3.3. Kinetic energy  1.3.4. Potential energy  1.3.5. Mechanical energy  1.3.6. Energy Conservation  1.3.7. Power and efficiency  1.3.8. Renewable and non-renewable energy sources  1.4. Gravitational force  1.4.1. Newton's law of universal gravitation  1.4.2. Gravitational field and field strength  1.4.3. Acceleration due to gravity on different planets  1.4.4. Kepler's laws of planetary motion  1.4.5. Orbits and satellites  1.4.6. Weight and apparent weight  1.4.7. Gravitational potential energy
  2. Properties of matter  2.1. States of matter  2.1.1. Solid, liquid and gas  2.1.2. Molecular structure of matter  2.1.3. Intermolecular forces  2.1.4. Plasma and Bose–Einstein condensate  2.2. Pressure  2.2.1. Definition of Pressure  2.2.2. Pressure in liquids  2.2.3. Atmospheric pressure  2.2.4. Pascal's principle  2.2.5. Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy  2.2.6. Surface tension and capillarity  2.3. Elasticity  2.3.1. Hooke's law  2.3.2. Stress and strain  2.3.3. Elastic Limit and Modulus of Elasticity  2.3.4. Applications of Elasticity
  3. Thermal physics  3.1. heat and temperature  3.1.1. Difference Between Heat and Temperature  3.1.2. Temperature scale  3.1.3. Thermal expansion  3.1.4. Thermal equilibrium  3.2. Heat transfer  3.2.1. Conductivity  3.2.2. Convection  3.2.3. Radiation  3.2.4. Insulation and its applications  3.3. Thermal properties of matter  3.3.1. Specific heat capacity  3.3.2. Latent heat and phase change  3.3.3. Boiling and Melting Point  3.3.4. Heat engines and refrigeration  3.4. Laws of Thermodynamics  3.4.1. Zeroth law of thermodynamics  3.4.2. First law of thermodynamics  3.4.3. Second law of thermodynamics  3.4.4. Carnot cycle
  4. Waves and optics  4.1. Nature and properties of waves  4.1.1. Types of waves in nature and properties of waves  4.1.2. Transverse and longitudinal waves  4.1.3. Wave parameters  4.1.4. Reflection and refraction of waves  4.1.5. Superposition and Interference  4.1.6. Standing Waves and Resonance  4.1.7. Doppler effect  4.2. Sound waves  4.2.1. Characteristics of sound waves  4.2.2. Speed of sound in different mediums  4.2.3. Applications of sound waves  4.2.4. Ultrasound and its uses  4.3. Light Waves and Optics  4.3.1. Nature of light  4.3.2. Reflection of light  4.3.3. Laws of reflection  4.3.4. Mirrors and Image Formation  4.3.5. Refraction of light  4.3.6. Snell's Law  4.3.7. Lenses and Image Formation  4.3.8. Total internal reflection and critical angle  4.3.9. Optical fibre  4.4. Optical Instruments  4.4.1. Microscope  4.4.2. Telescope  4.4.3. Human eye and vision defects  4.4.4. Camera and its working principle
  5. Electricity and Magnetism  5.1. Electrostatics  5.1.1. Electric charge and its properties  5.1.2. Conductors and Insulators  5.1.3. Coulomb's law  5.1.4. Electric field and field lines  5.1.5. Electric potential and potential difference  5.1.6. Capacitors and Capacitance  5.2. Current Electricity  5.2.1. Electric current and its measurement  5.2.2. Ohm's law  5.2.3. Resistance and resistivity  5.2.4. Series and Parallel Circuits  5.2.5. Electric power and energy  5.2.6. Kirchhoff's Laws  5.3. Magnetism and Electromagnetism  5.3.1. Magnetic field and field lines  5.3.2. Magnetic effects of electric current  5.3.3. Electromagnetic induction  5.3.4. Faraday's laws of electromagnetic induction  5.3.5. Transformers and Applications  5.3.6. AC and DC current
  6. Modern Physics  6.1. Nuclear physics  6.1.1. Structure of the atom  6.1.2. Bohr's atomic model  6.1.3. Electron Energy Levels  6.1.4. X-rays and applications  6.2. Radioactivity  6.2.1. Types of radiation  6.2.2. Half-life and radioactive decay  6.2.3. Nuclear reactions and applications  6.2.4. Fission and Fusion  6.3. Quantum physics  6.3.1. Wave–particle duality  6.3.2. Photoelectric effect  6.3.3. Energy quantization  6.3.4. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
  7. Electronics and Communication  7.1. Semiconductors  7.1.1. Conductors, Insulators and Semiconductors  7.1.2. Diodes and their applications  7.1.3. Transistors and Logic Gates  7.1.4. LEDs and photodiodes  7.2. Communication Systems  7.2.1. Basics of communication  7.2.2. Analog and digital signals  7.2.3. Wireless and optical fibre communication  7.2.4. Radio Waves and Modulation

Grade 10 → Waves and optics → Sound waves ↓


Applications of sound waves


Sound waves are an integral part of our daily lives. They are used in a variety of applications in the fields of communication, medicine, music, and many more. This comprehensive exploration will go deep into these applications, and provide information about how sound waves are used for benefit in various fields.

Understanding sound waves

Sound waves are longitudinal waves that travel through a medium by compressing and rarefying the particles in the medium. These waves need a medium such as air, water or a solid to travel because they cannot propagate in a vacuum.

Sound waves are characterized by several properties such as wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and speed. The speed of sound depends on the medium through which it travels.

Basic formula

Here are some basic equations related to sound waves:

The speed of sound (v) in a medium is given by:

v = f * λ

where f is the frequency, and λ (lambda) is the wavelength.

The speed of sound in dry air at 20°C is about 343 meters per second.

Communications

The most important use of sound waves is in communication. From face-to-face conversations to the use of telecommunications devices, sound waves are important.

Telephone and radio

Telephones convert sound waves from a person's voice into electrical signals, and transmit them over distances. These signals are then converted back into sound waves by the receiver's equipment.

A basic model of how a telephone works:

mouth Ear Electrical Signals

Public address systems

Public address (PA) systems use sound waves to amplify sound over large areas. Microphones convert sound into electrical signals that are amplified and then converted back into sound waves by a speaker.

Medicine

Sound waves are helpful in medical diagnosis and treatment. It has a notable application in ultrasound imaging.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and structures inside the body. It is widely used because it is non-invasive and does not use ionizing radiation, making it safer than X-rays.

Ultrasound images are produced by sending sound waves into the body and detecting the echo that comes back.

Transducer Body

Music

Sound waves are the basis of music. Musical instruments produce sound waves that reach our ears as music. Different instruments produce different frequencies and waveforms, creating different sounds.

Musical instruments

Musical instruments such as guitars, pianos and violins rely on the vibration of strings or air columns to produce sound. This sound is the result of sound waves traveling through the air.

Consider a plucked guitar string:

The red line shows the wave pattern of the vibrating string.

Industry and manufacturing

Sound waves are used in various industrial applications such as cleaning, quality control, and even material testing.

Ultrasonic cleaning

High frequency sound waves are used to clean delicate items such as jewellery and electronic devices. The sound waves create tiny bubbles in the liquid which effectively remove dirt and contaminants.

Non destructive testing

Ultrasound is used to inspect defects in materials and structures without causing damage. This application is invaluable in ensuring the integrity of parts used in critical applications such as aircraft manufacturing.

Navigation and ranging

Sound waves play an important role in navigation and ranging systems, especially sonar.

Sonar

Sonar, or sound navigation and ranging, uses underwater sound waves for navigation, communication, or detection of objects on the sea floor. Sonar works by sending sound pulses into the water and listening for the echo.

Sonar object

The blue lines show the path of sound waves emitted by the sonar device, and the reflections indicate the presence of an object.

Animal communication

Animals use sound waves widely for communication. Examples include the complex songs of birds, the echolocation used by bats, and the communication through oceans by whales.

Whales and dolphins

Whales use sound waves to communicate over great distances underwater. They make unique sounds that can be heard by other whales miles away.

Bats and echolocation

Bats emit high-frequency sound waves that bounce off objects, enabling them to navigate and hunt even in complete darkness by interpreting the returning echoes as images of their surroundings.

Conclusion

Sound waves are versatile and indispensable components in many fields. Their applications in communications, medicine, industry, navigation, and even animal behavior demonstrate their widespread utility and continuing importance in innovation and human advancement. As technology advances, we can expect even more revolutionary applications of sound waves.


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Applications of sound waves

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