Chapter 16: Problem 19
BIO For a person with normal hearing, the faintest sound that can be heard at a frequency of 400 \(\mathrm{Hz}\) has a pressure amplitude of about \(6.0 \times 10^{-5}\) Pa. Calculate the (a) intensity; (b) sound intensity level; (c) displacement amplitude of this sound wave at \(20^{\circ} \mathrm{C} .\)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Calculate Sound Intensity
Calculate Sound Intensity Level
Calculate Displacement Amplitude
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Pressure Amplitude
Understanding pressure amplitude is crucial because it relates to the physical sensation of loudness—a higher pressure amplitude typically means a louder sound.
- Pressure amplitude is measured in Pascals (Pa).
- It is a peak value, representing the furthest extent of compression or rarefaction of the air particles.
- In the exercise provided, the pressure amplitude of the sound is given as approximately \(6.0 \times 10^{-5}\) Pa.
Sound Intensity Level
This concept is very useful because it scales vast intensity ranges into manageable numbers, typically measured in decibels (dB).
- The formula used is \(L = 10 \log_{10} \left( \frac{I}{I_0} \right)\), where \(I\) is the intensity of the sound, and \(I_0 = 10^{-12} \, \text{W/m}^2\) is the reference intensity, which is typically the threshold of hearing.
- In our case, the calculated sound intensity level is approximately 4.77 dB.
- This level tells us how the sound compares to the quietest sound perceivable by the average human ear.
Displacement Amplitude
For sound waves, this is fundamental in understanding how sound travels through materials.
- The relationship between pressure and displacement can be described by the equation \(A = \frac{p}{\omega Z}\), where \(A\) is displacement amplitude, \(p\) is the pressure amplitude, \(\omega\) is the angular frequency, and \(Z\) is the acoustic impedance.
- For the given example, the displacement amplitude is approximately \(5.81 \times 10^{-11}\) m, indicating very slight movements of the particles at the sound's stated intensity.
- This concept is instrumental in fields like acoustics, helping to design better soundproofing and understand wave interactions with different materials.
Angular Frequency
In the context of sound waves, it helps characterize the wave’s energy and behavior.
- Calculated using the formula \(\omega = 2 \pi f\), where \(f\) is the frequency of the wave.
- For instance, in our given problem, \(f = 400 \, \text{Hz}\), making \(\omega \approx 2513.27\, \text{radians/second}\).
- Higher angular frequencies indicate more rapid vibrations, contributing to higher pitch sounds.
Acoustic Impedance
The concept is akin to electrical impedance but applied to sound waves.
- Defined as \(Z = \rho v\), where \(\rho\) is the density of the medium and \(v\) is the speed of sound within it.
- In the given example, considering the air at approximately \(20^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), \(Z \approx 413.01\, \text{kg/(m}^2\cdot \text{s)}\).
- Acoustic impedance influences how sound waves travel through different media, determining how much energy is reflected or absorbed upon hitting a surface. This is crucial for engineering fields like audio technology and architectural acoustics.