Effects of Sound Waves (CIE IGCSE Physics)

• The frequency of a sound wave is related to its pitch
  • Sounds with a high pitch have a high frequency (or short wavelength)
  • Sounds with a low pitch have a low frequency (or long wavelength)

• The amplitude of a sound wave is related to its volume
  • Sounds with a large amplitude have a high volume
  • Sounds with a small amplitude have a low volume

 

Pitch and amplitude of sound

• Sound waves reflect off hard surfaces
  • The reflection of a sound wave is called an echo

• Echo sounding can be used to measure depth or to detect objects underwater
  • A sound wave can be transmitted from the surface of the water
  • The sound wave is reflected off the bottom of the ocean

• The time it takes for the sound wave to return is used to calculate the depth of the water
• The distance the wave travels is twice the depth of the ocean
  • This is the distance to the ocean floor plus the distance for the wave to return

Echo sounding is used to determine water depth