What are the Characteristics of a Sound Wave ?

   Characteristics of a         Sound Wave



Sound is a longitudinal wave which consists of compressions and rarefactions travelling through a medium. A sound wave can be described completely by five characteristics :  Wavelength, Amplitude, Time-period,Frequency and Velocity (or Speed)

1. Wavelength 

The minimum distance in which a sound wave repeats itself is called its wavelength. In most simple words, it is the length of one complete wave. The wavelength is denoted by the Greek letter 'Lambda'. In a sound wave the combined length of a compression and in its adjacent rarefaction is called its wavelength.
The SI unit of measuring wavelength is metre (m). Sometimes, however, centimetre unit is also used for expressing wavelength.


2. Amplitude 

When a wave passes through a medium, the particles of the medium get displace temporarily from the original undisturbed positions. The maximum displacement of the particles of the medium from their original undisturbed positions, when  a wave passes through the medium, is called amplitude of the wave. The term amplitude is, in fact, used to describe the size of the wave. The SI unit of measurement of amplitude is metre (m) though sometimes it is also measured in centimetres. It should be noted that the amplitude of a wave is the same is the amplitude of the vibrating body producing the wave. 

3. Time-Period 

The the time required to produce one complete wave( or cycle) is called time-period of the wave. Now, one complete wave is produced by one full vibration of the vibrating body. So, we can write another definition of the time-period as follows : The time taken to complete one vibration is called time-period. The time-period of a wave is denoted by the letter T.  The unit of measurement of time-period is second (s).


4. Frequency 

The term frequency tells us the rate at which the waves are produced by the source. The number of complete waves (or cycle) produced in one second is called frequency of the wave. Since one complete wave is produced by one full vibration of the vibrating body, so we can also say that : The number of vibrations per second is called frequency. The SI unit of frequency is hertz (which is written as Hz). Sometimes, however, a bigger unit of frequency called kilohertz (kHz) is also used (1 kHz = 1000 Hz). The frequency of a wave is denoted by the letter f, though in some books,  they use v (nu) to donate frequency. 

5. Velocity of Wave (or Speed of Wave)

The distance travelled by a wave in 
one second is called velocity of the wave (or the speed of the wave). The velocity of the wave is represented by the letter v. The SI unit for measuring the velocity of a wave is metres per second.

I am Saheb Sarkar from purnea .

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