Section 13.3 Audible Sound and Ultrasound

Section 13.
Audible sound and ultrasound
• Audible sound
• Intensity
• Sound intensity level
• Ultrasound
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 1
13.3 Audible sound and ultrasound (SB p. 196)
Audible sound
Range of frequency we hear:

audible sound
20 Hz – 20 kHz
Cannot hear sound out of :

audible frequency range
Our ears most sensitive to:

Go to
500 Hz – 5 kHz
Activity 3
Intensity
Energy carried by sound

intensity ↑
Amplitude ↑
→ louder
Energy of sound wave
Perpendicular area × Time
Unit: J s−1m−2 or W m−2

Go to
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Activity 4 3

Intensity
Loudness is a subjective sensation
Min. intensity we can hear

≈ 1 × 10−12 W m−2
threshold of hearing intensity > 1 W m−2
cause pain / deafness

Sound intensity level
human respond to intensity of sound in log scale

Intensity level
intensity of sound
 I 
h = 10 log   threshold of hearing
 I0 
= 1 × 10−12 W m−2
Unit: decibel (dB)
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Thinking 2 5

Sound intensity level
Intensities & the corresponding intensity levels
Go to
Activity 5
Example 3:
(a) Suppose the sound intensity in a room is 1 × 10−8 W m−2,
what is the corresponding sound intensity level of the
room?
(b) Find the intensity of a sound if it corresponds to 75 dB.
Solut  I   I 
= 10 log  
(a) By hion (b) By h = 10 log  
 I0   I0 
 1 × 10 −8   I 
h = 10 log   75 = 10 log  −12 
1 × 10 −12   1 × 10 
 
 I 
= 10 log(10 ) = 40 dB
4 7.5 = log  −12 
 1 × 10 
Find I in calculator: I = 3.16 × 10−5 W m−2
7.5 10x × 1 × 10−12 =
Class Practice 2:
The sound intensity level of an operating machine is 80 dB.
If it is covered by a shelter, the sound intensity produced is
halved. What is the new sound intensity level?
 I  Ans
By h = 10 log   wer
I  0 
80  I 
( ) = ( 10 log  −12)
 10 
1 × 10−4 W m−2
The intensity without a shelter (I) = ________________
1 × 10 4
5 × 10−5 W m−2
2
The intensity with a shelter = _________ = _____________
 5 × 10 −5 
10 log  
−12 
 1 × 10 
The new sound intensity level = _________________
76.99 dB
= _________________
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Thinking 3 8
Ultrasound
frequency: above 20 kHz

→ ultrasound / ultrasonic transmitter
ultrasonic
• out of the audible range of waves
human waves
reflected
from bottom

Ultrasound
weak eyesight →
emit ultrasound & detect echo
to avoid obstacles & prey
use ultrasound for

communication

To section 13.4

Activity 3
Determination of human audible range
signal generator
Let’s start:
1. Connect a loudspeaker loudspeaker
to a signal generator.
2. Set the frequency of the signal generator to

0 Hz.
3. Ask your classmate to turn on the signal

generator and then increase the frequency of
the sound slowly.
Activity 3 (Cont)
4. When you hear the sound from the

loudspeaker, record the value of the
frequency. Ans
wer
About 20 Hz
5. Increase the frequency of the sound

continuously.

Activity 3 (Cont)
6. When you cannot hear the sound, record the
value of the frequency again. Ans
wer
About 20 kHz
7. What is the frequency range of the sound you
can hear (audible frequency range)?
Ans
20wer
Hz to 20 kHz

Activity 3 (Cont)
8. Compare your audible frequency range with

those of your classmates. Are the ranges the
Ans
same?
wer
No, my classmates have different audible
ranges. Return to
© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

Text 15
Activity 4
Loudness and intensity of sound
Let’s start: signal CRO
(A) Loudness of sound generator
loudspeaker
1. Connect a loudspeaker and a CRO to a signal

generator.

1 kHz and turn it to a moderate volume.
Activity 4 (Cont)
3. Decrease the volume of the sound slowly.

What is the change in the loudness of the
sound you hear? Ans
wer
The sound becomes less loud.
4. What happens to the waveform shown on
the screen of the CRO in step 3? Ans
wer
The amplitude of the waveform
decreases.

Activity 4 (Cont)
5. Can you hear the sound when the volume is
turned to a very low value? Ans
wer
No.
CRO
signal
generator
loudspeaker

Activity 4 (Cont)
(B)Intensity of sound
1. Connect a loudspeaker to a signal generator.

2 kHz.
3. Turn the signal generator to a moderate

volume and observe the loudness of the
sound.
Activity 4 (Cont)
4. Now, connect another loudspeaker in parallel
to the above loudspeaker, in such a way that
the two loudspeakers emit identical sound
intensity and the total sound intensity is
doubled.
5. Compare the loudness of this sound with the

sound in step 3. Do you feel that the loudness
of the sound is doubled? Ans
wer
No. Return to

Text 20
Thinking 2
Does a sound of intensity level of 0 dB mean

that it is not audible? Ans
wer
A sound of intensity level of 0 dB has an intensity
of 1 × 10−12 W m−2 . It is the value of the threshold
of hearing. Therefore, this sound is still audible.
Return to
Text

Activity 5
Sound level meter
Let’s start:
1. You are given a sound level meter, which is a
device to measure the intensity level of a
sound.
2. Use the sound level meter to find the loudest

place in your classroom. Record the value of
the intensity level.
Return to
Text
Thinking 3
The following is a conversation between Louis

and Sally.
Sally: I’ve just checked the sound intensity

level of my own voice. According to the
sound level meter, it is about 65 dB.
Thinking 3(Cont)
Louis: I’ve also checked mine. It is about 70 dB.

Sally: When we both talk at the same time, what
is the total sound intensity level of our
voices?
Louis: It’s simple. It is just the sum of 65 dB and
70 dB. That is 135 dB.
Sally: Really? 135 dB is a very high sound
intensity level!
Is Louis correct? Why? Ans
wer
Thinking 3(Cont)
Louis is not correct. Since intensity level is the logarithmic

scale of intensity, we cannot simply add the two intensity
levels together.
 I 
By 65 = 10 log  −12
, the intensity of Sally’s voice
 1 × 10 
 I 
= 3.16 × 10 W m . By 70 = 10 log 
−6 −2
−12
, the intensity
 1 × 10 
of Louis’s voice = 1 × 10−5 W m−2 . When they talk at the
same time, the total intensity = 3.16 × 10−6 + 1 × 10−5
= 13.16 × 10−6 W m−2 .Therefore the total intensity level
 13.16 × 10 −6 
= 10 log  1 × 10 −12  = 71.2 dB.
 Return to
 
Text 25

Section 13.3 Audible Sound and Ultrasound

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Section 13.

Audible sound and ultrasound

Range of frequency we hear:

Cannot hear sound out of :

Our ears most sensitive to:

Energy carried by sound

Unit: J s−1m−2 or W m−2

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Activity 4 3

Loudness is a subjective sensation

Min. intensity we can hear

threshold of hearing intensity > 1 W m−2

cause pain / deafness

Sound intensity level

human respond to intensity of sound in log scale

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. Thinking 2 5

Sound intensity level

Intensities & the corresponding intensity levels

frequency: above 20 kHz

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 9

use ultrasound for

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 10

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 11

2. Set the frequency of the signal generator to

3. Ask your classmate to turn on the signal

4. When you hear the sound from the

5. Increase the frequency of the sound

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 13

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 14

8. Compare your audible frequency range with

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

(A) Loudness of sound generator

1. Connect a loudspeaker and a CRO to a signal

2. Set the frequency of the signal generator to

3. Decrease the volume of the sound slowly.

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 17

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 18

2. Set the frequency of the signal generator to

3. Turn the signal generator to a moderate

5. Compare the loudness of this sound with the

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd.

Does a sound of intensity level of 0 dB mean

© Manhattan Press (H.K.) Ltd. 21

2. Use the sound level meter to find the loudest

The following is a conversation between Louis

Sally: I’ve just checked the sound intensity

Louis: I’ve also checked mine. It is about 70 dB.

Louis is not correct. Since intensity level is the logarithmic

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