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Physics Tutorial 11.5 - Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level

There are 7 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level. The tutorial starts with an introduction to Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level and is then followed with a list of the separate lessons, the tutorial is designed to be read in order but you can skip to a specific lesson or return to recover a specific physics lesson as required to build your physics knowledge of Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level. you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

In this Physics tutorial, you will learn:

  • What are sound waves?
  • How do sound waves propagate in matter?
  • How do sound waves vary with the density of medium?
  • What is audible sound? What are the limits of audibility?
  • What are infra and ultra sound? Where they can be used?
  • What is echo?
  • What is sound intensity and what are the factors affecting it?
  • What is sound level and why do we use a logarithmic scale to describe it?
  • What are loudness and pitch and which quantities are they related to?

Introduction to Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level

Suppose you are inside a room and somebody, who is outside the room, is speaking loudly. Can you hear his/her voice? What do you think about penetrating ability of sound waves?

Experiments have shown the speed of sound in metals is more than 10 times greater than in air. What conclusion can you draw about the relationship between speed of sound and the density of medium?

Now, suppose you are on the Moon. Can you hear any voice when somebody is speaking? Why?

This tutorial is focused exclusively on sound waves and their properties, given that these waves are a bit specific and therefore, the approach needed for this purpose is different from the other waves.

Please select a specific "Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level" lesson from the table below, review the video tutorial, print the revision notes or use the practice question to improve your knowledge of this physics topic.

Waves Learning Material
Tutorial IDPhysics Tutorial TitleTutorialVideo
Tutorial
Revision
Notes
Revision
Questions
11.5Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level
Lesson IDPhysics Lesson TitleLessonVideo
Lesson
11.5.1Things You Already Know About Sound Waves
11.5.2Things You Need To Know About Sound Waves
11.5.3Limits of Audibility. Audible Sound. Infra and Ultrasound<
11.5.4Echo
11.5.5Intensity of Sound Waves
11.5.6Sound Level
11.5.7Loudness and Pitch

Whats next?

Enjoy the "Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level" physics tutorial? People who liked the "Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level" tutorial found the following resources useful:

  1. Physics tutorial Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this tutorial (see below)
  2. Waves Revision Notes: Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the physics tutorial for Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level
  3. Waves Practice Questions: Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level. Test and improve your knowledge of Sound Waves. Intensity and Sound Level with example questins and answers
  4. Check your calculations for Waves questions with our excellent Waves calculators which contain full equations and calculations clearly displayed line by line. See the Waves Calculators by iCalculator™ below.
  5. Continuing learning waves - read our next physics tutorial: Electromagnetic Waves. Light

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