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Table of Contents

Sound

Speed of sound

343[m/s] (1230 km/h)

Sound intensity

The strength of a sounds are measured on a logarithmic scale. We usually measure sound intensity I_1[W/m2] relative to a reference level I0 which is usually taken to be I0=1012[W/m2].

The decibel is ten times the logarithm base ten of the ratio of two sound intensities: LI=10log10(I1I0) [dB]. The decibel is a dimensionless quantity.

Doppler effect

f=fv±v0vvs

f is the observed frequency, f is the actual frequency, v is the speed of sound (v=336+0.6T</math>),v_0isthespeedoftheobserver,andv_s$ is the speed of the source.

If the observer is approaching the source, use the top operator (the +) in the numerator, and if the source is approaching the observer, use the top operator (the -) in the denominator. If the observer is moving away from the source, use the bottom operator (the -) in the numerator, and if the source is moving away from the observer, use the bottom operator (the +) in the denominator.

Ambulance example

An ambulance sounding a 400 Hz siren is moving at a speed of 30 m/s towards you. If the speed of sound is 339 m/s, what is the frequency you will hear: f=400Hz(339+033930)

Links

[ sound wave caugth on video with no sound ] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13574197