Sound Waves - 3/4/18

Image result for sound waves



Summary: There are multiple types of sound waves, but the most popular are transverse waves and longitudinal waves. In regard to transverse waves, the displacement of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation (the transmission of motion, light, sound, etc.) of the wave. A ripple on a pond and a wave on a string are easily visualized transverse waves. With longitudinal waves, the displacement of the medium is parallel to the propagation of the wave. A wave in a "slinky" is a good visualization. Another example is sound waves through air. A sound wave, like any other wave, is introduced into a medium by a vibrating object. The vibrating object is the source of the disturbance that moves through the medium. Regardless of what vibrating object is creating the sound wave, the particles of the medium through which the sound moves is vibrating in a back and forth motion at a given frequency. The frequency of a wave refers to how often the particles of the medium vibrate when a wave passes through the medium. The way we hear things is very interesting. The reason we hear sound is because the sound waves create vibrations. Those vibrations and waves transfer energy through the eardrum, which vibrates. When it vibrates, the hair cells vibrate which causes you to hear. 

SP2 - Using Models: This week I used models to visualize sound, which helped me understand the concepts of sound better. We did multiple labs during the week, one of them having to do with glass bottles, water and pencils. My group and I took turns blowing over the top of the different bottles, and striking it with the pencil. This helped us see how the amount of water in the bottle affected the pitch. Other models/visuals helped me understand sound as well. By looking at graphs and listing to video's, I learned more about sound.

XCC - Structure and Function: The ear consists of three basic parts - the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each part of the ear serves a specific purpose in the task of detecting and interpreting sound. The outer ear serves to collect and channel sound to the middle ear. The middle ear serves to transform the energy of a sound wave into the internal vibrations of the bone structure of the middle ear and ultimately transform these vibrations into a longitudinal wave in the inner ear. The inner ear serves to transform the energy of a longitudinal wave within the inner ear fluid into nerve impulses that can be transmitted to the brain. In conclusion, the structure of the ear supports its function, as long as you do not damage your ears with loud sounds.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Amedeo Avogadro - 5/27/18

Image
Summary : Amedeo Avogadro was an Italian scientist who created what is now known as Avogadro's law. Known as a founder of the atomic-molecular theory, he was the first scientist to realize that elements could exist in the form of molecules rather than as individual atoms. His biggest contribution to science, Avogadro’s law, states that equal volumes of gasses under the same conditions of pressure and temperature will contain an equal number of molecules. Amedeo Avogadro was born on August 9th 1776 to Filippo Avogadro and Anna Maria Vercellone. Coming from a family of lawyers, Advogadro was guided to a legal career, and became a bachelor of jurisprudence in 1792. Despite a successful legal career; Avogadro has started private studies of mathematics and physics, which then he pursued full time. SP8 - Communicating Information : This week, I communicated information in the form of a wanted poster about a certain scientist. I decided to create a wanted poster about Am...
Read more

Roller Coaster Project Blog - 2/18/18

Summary : A roller coaster ride is a thrilling experience which involves a lot of physics. Part of the physics of a roller coaster is the physics of work and energy. The ride often begins as a chain and motor which exerts a force on the train of cars to lift the train to the top of a vary tall hill. Once the cars are lifted to the top of the hill, gravity takes over and the remainder of the ride is an experience in energy transformation. At the top of the hill, the cars possess a large amount of potential energy. Potential energy is dependent upon the mass of the object and the height of the object. As the cars descend the first drop they lose much of this potential energy in accord with their loss of height. The cars subsequently gain kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is dependent upon the mass of the object and the speed of the object. Therefore, their original potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy. Backward-Looking:  How much did you know about the subject befor...
Read more

The Designer Species Project - Project Blog 11/5/17

Summary: The Fobra is a new species of frog with the body of a red-eyed tree frog, the eyes of an owl, the fangs of a king cobra, and the claws of a squirrel. Since the fobra lives in planet C, a tropical planet with much rainforest and vegetation, our frog can "nest" itself in the plants to stay warm. To stay cool the fobra can soak itself in puddles and absorb the moisture. The fobra is also a warm-blooded animal. The fobra uses both its tongue and teeth to eat, depending on the size of animal it is eating. With the claws similar to squirrels, the fobra will be able to get away and climb up on trees faster, making predators unable to get it. As well having the bite similar to the king cobra, our species will bite predators when it feels threatened or scared by predators that are after them. The fobra will be able to strike extremely quickly, like a cobra, in self-defense. Red-eyed tree frogs will lay clutches of eggs on the underside of leaves that are standing abo...
Read more