12.1 Characteristics of Sound

1. Is sound a longitudinal or a transverse wave?

2. What is the range of frequencies that can be heard by a normal human ear?

3. What word describes frequencies lower than those that can be heard by a human ear?

4. What word describes frequencies higher than those that can be heard by a human ear?

5. What is the speed of sound at normal room temperature of 23¡C?

6. What word describes speeds greater than the speed of sound?

7. What is a distinction between noise and music?

12.2 Fundamental Frequencies

1. Why can only waves with certain, particular frequencies or wavelengths form standing waves on a string?

2. What is meant by the fundamental frequency of a sound?

3. How is the pitch of a note played on a guitar string changed if the string is fingered, changing the vibrating portion of the string from long to short?

4. Compare the pitch of the notes you would hear if you blow across an empty soda bottle and then fill it partially with water and blow across it again.

12.3 Sound Quality

1. What are harmonics?

2. What is meant by the timbre or quality of a sound?

3. What is a sound spectrum?

4. What are attack and decay?

12.4 Musical Scales

1. What is an octave?

2. What is an equally tempered scale?

3. hat is the significance of an equally tempered scale?

12.5 Beats

1. What are beats?

2. What determines the beat frequency?

12.6 Doppler Effect

1. What is the Doppler effect, in general?

2. What happens to the pitch of a sound if you hear it coming from an approaching source?

3. What happens to the pitch of a sound if you hear it from a source that is moving away from you?

12.7 Sonic Boom

1. What is a sonic boom?

2. What causes a sonic boom?

3. What kind of speeds are involved in a sonic boom?