Learning Objective

In this lesson we will learn how sound waves transfer energy and how sound waves can be characterised.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Define what sound waves are and explain how they are generated.

  • Describe how sound waves consist of compressions and rarefactions, and represent these graphically.

  • State the frequency range of human hearing and define ‘infrasound’ and ‘ultrasound’.

  • Compare sounds with different intensities and decibel levels.

  • Perform calculations involving sound waves.

  • Describe the behaviour of sound waves when they encounter different types of boundaries.