Sound Wave : Sound is known as the wave and wave is disturbance which is produced by a vibrating object. These wave are longitudinal wave which create by compression and rarefaction. 

Sound wave is mechanical wave: Sound waves need medium to propagate from one place to another, in otherhand it need body for transmission, this is the reason that sound waves are called mechanical waves. 

Common medium for the propagation of sound : Air is common medium. 

Sound waves are longitudinal waves: 

Sound wavves are longitudinal waves because the displacement of particles of medium occure parallel to the direction of propagation in these waves. The particles do not move from one place to another but they oscillate in to and fro motion ramain about mean position as the waves travel. Just like this sound waves propagate, therefore sound waves are longitudinal waves. 

Features of sound waves: 

There are following features of sound waves:

(i) Frequency

(ii) Amplitude

(iii) Velocity 

Wavelength : The distance between two consecutive compressions (C) or two consecutive rarefactions (R) is called the wavelength. 

Or the distance covered by a wave to complete an oscillation is called wavelength. 

Hence wavelength is kind of length, therefore the S.I unit of wavelength is metre (m). 

Wavelength is represented by Greek letter λ (lambda).

Frequency: The number of oscillation completed in one second is called frequency. 

S.I unit of frequncy is Hertz(Hz). 

Time Period : The time taken to complete one oscillation is called it's time period. 

• SI unit of time period is second (s). Time period is denoted by T.
• The frequency of a wave is the reciprocal of the time period.

Amplitude : The maximum displacement of the particles of medium from their original undisturbed position (equilibrium position) during the propagation of wave is called amplitude. 

Amplitude is denoted by A and its SI unit is metre (m).

Representing graphically the density and pressure variations.

Sound have characteristics like pitch, loudness and timbre.

Crest: A pick of sound wave is called crest. 

Trough: A valley of the sound wave is called trough. 

Timbre : The quality or timber of sound is that characteristic which enables us to distinguish one sound from another having the same pitch and loudness.

Tone : A sound of single frequency is called a tone.

Note : The sound which is produced due to a mixture of several frequencies is called a note and is pleasant to listen.

Noise: The sound which is unpleasant to ear is called noise. 

The speed of sound : The speed of sound is defined as the distance which a point on a wave, such as a compression or a rarefaction, travels per unit time.

Speed (v) = distance/time

λ is wavelength

T is time period

or v = λ ν
That is, speed = wavelength × frequency.

• The speed of sound remains almost the same for all frequencies in a given medium under the same physical conditions.

Example 1. A sound wave has a frequency of 2 kHz and wave length
35 cm. Find the speed of sound. 

Solution: 

Given,
Frequency, ν = 2 kHz = 2000 Hz
Wavelength, λ = 35 cm = 0.35 m

Speed (v) = wavelength × frequency 

          = λ ν

          = 0.35 × 2000

          = 700 m/s 

Therefore speed is 700 m/s 

Example 2. Calculate the wavelength of a sound wave whose frequency is 220 Hz and speed is 440 m/s in a given medium.

Solution: 

Frequency = 220 Hz

Speed = 440 m/s 

Wavelength = speed/frequency 

            = 440/220

            = 2 m 

Therefore, wavelength is 2 m 

Intensity of sound : The amount of sound energy passing each second through unit area is called the intensity of sound.

Loudness of sound : Loudness is a measure of the response of the
ear to the sound.

Factors on which the loudness of sound depends: 

(i) Loudness of sound depends on apletudes of vibration.