Physics - Senior Secondary 2 - Sound waves

Sound waves

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TERM: 2ND TERM

WEEK: 1
Class: Senior Secondary School 2
Age: 16 years
Duration: 40 minutes for each of 5 periods
Date:
Subject: Physics
Topic: Sound Waves
Subtopics:
• Sources of sound
• Transmission of sound
• Speed of sound in solid, liquid, and gas
• Characteristics of sound

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

  1. Identify the sources of sound.
  2. Understand how sound is transmitted through different mediums (solid, liquid, and gas).
  3. Explain the factors affecting the speed of sound in different mediums.
  4. Define and describe the characteristics of sound waves.
  5. Demonstrate that sound does not travel in a vacuum.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES:
• Explanation
• Demonstration
• Questions and answers
• Hands-on activity: Demonstration using an electric bell in a bell jar
• Video clips on sound waves and their properties

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
• Electric bell
• Bell jar
• Vacuum pump
• Whiteboard markers
• Physics textbook
• Videos on sound waves and their properties

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES
PERIOD 1-5

PRESENTATION

STEP 1: INTRODUCTION
• The teacher will ask students if they have ever wondered why sound can be heard in some places and not in others.
• Students will share their prior knowledge, and the teacher will introduce the concept of sound as a mechanical wave that requires a medium to travel through.

STEP 2: EXPLANATION
• The teacher explains the sources of sound: Vibrating objects, such as strings, air columns, and vocal cords, produce sound.
• The teacher explains how sound travels through different media (solids, liquids, gases) and introduces the concept of sound speed.
• The teacher explains the characteristics of sound waves: pitch, loudness, frequency, and amplitude.

STEP 3: DEMONSTRATION
• The teacher demonstrates the electric bell inside a bell jar, where the bell rings, and students observe the sound fading as the air is evacuated from the jar.
• Students will observe how sound cannot be heard in a vacuum, reinforcing the idea that sound requires a medium to travel through.

STEP 4: DISCUSSION
• Students will discuss the factors that affect the speed of sound in different media (e.g., temperature, density, elasticity).
• The teacher will engage students with questions to probe their understanding of sound transmission in various states of matter.

STEP 5: NOTE TAKING
• The teacher writes a summary note on the board, which students will copy.

 

NOTE
Sound Waves:
• Sound is produced by vibrating objects and requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel.
• Sources of sound include musical instruments, human speech, machines, and nature.
• Speed of Sound:

  • In air: approximately 343 m/s at 20°C
  • In water: approximately 1,480 m/s
  • In steel: approximately 5,100 m/s
    • Characteristics of Sound:
  • Pitch: Determined by frequency (high frequency = high pitch)
  • Loudness: Determined by amplitude (large amplitude = louder sound)
  • Frequency: The number of vibrations per second
  • Amplitude: The height of the wave, related to sound intensity

 

EVALUATION

  1. What is the speed of sound in air at 20°C?
  2. List and explain the characteristics of sound waves.
  3. Why can’t sound be heard in a vacuum?
  4. How does sound travel through a solid compared to a gas?

CLASSWORK:
• Define pitch, frequency, and amplitude in the context of sound.
• List the sources of sound in your environment.

 

CONCLUSION:
• The teacher will review students' answers and provide positive feedback.
• Students will be encouraged to reflect on how sound waves are essential to daily life.