3.3.7

Uses of Sound Waves

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Everyday Uses of Sound Waves

Using sound waves is important when designing microphones and loudspeakers. We can project an image of a sound wave on an oscilloscope screen.

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Oscilloscope

  • We can use a microphone to convert sound waves to electrical signals that can be seen on an oscilloscope.
  • An oscilloscope shows a sound wave on a screen.
  • From looking at an oscilloscope, we might be able to record a wave's:
    • Amplitude.
    • Wavelength.
    • Frequency.
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Microphones

  • Sound waves hit the ‘diaphragm’ of the microphone.
  • The diaphragm then moves backwards and forwards.
  • This is attached to a coil and magnet, which produces a magnetic field.
  • The movement of the diaphragm through the magnetic field generates an electric current.
  • To increase the size of the current, you can use an amplifier.
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Loudspeakers

  • Electric current flows inside loudspeakers.
  • This creates an electromagnet.
  • The electromagnet attracts the speaker cone and moves it forwards and backwards towards a permanent magnet.
  • This movement creates the sound.
  • If you change the current, it will change the frequency of the cone and so the sound created will change.

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1Biology

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1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

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1.6Biological Systems & Processes

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2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

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3Physics

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3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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