GCSE Physics Revision — Sound Waves
Revise Sound Waves for GCSE Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Sound Waves?
Sound waves are longitudinal waves caused by vibrations. These vibrations travel through a medium (like air, water, or solids) as a series of compressions and rarefactions. The pitch of a sound is determined by its frequency, and the loudness is determined by its amplitude. Humans can typically hear sounds in the range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The properties of sound and the difference between pitch and loudness are key concepts.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A ship uses sonar to measure the depth of the sea. It sends a sound pulse and receives the echo 1.2 seconds later. If the speed of sound in seawater is 1500 m/s, how deep is the sea? Solution: The sound travels to the seabed and back, so the time to reach the bottom is 1.2s / 2 = 0.6s. Distance = Speed x Time. Depth = 1500 m/s x 0.6s = 900m.
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Start with low-focus cards for Sound Waves, then move into full exam-style practice when you want the heavier session.
Common mistakes
- 1Thinking that sound can travel through a vacuum. Sound requires a medium to travel, as it is the vibration of particles.
- 2Confusing pitch with loudness. Pitch is related to frequency (high frequency = high pitch), while loudness is related to amplitude (large amplitude = loud sound).
- 3Forgetting that sound travels at different speeds in different materials. It travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases.
Sound Waves exam questions
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Frequently asked questions
What is an echo?
An echo is a reflection of a sound wave. When a sound wave hits a hard, flat surface, it bounces back, and you may hear it again shortly after the original sound.
What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound is sound with a frequency higher than the upper limit of human hearing (above 20,000 Hz). It has many applications, including medical imaging (prenatal scans) and industrial cleaning.