Have you ever put your ear to a railroad and felt a train coming and passing by before you heard the whistle of it? This mere observation is a perfect representation of how sound passes through various media, which is one of the concepts of Class 9 Science Chapter 11: Sound. The chapter describes the process of sound wave generation, sound wave transmission within solids, liquids and gases, and influences of factors such as frequency, wavelength, amplitude and speed of sound on what we hear. These concepts are not only required to perform well in CBSE Class 9 exams but are also the foundation of the advanced concepts in waves in JEE, NEET, and other competitive exams.
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The NCERT notes Class 9 Science Chapter 11 Sound contain concise summaries of key concepts relating to the production of sound, longitudinal waves, echoes, reverberation, ultrasound, and the functioning of the human ear and are prepared by expert teachers. The NCERT notes Class 9 Science Chapter 11 Sound also provide main formulas such as v=fλ, well-labelled waveform and echo diagrams and solved examples to enhance problem-solving. Whether you need a quick revision before an exam or a deeper understanding of the chapter, these NCERT Notes provide a complete, exam-ready learning resource.
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Class 9 Science Chapter 11 Sound Notes would be an effective and convenient tool of revision because it is well-organised and easy to follow. These Class 9 Science Chapter 11 Sound Notes are structured based on the current CBSE curriculum and therefore, make the most important points simpler with clear explanations, diagrams and formulae. The downloadable PDF will help students to revise, do homework and prepare to take exams quickly. The notes contribute to the reinforcement of basics and enhance the knowledge of sound and its uses.
The Sound Class 9 Science Chapter 11 CBSE notes have been made in an organised and easily intelligible manner, which can serve as a revision of sound to students. These Sound Class 9 Science Chapter 11 CBSE notes have been prepared in a simplified, easy-to-follow format and exam-friendly format in accordance with the current CBSE syllabus to summarise key concepts, formulae and diagrams. They assist students in revising within a short time span, learning concepts in a better way, and preparing better to test and competitive exams. These notes can be studied in a short period of time and can also be revised in detail.

Pressure = number of particles in the medium/volume.
More density produces more pressure and vice versa.
So, sound propagation can be seen as the propagation of variations in density or variations in pressure in the medium.


Sound waves are longitudinal:
Compressions (C) are the regions where the coils become closer, while rarefactions(R) are the regions where the coils become further apart.
Sound travels in a series of compressions and rarefactions in a medium. Sound waves are longitudinal waves where the individual particles of the medium travel in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of the disturbance. These particles are immovable and cannot travel from one place to another. They oscillate backwards and forward about their resting position. This is the property of longitudinal waves, and hence, sound waves are regarded as longitudinal waves.



Wavelength: It means the distance between two consecutive compressions (C) or two consecutive rarefactions (R). The symbol for wavelength is λ. The SI unit of wavelength is the meter(m).
't' is the time taken for one complete oscillation in the density of the medium. T is the symbol of the time period, and its SI unit is second (s).
T= 1/f
When the vibration of the source is faster, the frequency and therefore the pitch become higher. High pitch represents more compressions and rarefactions passing a fixed point per unit time.


S= λν
speed = wavelength × frequency

1. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal lie in the same plane, that is, the reflecting surface
2. The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.

1. The time difference(interval) between the original sound and the reflected sound must be at least 0.1 seconds.
2. The minimum distance of the reflecting surface from the source of sound must be 17.2 m.
Musical instruments like a megaphone and a horn are made up of a tube, which is followed by a conical opening.

It is used in a stethoscope, which is used for hearing sounds developed within the body. The sound of the patient’s heartbeat is heard by the doctor’s ears through multiple reflections of sound.
Ceilings of auditoriums are made curved aiming that sound after reflection reaches all corners of the hall.
1. These high frequencies clean spiral tubes, electronic components and several other places which are hard to reach. The objects that need to be cleaned are put in a cleaning solution, and the ultrasonic waves are passed through the solution. Because of the high frequency of these particles, the dust particles and the dirt get removed, and the object becomes clean
2. Ultrasonic vibrations are used to find cracks and flaws in metal blocks. These metal blocks are used for the construction of buildings and scientific equipment. The floors or the cracks inside these are invisible from the outside. It reduces the strength of the buildings and machines. Ultraviolet waves are passed through these metal blocks to cure this, and the detectors function to detect the propagated waves. When any small defect is encountered, these ultrasound reflects back, which indicates the presence of any crack.

3. Ultrasonic waves are used in the technique of echocardiography. This technique makes the ultrasonic waves reflect from various parts of the heart and develop its image.
4. Ultrasonic waves are also used in ultrasound scanners to produce images of internal organs of the human body. It is used to detect any fault in the liver, gallbladder, uterus, etc. The technique by which the images are displayed on a monitor is called ultrasonography.
5. The ultrasonic waves are also used to break small stones formed in the kidneys or liver, which are removed with the urine of the individual.
Sonar constitutes a transmitter and a detector, which are installed in a boat or a ship. Ultrasonic waves are produced and transmitted by the transmitter, which travel through water and strike the object on the seabed. The waves are reflected back and are sensed by the detector. The detector converts the waves into electrical signals for interpretation. The object's distance, which reflects the sound wave, can be measured by determining the speed of sound in water and the time period between transmission and reception of the ultrasound.
If the time interval is t, and the speed of sound is S, the total distance, 2d, travelled by the ultrasound becomes,
2d= S×t
This technique is known as echo ranging.
The Sonar technique is also used in various other determinations to calculate the depths of the sea and to detect the location of underwater hills, submarines, sunken ships, etc.

NCERT Class 9 Science Chapter 11 sound previous year questions and answers offer a pre-focused and test-oriented information to enable the students to know the kind of questions that are typically set in the exams at school. These PYQs bring out the key ideas, formulas and uses that commonly occur in tests, which enables students to study in a more strategic way. Having properly organised responses according to the new CBSE guidelines, they can be used to enhance conceptual clarity and maximise the scoring potential. These questions will help enhance confidence and provide adequate revision of the chapter.
Q1: A person is listening to a tone of 500 Hz sitting at a distance of 450 m from the source of the sound. What is the time interval between successive compressions from the source?
Answer:
The time interval between successive compressions from the source is equal to the time period, and the time period is the reciprocal of the frequency. Therefore, it can be calculated as follows:
T= 1/F
T= 1/500
T = 0.002 s.
Q2: A stone is dropped from the top of a tower 500 m high into a pond of water at the base of the tower. When is the splash heard at the top? Given g = 10 m s−2 and speed of sound = 340 ms−1.
Answer:
Height (s) of tower = 500 m
Velocity (v) of sound = 340 m s−1
Acceleration (g) due to gravity = 10 m s−1
Initial velocity (u) of the stone = 0
Time (t1) taken by the stone to fall to the tower base
As per the second equation of motion:
s= ut1 + (½) g (t1)2
500 = 0 x t1 + (½) 10 (t1)2
(t1)2 = 100
t1 = 10 s
Time (t2) taken by sound to reach the top from the tower base = 500/340 = 1.47 s.
t = t1 + t2
t = 10 + 1.47
t = 11.47 s.
Q3: A sonar device on a submarine sends out a signal and receives an echo 10 seconds later. Then what is the speed of sound in water if the distance of the object from the submarine is 7200 m?
Answer:
Time (t) taken to hear the echo = 10 s
Distance (d) of an object from submarine = 7200 m
Total distance travelled by SONAR during reception and transmission in water = 2d
Velocity (v) of sound in water = 2d/t = (2 × 7200) / 10 = 1440 ms-1
Learning Class 9 Science Chapter 11 is a lot easier when you have a very clear picture of how to make sound waves, how the sound waves travel in different media and how their characteristics influence what we hear. This chapter is very scoring and concept-based, and, therefore, a combination of visualisation, practice, and real-life examples assists in the development of strong clarity. Having a good studying plan, it is very easy to understand the concepts of waves and excel in exams.
The NCERT Notes on Class 9 Science Chapter-Wise give a comprehensive and properly organised set of study resources on all the chapters in the syllabus. These notes are structured by experts in subjects to make the concepts simple and explain them with clear explanations, diagrams, formulas, and key points. They assist students to revise in a short time, brush up on basics and do well in examinations. Chapter-by-chapter links provide students with the opportunity to access every topic and study in a structured and efficient way.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Applications include medical ultrasound, sonar in submarines, musical instruments, hearing aids, and soundproofing systems.
Yes, basic concepts from this chapter are foundational for understanding physics in higher classes and are useful in Olympiads, NTSE, and NEET foundation.
Ultrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies above 20,000 Hz. It is used in medical imaging (like sonography), cleaning delicate equipment, and detecting flaws in metals.
Yes, exposure to very loud sounds can damage hearing. Continuous exposure to noise above 85 dB can be harmful to the ears.
Studying sound helps students understand how we hear, how vibrations produce sound, and how sound is used in technology, medicine, and everyday life.
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