The power for a sound wave is give by P = 1/2*p*A*(w*s)^2*v...in which p is density (rho), A is cross-sectional area, w is angular frequency, s is maximum displacement (amplitude), and v is speed of propagation. The intensity is given by P/A...the intensity for a spherical sound wave is supposed to decrease over time (according to experience)...but I'm not seeing it in the equations. The power is proportional to the area over some region and the intensity is inversely proportional to the area over some region. Therefore...the Intensity at a given point shouldn't depend on A (the area)...that would make the intensity constant throughout the wave. Where am I wrong in the reasoning?
Oh wait...never mind...the source determines the power...I shift to a new question: the A (area) in the equations is the cross-sectional area immediately "touching" the source, right?
Redbelly98
Aug29-08, 09:24 PM
No, A is the area at the place where power or intensity is being measured.
Gear300
Sep6-08, 10:03 AM
So in that case...if a drum is the source of a sound...then the area A would be the surface area of the oscillating surface of the drum, correct?
Gear300
Sep6-08, 02:18 PM
ಠ_ಠ ??????
Redbelly98
Sep6-08, 03:21 PM
A is the area at wherever the sound power is being calculated or measured. It could be at the drum's surface, it could also be somewhere else.
Gear300
Sep6-08, 08:11 PM
Wait...how could it also be somewhere else? Isn't it where the surface of the source intercepts the medium? Is it an arbitrary value?
Gear300
Sep6-08, 09:27 PM
ಠ_x????...the area A I'm referring to is the one in the equation for sound wave power: P = 1/2*p*A*(w*s)^2*v
Redbelly98
Sep7-08, 07:10 AM
Do sound waves have power only right at the source? Or do they also have power wherever they travel?
Gear300
Sep7-08, 08:08 PM
Do sound waves have power only right at the source? Or do they also have power wherever they travel?
They have power wherever they travel...but how does that fit in the equation if density, angular velocity, maximum displacement, and velocity are constant (it would only leave area, A, as variable)?
Redbelly98
Sep8-08, 08:33 AM
Maximum displacement will be different, decreasing as you move farther from the source.
edit:
Another suggestion: is A defined in the book or article you got the equation from? Perhaps they are only concerned with power at the source, and that's all that you have to be concerned with ... even though we could also calculate/measure power at locations away from the source if we wish to.
Gear300
Sep9-08, 03:04 AM
Maximum displacement will be different, decreasing as you move farther from the source.
edit:
Another suggestion: is A defined in the book or article you got the equation from? Perhaps they are only concerned with power at the source, and that's all that you have to be concerned with ... even though we could also calculate/measure power at locations away from the source if we wish to.
oh....that makes sense.....
Gear300
Sep9-08, 04:45 AM
Does this mean that for spherical waves, the pressure and displacement graphs are damped?
In the book, A is not explicitly defined. They come up with a proof for the energy and power equations using a model, in which the area is taken at the source...thing is that in this model, the area stays constant (sound propagating through a cylinder). They then defined intensity for this model, which would also stay constant due to the constant area...then they generalized the situation for spherical waves with I = P(avg)/A. Looks like I wasn't understanding the concept well.
Redbelly98
Sep9-08, 04:07 PM
Does this mean that for spherical waves, the pressure and displacement graphs are damped?
Yes. Intensity will follow an inverse-square law with distance from the source.
Pressure and displacement amplitudes are proportional to square root of intensity, and hence are inversely proportional to distance from the source.
In the book, A is not explicitly defined. They come up with a proof for the energy and power equations using a model, in which the area is taken at the source...thing is that in this model, the area stays constant (sound propagating through a cylinder). They then defined intensity for this model, which would also stay constant due to the constant area...then they generalized the situation for spherical waves with I = P(avg)/A.
Okay.
"A" would be the surface area of a sphere, at a distance "r" from the source.
So A = 4 pi r2, giving an inverse-square relation for I=P/A