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GCE O-Level Physics Syllabus 

Chapter 15: Sound

Chapter Topics:

Sound waves
Speed of sound
Echo
Ultrasound

Learning Objectives:

(a) Describe the production of sound by vibrating sources.

(b) Describe the longitudinal nature of sound waves in terms of the processes of compression and rarefaction.

(c) Explain that a medium is required in order to transmit sound waves and that the speed of sound differs in air, liquids and solids.

(d) Describe a direct method for the determination of the speed of sound in air and make the necessary calculation.

(e) Relate loudness of a sound wave to its amplitude and pitch to its frequency.

(f) Describe how the reflection of sound may produce an echo, and how this may be used for measuring distances.

(g) Define ultrasound and describe one use of ultrasound, e.g. quality control and pre-natal scanning.

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