Sound Interference and Beats
The Interference and Beats Video Tutorial explains how sound waves can interfere, how they can produce standing waves in 1D and 2D, their role in music, and how beats are formed. Numerous examples, illustrations, and animations assist in the explanations.
The video lesson answers the following questions:
- How do two sound waves interfere and what is the result?
- What role does sound interference play in the world of music?
Video
You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).
To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:
Additional and Related Learning Tools
Physics Interactives, Waves and Sound: Wave Addition Simulation
Trying to understand wave interference? There's nothing better than watching it happen. Use this simulation tool to send two waves in opposite directions along the same medium and observe the interference.
Physics Interactives, Waves and Sound: Beats Formation
Like wave interference, viewing the formation of beats is a great way to learn about beats. In this simulation, you adjust the frequency of two tuning forks and observe the resulting interference pattern.
Concept Builders, Waves and Sound Chapter: Wave Interference
Explore wave interference and the shape of the resultant with this Concept Builder.
Physics Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music Chapter: Sound Interference
Our video tutorials are motivated by the existing written tutorials on our website. The written tutorials still provide a great reference when needed. This page correlates with the video.
Teacher Resources
Curriculum Corner: Wave Motion
Try our Curriculum Corner for a Think Sheet or a whole unit of Think Sheets and get your students thinking about waves. You will find a Think Sheet here on the topic of wave interference. If the video is homework; then these are awesome next day starters. This is free curriculum for the taking. And for a few extra bucks, you can obtain the source documents and purchase a license to place them and any deriviative from them on your course management pages; see the Solutions Guide.
Physics Interactives, Waves and Sound: Wave Addition Simulation
For most phenomenon in Physics, students really need to see it to understand it. And a simulation provides a great means for students to not only see it but also to interact with it. This simulation allows students to explore wave interference. Use our freely-downloadable student activity sheet and follow it up with the Concept Checker. When put together - simulation, student activity sheet, and Concept Checker - you have the skeleton of a highly engaging lesson plan.
Physics Interactives, Waves and Sound: Beats Formation
Like wave interference, viewing the formation of beats is a great way to learn about beats. In this simulation, students adjust the frequency of two tuning forks and observe the resulting interference pattern.
YouTube Video on Longitudinal Standing Wave
This 3.5-minute video explores the relationship between frequencies for the various standing wave patterns produced in a spring with longitudinal vibrations. The video was the basis of the demonstration on Slide 5 of the tutorial video.
Concept Builders, Waves and Sound Chapter: Wave Interference
This Concept Builder assesses student understanding of what interference is, of the distinction between constructive and destructive interference, and of how the principle of superposition can be used to determine the shape of the resultant wave (or wave sum) that results from the interference of two waves.
Physics Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music Chapter: Sound Interference
Our video tutorials are motivated by the existing written tutorials on our website. But the written tutorials still provide a great reference when needed. This page correlates with the video and is a good place to send students when they need additional help.
Lesson Notes
Download (opens in a new tab) or view below
Slides
Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.