Sound Energy (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what sound energy is, its characteristics and some examples. Also, how sound waves propagate.

What is sound energy?

Sound energy or acoustic energy is the amount of energy transmitted by sound waves coming from the vibration of the object that gives rise to them and that move through some physical medium (air, for example).

In that sense, sound energy encompasses different forms of energy such as kinetic (movement of particles) or potential (pressure changes in the physical medium), and even thermal energy.

From a physical point of view, sound is a set of particles that move or vibrate in an organized way in response to some specific stimulus that, in turn, gives them an initial form of energy.

These vibrations contain an amount of energy, which is sound energy. Although it is not usually used to generate other forms of energy (since its power is very low), it can be measured and even used to move objects, as occurs inside microphones.

How do sound waves propagate?

sound waves are capable of spreading through different materials whether liquid, solid or gaseous. However, they are incapable of propagating in a vacuum, unlike electromagnetic waves.

This means that outer space is a silent place, unlike our planet, where sound travels at 343 meters per second in dry air at 20°C or at 1531 meters per second in seawater at the same temperature. In solids, sound waves can go faster or slower depending on the type of solid.

Characteristics of sound energy

sound energy pressure intensity — Sound pressure is the force with which waves push the medium.

Sound energy is measured in two terms:

Acoustic intensity. It is the amount of energy that waves contain per unit area and time, that is, the acoustic power that a sound wave transmits per unit area, expressed in decibels.
sound pressure. It is the force per unit area with which sound waves push the medium. It is measured in Pascals in the International System, a unit equivalent to the force of 1 Newton (1 N) exerted on a surface of one square meter (1 m2).

On the other hand, sound energy acts like any other type of energy and therefore obeys the Principle of conservation of energy. Besides, can be transformed into other forms of energy and is capable of being amplified or modulated by specialized instruments.

Sound energy or acoustic energy

The sound terms (from Latin sonorus“that sounds”) or acoustic (from the Greek akoúein“hear”) in relation to energy are synonyms. “Sound energy” and “acoustic energy”, “sound waves” and “acoustic waves”, are equivalent terms.

However, acoustics is also the branch of physics responsible for the study of sound, which is why it is usually used in more specialized fields.

Examples of sound energy

sound energy examples — If the sound energy has the right frequency and power, it can break glass.

Some examples of sound energy:

If we have been at home when a storm is passing outside, we will have noticed that the most intense thunder They make the window panes shake. This is the sound energy that is transmitted to the glass and converted into kinetic energy (motion).
Putting your hand on a amplifier during a concert You can notice how the sound energy is transmitted to the air and to our hand.
The classic episode of a soprano singer breaking glass glasses is a demonstration of the enormous sound energy that your vocal cords can produce. For this to be possible, the singer must emit waves with the resonant frequency of the crystal and at a high volume.