Important Questions

Chapter 12
Sound

1 Marks Questions

1. Guess which sound has a higher pitch: guitar or car horn?

Ans. Sound of Guitar has a higher pitch.

2. In which of the three media, air, water or iron, does sound travel the
fastest at a particular temperature?

Ans. Sound will travel the fastest in iron at a particular temperature.

3. What is the audible range of the average human ear?

Ans. 20 Hz to 20,000Hz.

4. Which characteristic of the sound helps you to identify your friend by

his voice while sitting with others in a dark room?

Ans. Pitch of the sound wave.

5. A person has a hearing range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. What are the

typical wavelengths of sound waves in air corresponding to these two
frequencies? Take the speed of sound in air as .

Ans. For 20 Hz sound waves the wavelength would be

= v/n = 344/20 = 17.2 m

For 20 kHz sound waves the wavelength would be

= 0.0172 m

6. Two children are at opposite ends of an aluminium rod. One strikes

the end of the rod with a stone. Find the ratio of times taken by the
sound wave in air and in aluminium to reach the second child.

Ans. Since speed of sound in air = 344 m/s

And speed of sound in aluminium = 6420 m/s

we know that v = distance/time therefore time = d/v

time taken by sound wave in air/time taken by sound wave in aluminium

= d/344: d/6420 = 6420/344 = 18.66/1

the sound will take 18.66 times more time through air than in aluminum in
reaching other boy.

7. The frequency of a source of sound is 100 Hz. How many times does it
vibrate in a minute?

Ans. Frequency of source of sound being 100 Hz means the sound source
vibrates 100 times in one second. therefore vibrations made by sound source
in 1min(60 sec) = 6000

8. Does sound follow the same laws of reflection as light does? Explain.

Ans. Yes.Sound follows the same laws of reflection as light does. We can say
that because here the directions in which the sound is incident and is reflected
make equal angles with the normal to the reflecting surface at the point of
incidence, and the three are in the same plane.
9. When a sound is reflected from a distant object, an echo is produced.
Let the distance between the reflecting surface and the source of sound
production remains the same. Do you hear echo sound on a hotter day?

Ans. As the sensation of sound persists in our brain for about 0.1 s. To hear a
distinct echo the time interval between the original sound and the reflected
one must be at least 0.1s. There for the total distance covered by the sound
from the point of generation to the reflecting surface and back should be at
least = 34.4 m. Thus, for hearing distinct echoes, the minimum
distance of the obstacle from the source of sound must be half of this
distance, that is, 17.2 m. Speed of sound will increase with increase in
temperature. Therefore, on a hotter day speed of sound will be greater hence
echoes may be heard more than once because of multiple reflections of
sound result will be no distinct echo will be heard by us.

10. Give two practical applications of reflection of sound waves.

Ans. Two practical applications of reflection of sound waves

i. Megaphones or loudhailers, horns, musical instruments such as trumpets

and shehanais, are all designed to send sound in a particular direction without
spreading it in all directions.

ii. Stethoscope is a medical instrument used for listening to sounds produced

within the body, chiefly in the heart or lungs. In stethoscopes the sound of the
patient’s heartbeat reaches the doctor’s ears by multiple reflection of sound.

11. 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, and speed of sound .
Ans.

= 10000

= 100 m/s

we also know that v = u + gt = 0 + 10t

100 = 10t or, Time taken by stone to reach the pond surface(t) = 100/10 = 10
sec

Therefore, time taken by soundto reach the top from pond surface = d/v =
500/340

= 1.47 sec

so the total time taken for splash being heard at the top = 10 + 1.47 = 11.47 s

12. A sound wave travels at a speed of 339 m s–1. If its wavelength is 1.5
cm, what is the frequency of the wave? Will it be audible?

Ans. Since we know that

ν = 339/0.015 = 22600 Hz

Since the resulting frequency is beyond the audible range of human

beings(20Hz to 20kHz) therefore sound will not be audible to human ears.

13. What is reverberation? How can it be reduced?

Ans. The repeated reflection of sound due to which sound persists for a long
time is called reverberation.

To reduce reverberation, the roof and walls of the auditorium are generally
covered with sound-absorbent materials like compressed fibreboard, rough
plaster or draperies. The seat materials are also selected on the basis of their
sound absorbing properties

14. What is loudness of sound? What factors does it depend on?

Ans. Loudness is a measure of the response of the ear to the sound. Even
when two sounds are of equal intensity, we may hear one as louder than the
other simply because our ear detects it better.

Loudness of sound depends upon the amplitude of those sound waves.

Higher is the amplitude of vibrating air particles louder will be the sound.

15. Explain how bats use ultrasound to catch a prey.

Ans. Bats search out prey and fly in dark night by emitting and detecting
reflections of ultrasonic waves. The high-pitched ultrasonic squeaks of the bat
are reflected from the obstacles or prey and returned to bat’s ear. The nature
of reflections tells the bat where the obstacle or prey is and what it is like.

16. How is ultrasound used for cleaning?

Ans. Ultrasound is generally used to clean parts located in hard-to-reach

places, for example, spiral tube, odd shaped parts, electronic components etc.
Objects to be cleaned are placed in a cleaning solution and ultrasonic waves
are sent into the solution. Due to the high frequency, the particles of dust,
grease and dirt get detached and drop out. The objects thus get thoroughly
cleaned.

2 Marks Questions

1. Explain how sound is produced by your school bell.

Ans. When the peon strikes the school bell with a hammer, the particles of
bell metal start vibrating and those vibrations produce sound.

2. Why are sound waves called mechanical waves?

Ans. Since sound waves need a medium for their propagation therefore we
can say that sound waves are mechanical waves.

3. Suppose you and your friend are on the moon. Will you be able to
hear any sound produced by your friend?

Ans. There is no air on moon hence there is no medium for sound

propagation on moon. As a result, me and my friend will not be able to hear
any sound produced by my friend.

4. Which wave property determines

(a) loudness,

(b) pitch?

Ans. (a)The amplitude of the wave determines loudness of sound.

(b)The frequency of the wave determines pitch of sound.

5. How are the wavelength and frequency of a sound wave related to its
speed?
Ans. From the equation:

where v = velocity/speed

n = frequency of wave

= wavelength of wave

6. Calculate the wavelength of a sound wave whose frequency is 220 Hz

and speed is 440 m/s in a given medium.

Ans. The time interval between successive compressions from the source

T = 1/ = 1/500 = 0.002 second.

7. 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?

Ans. The time interval between successive compressions from the source

T = 1/ = 1/500 = 0.002 second.

8. Distinguish between loudness and intensity of sound.

Ans.
9. An echo returned in 3 s. What is the distance of the reflecting surface
from the source, given that the speed of sound is ?

Ans. Speed of sound = distance/time

Therefore, distance travelled by sound during echo =

1026 m

so the distance of reflecting surface = 1026/2 =513 m

10. Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?

Ans. The ceilings of concert halls are curved because such architecture helps
the sound to reach all the corners and places of concert hall.

11. What is the range of frequencies associated with

(a) Infrasound?

(b) Ultrasound?

Ans. Infrasound = less than 20 Hz

Ultrasound = greater than 20 KHz

12. A submarine emits a sonar pulse, which returns from an underwater

cliff in 1.02 s. If the speed of sound in salt water is1531 m/s, how far
away is the cliff?

Ans. Distance travelled by a sonar pulse = speed of sound in salt

water time

= 1561.62 m

Therefore, the distance of cliff from submarine = 1561.62/2 = 780.81 m

13. What is sound and how is it produced?

Ans. Sound is a form of energy that produces a sensation of hearing in our

ears. Sound gets produced when any object vibrates/oscillates.

14. Describe with the help of a diagram, how compressions and

rarefactions are produced in air near a source of sound.

Ans.

15. Why is sound wave called a longitudinal wave?

Ans. Sound wave is called a longitudinal wave because sound waves travel in
the air through compressions and rarefactions.
16. Flash and thunder are produced simultaneously. But thunder is
heard a few seconds after the flash is seen, why?

Ans. Since speed of thunder (sound) is much less (332 m/s) as compared to
speed of flash (light) which is about therefore light travels faster than
sound hence thunder is heard a few seconds after the flash is seen.

17. Differentiate between longitudinal and transverse wave?

Ans.

18. Define the terms:

a) Wavelength

b) Frequency

Ans. a) The distance between two consecutive rest or two consecutive

troughs is known as the wavelength of the wave.

b) The number of vibrations that particle covers in 1 second is called the

frequency wave.

19. An underwater device directs ultrasounds of frequency 75 KHZ

towards water surface. What is the wavelength of sound in the air above
the water surface and what is its frequency? Speed of sound in air = 340
m/s.
Ans. When sound wave travels from one medium to another, the frequency
remain unchanged while the wavelength and velocity change

Frequency in air = 75,000 HZ

Wavelength,

20. What is an echo? Name two areas of its application?

Ans. When sound waves strike a surface, they are reflected with the same
velocity and the reflected sound wave are heard as echo. It is used in SONAR
and detecting flaws in metal objects.

21. Why are sound waves called as mechanical waves?

Ans. Mechanical waves are those which requires a medium for their
propagation, since sound also requires medium for its Propagation, hence is a
mechanical wave.

22. Define a) Time Period b) Amplitude of a wave

Ans. a) Time Period of a wave: The time required by a wave to complete one
vibration is called time Period.

b) Amplitude: The magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium on

either side of mean value is called the amplitude of wave.

23. What do you understand by loud and soft sound?

Ans. Louder sound: Sound which have higher amplitude and high energy are
called louder sound.
Softer sound: Sound which have lesser amplitude and less energy are called
soft sound.

24. A sound wave travels at a speed of 340 m/s. If the wavelength of

wave is 1.4 m, what is the frequency of wave?

Ans. Speed of sound wave = 340 m/s

Wavelength of sound wave = 1.4 m

Frequency = ?

Since, velocity = Frequency Wavelength

25. What do you understand by low pitched and high pitched sound?

Ans. High pitch sound are those sound which have higher frequency that is in
1 second they complete large number of vibrations.
Low pitch sound are those sound which have lesser frequency that is in 1
second they complete less number of vibrations

26. Why do we see light first and hear the sound later during
thunderstorm?

Ans. Since speed of light is greater than the speed of sound hence it travels
faster and is seen first during a thunderstorm.

27. What are laws of reflection of sound?

Ans. Laws of reflection of sound:

a) The incident, normal and reflected all lie in the same plane

b) Angle of incidence of sound is equal to angle of reflection of sound.

28. Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?

Ans. Ceilings of concert halls are corned so that sound after reflection from
the curved surface which have greater surface area, can reach to all places of
halls.

3 Marks Questions
1. How does the sound produced by a vibrating object in a medium
reach your ear?

Ans. As we speak, the particles of air near our mouth are pushed forward so
they get compressed. Then they compress the other particles of air. As the
compression proceeds the particles of air near our mouth expand again and
thus rarefaction occurs. This process is repeated further and as a result sound
wave propagates in the form of compressions and rarefactions to the listener’s
ear.

2. What are wavelength, frequency, time period and amplitude of a

sound wave?

Ans. wavelength: For a sound wave, the combined length of a compression

and an adjacent rarefaction is called its wavelength even the distance
between centres of two consecutive compressions or two consecutive
rarefactions is also equal to its wavelength.

frequency: The number of vibrations or oscillations per second is called

frequency i.e. it is the number of complete waves or cycles produced in one
second.

Time period: The time taken to complete one vibration/oscillation/complete

wave is called time period. It is measured in seconds.

Amplitude: It is the maximum displacement of the particles of the medium

from their mean/original position at rest.

3. Cite an experiment to show that sound needs a material medium for

its propagation.
Ans. Take an electric bell and an airtight glass bell jar. The electric bell is
suspended inside the airtight bell jar. The bell jar is connected to a vacuum
pump If you press the switch you will be able to hear the bell. Now start the
vacuum pump. When the air in the jar is pumped out gradually, the sound
becomes fainter, although the same current is passing through the bell.

After some time when less air is left inside the bell jar you will hear a very
feeble sound. Now if we evacuate the bell jar no sound is heard.

Result: The above mentioned activity shows that sound needs a medium to
propagate.

4. What happens when sound travels in air?

Ans. When sound wave travels through air then the pressure and density of
air changes. As the disturbance propagates through a medium, then alternate
regions of pressure variations are created.

The region where particle come closer to each other (high density) and
pressure of air is high is called as compression. The region where particles far
apart from each other (low density) and pressure of air is less is called as
rarefaction compression and rarefactions always occur together.

5. Establish the relation for a wave that velocity = frequency

wavelength.

Ans. Since, velocity =

For a wave, for one vibration, the distance b/w two consecutive crest or trough
is called its wavelength .
Time required to complete one vibration is called its Time Period (T).
 (Frequency) is defined as the no. of vibrations particle covers in 1 second.

6. When a wave travels from one medium to another, the wavelength

changes but not the frequency. The wavelength of sound disturbance 30
cm in air and of the wave velocity is 340 m/s. What will be the
wavelength of this disturbance in Helium & water? The speed of sound
in helium is 970 m/s and 1450 m/s in water?

Ans. Wavelength of sound disturbance = 30 cm

Wave velocity of sound = 340 m/s
(velocity = frequency wavelength)

a) Helium: → speed of sound = 970 m/s

b) Water: → speed of sound = 1450 m/s

7. Sound waves of wavelength travel from a medium in which its
velocity is v m/s into another medium in which if velocity is 3 v m/s.
What is the wavelength of the sound in the second medium?

Ans. Since velocity = wavelength frequency

Now, when waves moves from one medium to another, the frequency remains
the same

Now, when velocity in first Medium =

velocity in Second Medium = 3v

The wavelength of the sound in the second medium is one – third of the
wavelength in the first Medium.

8. Sound requires a medium to travel? Justify experimentally.

Ans. Sound requires medium for propagation and it can be proved by

following experiment:
1) Take a bell jar and suspend an electric bell in it,
2) The bell jar is connected to a vacuum pump. Till the air is in the bell jar, the
sound of the electric bell is louder.
3) Now, with the help of vacuum pump, pump out the air gradually
4) Now as air is pumped out, the sound of the bell gets fainter and fainter.
5) Now, when the bell jar is completely vacuumed no sound is heard.
6) This shows that air is required for propagation of sound.