Chapter : SOUND

NCERT Book, Page 162

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

Ans. The sound produced by a vibrating object reaches our ear through sound waves which travel in the
medium as a series of compressions and rarefactions caused by the vibrations of the particles of the
medium.

NCERT Book, Page 163

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

Ans. When the school bell is struck with a hammer, it starts vibrating (or moving back and forth rapidly
through a very small distance). The vibrating school bell produces sound.

Q.2. Why are sound waves called mechanical waves?

Ans. The sound waves are called mechanical waves because they need a material medium (like solid,
liquid or gas) for their propagation. The sound waves involve the vibrations of the particles of the
medium through which they travel.

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

Ans. No, I will not be able to hear any sound produced by my friend while on the moon. This can be
explained as follows: The moon has no air (or atmosphere). It is all vacuum (or empty space) on the
surface of moon. Since there is no air (or atmosphere) on the moon to carry the sound waves (or sound
vibrations), therefore, sound cannot be heard directly on the surface of moon.

NCERT Book, Page 166

Q.1. Which wave property determines (a) loudness (b) pitch

Ans. (a) The loudness of sound is determined by the amplitude of sound waves.

(b) The pitch of sound is determined by the frequency of vibration of the sound producing source.

Q.2. Guess which sound has a higher pitch: guitar or a car horn?

Ans. A guitar has a higher pitch than a car horn.

NCERT Book, Page 166

Q.1. What are wavelength, frequency, time-period and amplitude of a sound wave?

Ans. (i) The minimum distance in which a sound wave repeats itself is called its wavelength. In most
simple words, it is the length of one complete wave.
(ii) The number of complete sound waves (or cycles) produced in one second is called frequency of the
sound wave.

(iii) The time required to produce one complete sound wave (or cycle) is called time-period of the sound

wave.

(iv) The maximum displacement of the particles of the medium from their original undisturbed positions,

when a sound wave passes through the medium, is called amplitude of the sound wave.

Q.2. How are the wavelength and frequency of a sound wave related to its speed?

Ans. Speed of sound wave = Frequency x Wavelength

V= f x λ

Q.3. Calculate the wavelength of a sound wave whose frequency is 220 Hz and speed is 440 m/s in a
given medium.

Ans. We know that V= f x λ

Here, Speed, v= 440 m/s

And, Frequency,f= 220 Hz

Wavelength, λ = ? (To be calculated)

Putting these values in the above formula, we get:

440 =220 x λ

λ =440/220 = 2m

Q.4. A person is listening to a tone of 500 Ha siting at a distance of 450 m from the source of the
sound is the time interval between successive compressions from the source

Ans. Here, Frequency ,f= 500 Hz

Now, Time period, T =1/f

=1/500s

=0.002 s

The time interval between successive compressions from the source of sound is equal to the time-period
of sound waves which is 0.002 second (The distance of 450 m has been given in this question just to
confuse the students)

NCERT Book, Page 166

Q.1. Distinguish between loudness and intensity of sound.

Ans. The main differences between loudness and intensity of sound are given below

Loudness of sound Intensity of sound

1. The sensation produced in the ears which enables us to distinguish between a faint sound (feeble
sound) and a loud sound is called loudness of sound.

2. Loudness of sound is measured in the unit of decibel (dB)

3. Loudness of sound depends on the sensitivity of ears

Intensity of sound

1. The average energy transported by a sound wave per second per unit area (perpendicular

to the direction of propagation) is called intensity of sound.

2. Intensity of sound is measured in the unit of watts per square metre (W/mn)

3. Intensity of sound does not depend on the sensitivity of ears.

NCERT Book, Page 167

Q.1. In which of the three media, air, water or iron, does sound travel the fastest at a particular
temperature?

Ans. The sound travels the fastest in a solid medium. Out of air, water and iron, iron is a solid, therefore,
sound travels fastest in iron.

NCERT Book, Page 168

Q.1. An echo returned in 3 s. What is the distance of the reflecting surface from the source. Given that
the speed of sound is 342 m/s?

Ans. In this case the time taken by sound to travel from the source to the reflecting surface, and back to
the source (in the form of an echo) is 3 seconds. So, the time taken by sound to travel from the source
to the reflecting surface will be half of this time, which is =1.5 seconds. This means that sound takes 1.5
seconds to travel from the source to the reflecting surface.

Now, Speed = Distance/Time

So 342 = Distance/1.5

And, Distance = 342 x 1.5 m

= 513 m

NCERT Book, Page 169

Q.1. Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?

Ans. The ceilings of concert halls are made curved so that sound, after reflection from the curved ceiling,
reaches all the parts of the hall .A curved ceiling actually acts like a large concave soundboard and
reflects sound down onto the audience siting in the hall.

NCERT Book, Page 170

Q.1. What is the audible range of the average human ear?

Ans. The range of frequencies from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz

Q.2. What is the range of frequencies associated with

(a) infrasound

(b) ultrasound

Ans. (a) Range of frequencies associated with infrasound is less than 20 Hz.

(b) Range of frequencies associated with ultrasound is higher than 20,000 Hz.

NCERT Book, Page 172

Q.1. A submarine sends a sonar pulse, which returns from an underwater cliff in 1.02 s. If the speed of
sound in salt water is 1531 m/s. How far away is the cliff?

Ans. Refer notes…

NCERT Book, Pages 174 and 175

Q.1. What is sound and how is it produced?

Ans. Sound is a form of energy which makes us hear. Sound is produced when objects vibrate (move
back and forth rapidly). For example, sound can be produced:

() by vibrating strings (as in a sitar)

(i) by vibrating air (as in a flute)

(ii) by vibrating membranes (as in a drum), and

(iv) by vibrating plates (as in cymbals)

Q.2. Describe with the help of a diagram, how compressions and rarefactions are produced in air near
a source of sound.

Ans. See page 162 of the text book

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

Ans. Refer page 162 of TB

Q.4. Why is sound wave called a longitudinal wave?

Ans. The sound wave is called a longitudinal wave because in a sound wave the particles of the medium
vibrate back and forth in the 'same direction' in which the wave is moving.
Q5). Which characteristic of the sound helps you to identify your friend by his voice while sitting with
others in a dark room?

Ans. Quality (or Timbre) of sound.

Q6) Flash and thunder are produced simultaneously, but thunder is heard a few seconds after the
flash is seen. Why?

Ans It is due to the very high speed of light that the flash of lightning is seen first and it is due to
comparatively low speed of sound that the thunder is heard a few seconds later (though they are
produced at the same time).

Q7) 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 344 m/s.

Ans. Refer notes…

Q8) Two children are at opposite ends of an aluminium rod. One strikes the end of rod with a stone.
Find the ratio of times taken by sound wave in air and in aluminium to reach the second child (Given:
Speed of sound in air = 346 m/s ; Speed of sound in aluminium = 6420 m/s).

Ans. Refer notes….

Q9). The frequency of a source of sound is 100 Hz. How many times does it vibrate in a minute?

Ans. The frequency of 100 Hz means that the source of sound vibrates 100 times in 1 second. Also, 1
minute is equal to 60 seconds.

Now, No. of vibrations in 1 second = 100

So, No. of vibrations in 60 seconds = 100 x 60

(or 1 minute) = 6000

Thus, the source of sound vibrates 6000 times in a minute.

Q10). Does sound follow the same laws of reflection as light does? Explain.

Ans. Sound is reflected in the same way as light. So, the sound follows the same laws of reflection as
light does.

For example:

(i) The incident sound wave, the reflected sound wave, and the normal at the point of incidence, all lie in
the same plane.

(ii) The angle of reflection of sound is always equal to the angle of incidence of sound.

Q.11. 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 remain the same. Do you hear echo sound
on a hotter day?
Ans. The speed of sound increases on a hotter day (when the temperature is high) and it requires a
larger distance from the reflecting surface for the echo to be heard. Since the distance between the
reflecting surface and the source of sound remains the same, no echo can be heard on a hotter day.

Q.12. Give two practical applications of reflection of sound waves.

Ans. (i) The reflection of sound waves is utilised in the working of megaphone.

(ii) The reflection of sound waves is utilised in the working of a stethoscope.

Q.13. A stone is dropped from the top of a tower 500 m high into a pond of water at the base of the
tower.

Ans. Refer notes……

Q.14. A sound wave travels at a speed of 339 m s1. If its wavelength is 1.5 cm, what is the frequency
of the wave? Will it be audible?

Ans. Refer notes…..

Q.15. What is reverberation? How can it be reduced?

Ans. The persistence of sound in a big hall due to repeated reflections from the walls, ceiling and floor of
the hall is called reverberation. If the reverberation is too long, then the sound becomes blurred,
distorted and confusing due to overlapping of different sounds. Some of the methods used for reducing
excessive reverberations in big halls and auditoriums are as follows:

(i) Panels made of sound-absorbing materials (like compressed fibreboard or felt) are put on the walls
and ceiling of big halls and auditoriums to reduce reverberations.

(ii) Carpets are put on the floor to absorb sound and reduce reverberations.

(iii) Heavy curtains are put on doors and windows to absorb sound and reduce reverberations.

(iv) The material having sound-absorbing properties is used for making the seats in a big hall or
auditorium to reduce reverberations.

Q.16. What is loudness of sound? What factors does it depend on?

Ans. The sensation produced in the ears which enables us to distinguish between a faint sound (feeble
sound) and a loud sound is called loudness of sound. The loudness of sound depends on the amplitude
of sound waves. Since the amplitude of a sound wave is equal to the amplitude of vibrations of the
source which produces the sound wave, we can also say that: The loudness of sound depends on the
amplitude of vibration of the source producing the sound waves. This point will become clear from the
following example. When we strike a table lightly, then due to less energy supplied, the table top
vibrates with a small amplitude and hence a faint sound (or soft sound) is produced. If, however, we hit
the table hard, then due to greater energy supplied, the table top vibrates with a large amplitude and
hence produces a loud sound. Thus, the loudness of sound depends on the force with which an object is
made to vibrate.
Q.17. Explain how bats use ultrasound to catch a prey?

Ans. Bats emit high-frequency ultrasound squeaks (or ultrasonic squeaks) while flying and listen to the
echoes produced by the reflection of their squeaks from the prey like a flying insect. From the time
taken by the echo to be heard, bats can judge the distance of the insect and hence catch it.

Q.18. How is ultrasound used for cleaning?

Ans. Ultrasound is used in industry to clean "hard to reach' parts of objects such as spiral tubes, odd-
shaped machines and electronic components, etc. The object to be cleaned is placed in a cleaning
solution and ultrasound waves are passed into the solution. Due to their high frequency, the ultrasound
waves stir up the cleaning solution. Because of stirring, the particles of dust and grease sticking to the
dirty object vibrate too much, become loose, get detached from the object and fall into solution. The
object gets cleaned thoroughly.

Q.19. Explain the working and application of a sonar.

Ans. See page 199 of this book.

Q.20. A sonar device on a submarine sends out a signal and receives an echo 5 s later. Calculate the
speed of sound in water if the distance of the object from the submarine is 3625 m.

Ans. Refer notes…

Q.21. Explain how defects in a metal block can be detected using ultrasound.

Ans. Refer TB

Q.22. Explain how the human ear works.

Ans. Refer TB

Prepared by Ms. Hafsa