M.E.

S INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA– QATAR

Notes 2024- 2025

Section : Boys /Girls Date : 08/12/2024

Class & Div. : IX(All Divisions) Subject : Physics
Lesson / Topic: SOUND
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1. How does the sound produced by a vibrating object in a medium reach your ear?
Ans: When the object vibrates, it sets the neighbouring particles to vibrate. These particles exert
force on other particles and pass on the energy to other parts of medium. The particles do not get
transported, but only the disturbance or energy is transferred. In this way, sound reaches our ear.

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

Ans: When the hammer hits the gong of the bell, is starts vibrating. These vibrations set the
particles of surrounding air vibrating. The disturbance travels in all direction and sound propagates.

3. Why are sound waves called mechanical waves?

Ans: Sound waves are produced by oscillations of particles of the medium. So they require a
material medium for their propagation. Thus they are called mechanical waves.

4. Suppose you and our friend are on the moon. Will you be able to hear any sound produced by
your friend?
Ans: No, it is not possible to hear any sound on moon, there is no medium such as air on moon to
carry sound waves. Sound cannot travel through vacuum as it is a mechanical wave.

5. Which wave property determines (a) loudness (b) pitch?

Ans:
(a) Amplitude of wave
(b) frequency of vibration.

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

Ans: The sound of guitar has higher pitch.

7. What are wavelength, frequency, time period and amplitude of a sound wave?
Ans:
Wavelength – the distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions in a sound wave
is called wavelength.
Frequency – the number of complete oscillations in one second is called frequency.
Time period – time taken for one complete oscillation to occur is called time period.
Amplitude – maximum displacement of an oscillating particle from the mean position is called
amplitude.

8. How are the wavelength and frequency of a sound wave related to its speed?
Ans: Speed of sound wave = wavelength x frequency.

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 9. Calculate the wavelength and frequency of sound wave whose frequency is 220Hz and speed
is 440 m/s in a given medium.
Ans: Given: frequency, n = 220
−1
Hz; speed, v = 440 m/s
Wavelength, λ = = 440 =2
220

10. 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 compression from the source?
Ans: Given: n = 500 Hz, v = 330 m/s, d = 450m
Time between two successive compressions is called time period.
1 1
= = = 0.002
500

11. Distinguish between loudness and intensity of sound.

Ans:
Loudness Intensity of sound
(a) Response of our ear, i.e. auditory (a) Sound energy received per second
sensation for a sound. per unit area is called intensity.
(b) Constant for a source at a point of
(b) It is not absolute but relative. reception.

12. In which of three media – air, water or iron, does sound travel the fastest at a particular
temperature?
Ans: Speed of sound in iron is greater than that in water and air. This is due to greater density and
highly elastic behaviour of iron.

13. An echo was heard 3 s. what is the distance of the reflecting surface from the source, given
that the speed of sound is 342 m/s?
Ans:
2 = ×
×
=
2
342 × 3
= = 513
2
14. Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?
Ans: Ceilings of concert halls are curved so that sound after reflection reaches all corners of hall.

15. What is the audible range of average ear?

Ans: Audible range for human ear = 20 Hz – 20 kHz.

16. What is the range of frequencies associated with:

(a) Infrasound
(b) ultrasound?
Ans:
(a) Infrasound: sound of frequency less than 20 Hz
(b) Ultrasound: sound of frequency more than 20000 Hz

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 17. A submarine emits a sonar pulse, which return from 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: Given: t = 1.02 s, v = 1531 m/s
∴ = = 1531 × 1.02 = 780.81 = 781 m
2 2

18. What is sound and how is it produced?

Ans: Sound is a form of energy which produces the sensation of hearing. It is produced by
oscillation/ vibration of particles of a material medium.

19. Why is sound wave called a longitudinal wave?

Ans: Sound wave is called a longitudinal wave because it propagates in the form compression and
rarefactions. The particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

20. Which characteristic of the sound helps you to identify your friend by his voice while sitting
with other in a dark room?
Ans: Quality of sound.

21. Flash and thunder are produced simultaneously. But thunder is heard a few seconds after
the flash is seen. Why?
Ans: Speed of sound is much less than the speed of light, so light reaches the eyes of observer in
very less time while sound takes a few seconds to reach our ears.

22. A person has a hearing range from 20Hz to 20 kHz. What are the typical wavelength of
sound waves in air corresponding to these two frequencies? Take the speed of sound in air
as 344 m/s?
Ans: Frequencies: n₁ = 20 Hz n₂ = 20000 Hz (= 20kHz)
Speed of sound: v = 344 m/s in air
∴ wavelengths: 1 = = 344 = 17.2 m
1 20
344
2 = = = 1.72 × 10−2 m
2 20000

23. The frequency of a source of sound is 100 Hz. How many times does it vibrate in a minute?
Ans:
∵ 1 minute = 60 s
Vibrations in 1 s = frequency = 100
Vibrations in 60 s = 60 x 100 = 6000 times.

24. Does the sound follow the same laws of reflection s light does? Explain.
Ans: Yes, sound follows the same laws of reflection as light. These are:
(a)The incident wave, normal and reflected wave, all lie in the same plane.
(b)The angle of incidence is equal to the able of reflection.

25. When a sound is reflected from a distance 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: Speed of sound is increased as temperature rises. Thus, echo reaches faster on a hotter day
and it becomes difficult to detect the echo. Thus, echo can’t be heard distinctly.

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 26. Give two practical applications of reflections of sound waves.
Ans: Applications of reflection of sound waves are:
(a) To locate underwater hidden objects as rocks and icebergs through SONAR.
(b)To detect any undesired objects in the sky near airport and borders of the country.

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

Ans: The time from generation of sound till its loudness reduces to zero is called reverberation
time. The process due to which the persistence of sound is caused is called reverberation. This is
reduced in an auditorium using sound absorbent materials and good absorbers of sound.

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

Ans: Loudness is the parameter which is described by amplitude of vibration. Loud sound can be
heard up to large distance. It depends on amplitude of vibration.

29. How is ultrasound used for cleaning?

Ans: Ultrasound is used to clean the hard to reach places such as spinal tube, electronic
components etc. Object to be cleaned is placed in the cleaning solution and ultrasonic waves are
sent into it. The high frequency of ultrasound detaches the dust, grease and dirt from the object
and it gets thoroughly cleaned.

30. A sonar device on a submarine sends out a signal and receives an echo 5 s later. Calculate
the seed of sound in water if the distance of the object from the submarine is 3625 m.
Ans: Given: time, = 5 ;
Distance between submarine and object = 3625 m
Distance travelled by sound = 3625 × 2 ( + ℎ ) = 7250
Speed of sound in water= 7250 = 7250 = 1450 m/s
i 5

31. Explain how defects in a metal block can be detected using ultrasound.
OR
How defects in a metal block can be detected by using ultrasound? Explain with the help of
diagram.
Ans: Ultrasound waves are allowed to pass through the metal. If the block is flawless, it will pass
through it. If there is a crack or deformity, the wave gets reflected. Time taken by wave to return
back is measured and helps to locate the flaw. If the wave is not reflected, it means metal has no
deformity.

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

Density
or
pressure

33. Cite an experiment to show that sound need a material medium for its propagation.
OR
Prove that sound waves are mechanical waves with the help of an experiment.
Ans: Fix an electric bell inside a jar connected to a vacuum pump. Close the mouth of jar and ring
the bell. We will be able to hear the bell. Slowly remove the air using the vacuum pump, so that
vacuum is created in the jar. The sound will end when all the air is pumped out. This
demonstrated the requirement for a medium to carry sound.

Bell jar experiment showing sound cannot travel in vacuum

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