Physics work sheet (ii) Use the measurements to calculate the speed of sound.

Term – 2 portions

Class : 9 speed = ............................................. m / s [3]

1. Two students A and B are carrying out an experiment to determine 2. The diagram shows a water wave in a ripple tank. Which line
the speed of sound. They are standing side by side at a distance of represents a wavefront?
480 m from the school wall, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Student A makes a loud sound by banging two pan lids together 3. What can be heard by the human ear?
once. A short time later, both students hear the sound again. A a whistle emitting a wave of frequency 50kHz
(a) State what causes this second sound. B a bat emitting a wave of frequency 30kHz
.............................................................................................................[1] C an insect emitting a wave of frequency 300Hz
D a vibrating spring emitting a wave of frequency 5Hz
(b) Underline the phrases that correctly complete the sentences
below. 4. The diagrams show two water waves P and Q that are travelling at
the same speed on the surface of a pond. The diagrams are to the
same scale.

(c) The time between the two sounds, as measured by student B, is

3.0 s. Which wave has the greater amplitude and which wave has the
greater frequency?
(i) Suggest the instrument that student B used to measure the time.
.............................................................................................................[1]

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 (i) In the box, write the letter A, B, C or D of the trace showing the
sound with the highest pitch.

(ii) Complete the statement using the letters of the traces. The two
traces that have the same amplitude are ......... and ......... . [1]

(b) Students are provided with a 100 m tape measure and

stopwatches. The teacher has a starting pistol. Describe an
5. A quiet sound is produced by a loudspeaker. The loudness of the
experiment that they can carry out to determine the speed of sound
sound is increased. Which property of the sound wave is increased?
in air.
.................................................................................................................
A amplitude B frequency
.................................................................................................................
C speed D wavelength
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6. A man holding a starting pistol stands 640m away from a spectator.
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8. (a) Fig. 8.1 represents a wave in a water tank. Five distances are
shown, labelled A, B, C, D and E.
The spectator hears the sound of the starting pistol 2.0s after seeing
the flash from the pistol.
Using this information, what is the speed of sound in air?

A 160m/ s B 320m/ s C 640m/ s D 1280m/ s

(i) 1. Which property of the wave is represented by distance C?
7. (a) Fig. 7.1 shows four traces produced by an oscilloscope for .............................................................................................................[1]
different sounds. For each trace the same settings of the 2. Which of the labelled distances represents the wavelength of the
oscilloscope were used. wave?
.............................................................................................................[1]
(ii) Water waves are transverse waves. State another example of a
transverse wave.
.............................................................................................................[1]
(iii) The speed of the wavefronts is 7.5 cm / s.

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 Calculate the distance moved by a wavefront in 4.0 s. (ii) the third echo.

distance = ........................... cm [2] time = .........................................................[1]

(c) Write down an approximate value for the speed of sound
9. (a) Fig. 9.1 shows a metal strip, held in a clamp. (i) in water,

speed = ................................

(ii) in steel.

The end of the strip is pulled down and released, so that the strip
vibrates. X and Z are the extreme positions of the end of the strip speed = ......................................... [2]
during this vibration. Y is the mid-position. Explain what is meant (d) Fig. 9.3 shows a dolphin in water emitting a sound wave of
by (i) the frequency of vibration of the strip, frequency 95 kHz.
.................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................
(ii) the amplitude of vibration of the end of the strip.
.................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................ [2]
(b) Fig. 9.2 shows two tall buildings, A and B, that are 99 m apart.
Using your value from (c)(i),
calculate the wavelength of this sound wave.

wavelength = ..........................[2]
10. (a) A sound wave in air consists of alternate compressions and
rarefactions along its path. (i) Explain how a compression differs
A student stands at P so that his distance from building A is 33 m.
from a rarefaction.
After clapping his hands once, he hears several echoes. The speed of
.................................................................................................................
sound in air is 330 m / s.
............................................................................................................[1]
Calculate the time interval between clapping his hands and hearing
(ii) Explain, in terms of compressions, what is meant by
(i) the first echo,
1. the wavelength of the sound,
.................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................[1]
time = .........................................................[2]
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 2. the frequency of the sound. 12. Which row states whether light waves and whether sound waves
................................................................................................................. can travel in a vacuum?
.............................................................................................................[1]
(b) At night, bats emit pulses of sound to detect obstacles and prey.
The speed of sound in air is 340 m / s.
(i) A bat emits a pulse of sound of wavelength 0.0085 m.
Calculate the frequency of the sound.

frequency = ......................[2] 13. Sounds are produced by vibrating objects. A certain object vibrates
(ii) State why this sound cannot be heard by human beings. but a person nearby cannot hear any sound.
................................................................................................................. Which statement could explain why nothing is heard?
............................................................................................................[1] A The amplitude of the sound waves is too large.
(iii) The pulse of sound hits a stationary object and is reflected back B The frequency of the vibration is too high.
to the bat. The pulse is received by the bat 0.12 s after it was C The sound waves are transverse.
emitted. D The speed of the sound waves is too high.
Calculate the distance travelled by the pulse of sound during this
time. 14. The diagram represents a water wave.

distance = ....................................[2]
11. The diagram shows a side view of a water wave at a particular time.
The diagram is drawn full size.
Which row shows the amplitude and the wavelength of the wave?

Which statement about the wave is correct?

A The wave is longitudinal and the frequency can be measured from
the diagram. 15. Sounds are produced by vibrating objects. A certain object vibrates
B The wave is longitudinal and the wavelength can be measured but a person nearby cannot hear any sound. Which statement could
from the diagram. explain why nothing is heard?
C The wave is transverse and the frequency can be measured from A The amplitude of the sound waves is too large.
the diagram. B The frequency of the vibration is too high.
D The wave is transverse and the wavelength can be measured C The sound waves are transverse.
from the diagram. D The speed of the sound waves is too high.
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