1.

How does the sound produced by a vibrating Wavelength: The distances between two
object in a medium reach your ear? consecutive compressions or rarefaction of a
wave. Its SI Unit is meter.
When a body vibrates the air in its
neighbourhood is alternately compressed and Frequency: One compression and one rarefaction
rarefied. The compressed air has higher pressure constitute one vibration in a second is called
than surrounding air. It therefore pushes the air frequency. Its unit is Hertz
particles near it causing compression to move
Amplitude: When waves are produced, the
forward. A rarefaction or low pressure is created
particles vibrate about their mean position of a
at the original place. These compressions and
particle is called its amplitude. It is measured in
rarefaction cause particles in the air vibrate about
metres.
their mean position. The energy is carried in this
vibration. This Time period: The time taken by the
is how sound wave to complete one oscillation i.e
travels. …the time taken between two
consecutive compressions or
rarefactions is called time period.
6. How are wavelength and
frequency of a sound wave related
to its speed?
Speed= Wavelength x Frequency
7. Distinguish between loudness and intensity of
sound.
2. Explain how sound is produced by your school
bell?
Loudness Intensity of
When the gong strikes the bell, vibrations are
sound
produced in the bell which are transmitted
through the air to our ears. These vibrations
produce sensation of sound in our ears. 1.Loudness is the 1.Intensity is the
measure of response sound per power per
3. why are sound waves called mechanical
of the ear to the unit area.
waves?
sound.
Sound waves are called mechanical waves 2.Loudness is 2. Intensity is
because they need a material medium to travel. measured in decibels. measured in watt per
3. It depends on the metre square
4. Suppose you and your friend are on moon. sensitivity of ears. 3. It does not depend
Will you be able to hear any sound produced by on the sensitivity of
your friend? ears.
On the moon, sound cannot travel as there is no
atmosphere. Sound cannot travel in vaccum.so
we will not be able to hear any sound. 13. Why is sound wave called longitudinal wave?
Sound wave is called longitudinal waves because
it is produced by compressions and rarefactions
5. What are wavelength, frequency, time period
in the air. The air particles vibrate parallel to the
and amplitude of a sound waves?
direction of propagation.
14. Which characteristic of the sound helps you 2. Working of a stethoscope is also based on
to identify your friend by his voice while sitting reflection of sound in a stethoscope, the sound of
with the others in a dark room? the patient’s heartbeat reaches the doctors ear
by multiple reflection of sound.
The quality or timber of sound enables us to
identify our friend by our noise. 19. What is reverberation? How can it reduce?
15. Flash and thunder are produced The repeated multiple reflections of sound in any
simultaneously. But thunder is heard a few big enclosed space is known as reverberation.
second after the flash is seen?
The reverberation can be reduced by covering the
The speed of sound (344m/s) is less than the ceiling and walls of the enclosed space with the
speed of light (3x 108m/s). Sound of thunder sound absorbing materials. such as
takes more time to reach the earth compared to
fibre board, loose woollens. etc
light. Hence, a flash is seen before we hear a
sound. 20. What is loudness of sound? what factor does
it depend on?
The effect produced in the brain by the sound of
16. Does sound follow the same laws of
different frequencies is called loudness of sound.
reflection as light does? Explain?
Loudness depends on the amplitude of vibrations.
Sound follows the same laws of reflection as light
In fact, loudness is proportional to the square of
does. The incident sound wave and the reflected
the amplitude of vibrations.
sound wave make the same angle with the
normal to the surface at the point of incidence. 21. How is ultrasound used for cleaning?
Also, the incident sound wave, the reflected
Objects to be placed are put in a cleaning solution
sound wave, and the normal to the point of
and ultrasonic sound waves are passed through
incidence all lie in the same plane.
solution. The high frequency of these ultrasound
17. When sound is reflected from a distant waves detaches the dirt from the objects.
object an echo is produced. Let the distance
22. Explain how defects in a metal block can be
between the reflecting surface and the source of
detected using ultrasound?
sound production remains the same. Do you
hear echo sound on a hotter day? Defects in metal blocks do not allow ultrasound
to pass through them and they are reflected back.
An echo is heard when the time for the reflected
This fact is used to detect defects in metal blocks.
sound is heard after 0.1s
Ultrasound is passed through one end of a metal
Time taken = Total distance/velocity block and detectors are placed on the other end.
The defective part of the metal block does not
On hotter day, the velocity of sound is more. If
allow ultrasound to passthrough it. As a result, it
the time taken by echo is less than 0.1 sec it will
will not be detected by the detector. Hence,
not be heard.
defects in metals blocks can be detected using
18. Give two practical applications of reflecting ultrasound.
of sound waves?
Two practical applications of reflection of sound
wave are:
1. Reflection of sound is used to measure the
distance and speed of underwater objects. This
method is known as SONAR.