SOUND

 MARK 1 QUESTIONS

1.What is sound?
Ans: Sound is a form of energy that produces the sensation of hearing in our ears.

2. Sound is produced by vibrating objects.

3. What is vibration?
Ans: Vibration means a kind of rapid to and fro motion of an object.

4. What is medium in the context of propagation of sound?

Ans: The matter or substance through which sound is transmitted is called a medium. It can be solid, liquid or gas.

5. What is wave?
Ans: A wave is a disturbance that moves through a medium when the particles of the medium set neighbouring
particles into motion.

6. What does wave transfer---matter or energy?

Ans: Wave transfers energy.

7. Sound wave is which type of wave?

Ans: Sound wave is longitudinal mechanical wave.

8. What are the characteristics of a sound wave?

Ans: Frequency, amplitude and wavelength.

9. What is pitch of a sound? It depends on what?

Ans: How the brain interprets the frequency of an emitted sound is called its pitch. It directly depends on the
frequency of sound.

10. The loudness or softness of a sound is determined by its amplitude.

11. The amplitude of the sound wave depends upon what?

Ans: The amplitude of the sound wave depends upon the force with which an object is made to vibrate.

12. What is tone?

Ans: A sound of single frequency is called a tone.

13. What is note?

Ans: The sound which is produced due to a mixture of several sound is called a note. It is pleasant to listen to.

14. What is intensity of sound?

Ans: The amount of sound energy passing each second through unit area is called the intensity of sound.

15. What is loudness? It depends on what?

Ans : Loudness is a measure of the response of the ear to the sound. It depends on amplitude.

16. What is the speed of light in air?

Ans: 3 × 108 𝑚/𝑠

17. What is the speed of sound in air?

Ans: At 0℃ , 331 m/s
At 22℃, 344 m/s
18. In which medium sound travel faster---Sea water or distilled water?
Ans: In sea water sound travel faster.

19. Arrange in descending order of speed of sound---liquid,gas,solid

Ans: Solid > Liquid > Gas

20. The sensation of sound persists in our brain for about 0.1 s

21. What should be minimum time interval between the original sound and the reflected one to hear a distinct
echo?
Ans: Atleast 0.1 s

22. What should be the minimum distance of the obstacle from the source of sound for hearing a distinct echo?
Ans: 17.2 m

23. Name some instruments which uses multiple reflection of sound?

Ans: Megaphone, horns, musical instruments like trumpets and shehanais and also in stethoscope.

24. What is the audible range of hearing sound for human beings?
Ans: From 20 Hz to 20000Hz

25. Define infrasonic sound.

Ans: Sounds of frequencies below 20 Hz is called infrasonic sound. Ex-sounds produced by elephants,whales,
rhinoceroses , sound of earthquake before main shock begins.

26. Define ultrasonic sound.

Ans: Sounds of frequencies higher than 20000 Hz is called ultrasonic sound. Ex- sounds produced by dolphins,
bats, porpoises, rats etc.

27. Which sound is used in echocardiography(E.C.G)?

Ans: Ultrasonic Sound

28. If any explosion takes place at the bottom of a lake, what type of shock waves in water will take place?
Ans: Longitudinal waves.

29. Name the characteristic which helps us to distinguish between two of our friend’s voice even without
seeing them.
Ans: Quality or timbre.

30. How does the speed of sound in air vary with temperature?
Ans: The speed of sound in air increases by 0.61 m/s for each 1 °C rise in temperature.

31. Flash of lightning reaches us earlier than the sound of thunder. Explain the reason.
Ans: It is because light travels much faster than sound. Speed of light is 3 x 108 m/s whereas speed of sound in air
at normal temperature is 344 m/s only.

32. Can sound travel in vaccum?

Ans: No,sound can’t travel in vaccum.

33.State two properties of the medium on which the speed of sound in it depends.
Ans: The two properties of the medium on which the speed of the sound in it depends are as follows:
Density
Elasticity

34. What is the SI unit of frequency? Define it.

Ans : Hertz(Hz)- 1 Hertz is definedcas 1 oscillation in 1 second.
34. What length shows one complete oscillation in the following figure?

Ans : The line AE shows one complete oscillation.

35. What is the product of frequency and time period?

1
Ans: Since, 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦(𝜆) = , so the product of frequency and time period is 1
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑(𝑇)

36.Give one natural example of reverberation.

Ans: The rolling of thunder is due to the successive reflections of the sound from a number of reflecting surfaces,
such as the clouds and the land.This is a natural example of reverberation.

37. What are the three characteristics of a musical sound?

Ans: Intensity, Frequency and Quality or timbre.

38. Name one animal each that can hear ---i) ultrasound, ii) infrasound
Ans: i) Moths of certain families/ rats
ii) Rhinoceroses

 MARK 2/3 QUESTIONS

1.List two factors on which speed of sound depends upon.

Ans: i)Speed of sound depends on the properties of the medium through which it travels. For example, speed of
sound in solid is greater than speed of sound in liquid.
ii) Speed of sound in a medium depends on the temperature of the medium. Higher the temperature, higher is
the speed of sound.

2. What is reverberation?How can it be reduced?**********

Ans: Reverberation is the persistence of sound even after the source has stopped producing it. It is caused by the
multiple reflection of sound from surfaces like room walls, furniture within an enclosed space.

 To reduce reververation in an auditorium,

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

3. Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?*****

Ans: Generally concert halls are very big , so the sound might not reach every corner of the hall. So, ceilings of
concert halls are made curved so that after multiple reflection, the sound reaches all corners of the hall .It
ensures that all the audience of the hall can hear the sound properly.
4. What is echo? What are the necessary conditions to hear a distinct echo?***
Ans: The repetition of sound caused by reflection of sound waves from a hard surface is called echo.

Conditions for echo:

i)The time interval between the original sound and reflected sound must be at least 0.1 seconds.
ii)***** The minimum distance between the source of sound and the reflecting surface must be 17.2
metre.[for this reason, echoes cannot be heard in a small room]
iii) The size of the reflector should be large compared to the wavelength.
iv) The intensity of the sound must be large enough so that the reflected sound can be heard by the observer.

5. Write some applications of ultrasound.***

Ans: i) Ultrasound is generally used to clean parts located in hard-to-reach places like spiral tube, odd shaped
parts etc.
ii) Ultrasound can be used to detect cracks and flaws in metal blocks.
iii)Ultrasound is used in echocardiography to form the image of the heart
iv)Ultrasound may be used to break small stones formed in the kidneys into fine grains.
v) Ultrasound is also used in ultrasonography to detect congenial defects and growth abnormalities of the foetus
during pregrancy.

6. Define the following:

a) Compression: When a vibrating object moves forward, it pushes and compresses the air in front of it creating a
region of high pressure. This region of high pressure is called a compression.It is the region of high density also as
the particles are crowded together.

b) Rarefaction: When a vibrating object moves backwards, it creates a region of low pressure. This region of low
pressure is called rarefaction.It is the region of low pressure also.

c) Crest: The highest point of a wave, where the medium’s displacement is at its maximum is called crest of the
wave.

d) Trough: The lowest point of a wave, where the medium’s displacement is at its minimum is called trough of the
wave.

e) ***Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive compressions or two consecutive rarefactions is called
the wavelength. It is represented by 𝜆 (Greek letter lambda ) . Its SI unit is metre ( m )

f) *Frequency: The number of oscillations per unit time is called frequency of the wave. It is represented by 𝜈 (
Greek letter nu ). Its SI unit is Hertz(Hz)

g) ***Time Period: The time taken by two consecutive compressions or rarefactions to cross a fixed point is called
the time period of the wave. In other words, the time taken for one complete oscillation is called the time period
of the sound wave. It is represented by the symbol T . Its SI unit is second(s).

h) *****Amplitude: The magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium on either side of the mean value
is called the amplitude of the wave. It is usually represented by the letter A.

i)Quality or Timbre: The quality or timber of a sound is that characteristic which enables us to distinguish one
sound from another having the same pitch and loudness.

7. *********** Establish the relationship between speed, wavelength and frequency .

OR
Prove that , v = 𝝀. 𝝂 where symbols have their usual meaning.

Ans: The speed of sound is defined as the distance which a point on a wave (such as a compression
or a rarefaction) travels per unit time.

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
We know that, speed= 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

λ
⇒v=
T
Here 𝜆is the wavelength of the sound wave. It is the distance travelled by the sound wave in one
time period (T) of the wave. Thus,

1
v=λ ×
T

1
or, v = 𝜆. 𝜈 [∵ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 (𝜈 ) = ]
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 (𝑇)
That is, speed = wavelength × frequency

8. What is SONAR ? How does SONAR work ? Write some applications of SONAR.***

Ans : SONAR(Sound Navigation And Ranging) is a device that uses ultrasonic waves to measure the
distance, direction and speed of underwater objects.

Working of a SONAR:
 SONAR consists of a transmitter and a receptor or detector and installed at the bottom of a ship.
 The transmitter produces and transmits ultrasonic waves.

 These waves travel through water and after striking the objects on the bottom of sea, are reflected
back and received by detector.
 These reflected waves are converted into electric signals by detector.

 The sonar device measures the time taken by ultrasound waves to travel from ship to bottom of
sea and back to ship.
 Half of this time gives the time taken by the ultrasound waves from ship to bottom.

Calculation of depth of an object from sea surface using SONAR:

 Let the time interval between transmission and reception of ultrasound signal is t.
 Speed of sound through sea water is v
 Total distance travelled by waves = 2d.
 Then, distance = speed × time ⇒ 2d = v × t.
𝟐𝒅
 or, v =
𝒕
This is called echo ranging.

Uses of SONAR: The sonar is used to find the depth of sea, to locate underwater hills, valleys,
submarines, icebergs and sunken ships etc.

9. Write few applications of reflection of sound.***

Ans: (i) Megaphone, loudspeakers, bulb horns and trumpets, shehnai etc. are designed to send sound in a
particular direction without spreading all around.

→ All these instruments have funnel tube which reflects sound waves repeatedly towards audience. In
this amplitude of sound waves adds up to increase loudness of sound.
(ii) Stethoscope: It is a medical instrument used for listening the sounds produced in human body mainly
in heart and lungs. The sound of the heartbeats reaches the doctor’s ears by the multiple reflection of the
sound waves in the rubber tube of stethoscope.
(iii) The ceiling of concert halls are made curved, so that sound after reflection from ceiling, reaches all
the parts of the hall.

(iv) Sound Board: In big halls or auditoriums sound is absorbed by walls, ceiling, seats etc. So a curved
board (sound board) is placed behind the speakers so that his speech can be heard easily by audiences.
The soundboard works on the multiple reflection of sound.

10. Differentiate between transverse wave and longitudinal wave.*****

Transverse Wave Longitudinal Wave
i. Transverse waves are the waves in which i. Longitudinal waves are the waves in which
particles of the medium move up and particles of the medium move parallel to
down, that is, perpendicular to the the direction of wave propagation
direction of the wave propagation.
ii. Crests and troughs are formed ii. Compressions and rarefactions are formed.
iii. Do not create pressure difference in the iii. Creates pressure difference in the medium.
medium.
iv. Can propagate through solids or liquids,but iv. Can propagate in solids, liquids or gases.
not in gases.
v. Do not change the density of medium. v. Changes the density of the medium.

11. Differentiate between mechanical wave and electromagnetic wave.

Mechanical wave Electromagnetic Wave

i. They need a medium to travel through. i. They do not need any medium to travel .
ii. Cannot travel through vaccum. ii. Can travel through vaccum.
iii. Their speed is comparatively less. iii. Their speed is comparatively more.
iv. They can be transverse or longitudinal.Ex- iv. They are always transverse .Ex-Light wave.
sound wave, water wave etc.

12. Differentiate between loudness and intensity of sound.**********

Loudness Intensity
i. Loudness is the measure of response of the i. Intensity is the amount of sound energy per
ear to the sound. unit area .
ii. Loudness is subjective quantity. ii. Intensity is objective quantity.
iii. Loudness is measured in decibels. iii. Intensity is measured in Watt/ 𝑚2
iv. It depends on the sensitivity of ear. iv. It is independent of the sensitivity of ear.

13. Why sound wave is longitudinal mechanical wave?***

Ans: Sound waves are called mechanical waves because they require a material medium to travel
through , like air, water or metal etc.

Sound waves are called longitudinal waves because during propagation of sound wave through a
medium, the particles of the medium vibrate in the same direction as the wave.

14. Write the two laws of reflection of sound.

Ans: i) Incident ray, reflected ray and the normal to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence all
three lie on the same plane.
ii) The angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are always equal .

15. Why do sound travels fastest in solids?

Ans : In solids, particles are more tightly packed than in gases and liquids. So particles inside them can
easily collide with each other(comparatively). This enables sound to move fastest in solids as sound is
just the collection of particle collisions.

16. 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 sound, because moon has no atmosphere. Since, sound waves are
mechanical waves, so it cannot travel through vaccum and so no sound will travel to our ears in moon.

17. 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 on a
hotter day?**********
Ans: If the temperature rises, the speed of sound will increase. This will increase the minimum distance
required for an echo. So, no echo will be heard on a hotter day because the distance between the
source of sound and reflecting body does not increase.

18. Explain how bats use ultrasound to catch their prey? Which animal is able to escape from it and
how?
Ans: The bats produce high pitched ultrasonic waves which are not heard by human beings. The
ultrasonic waves on striking the insect send back an echo, which is heard by the bat. As the echo is
heard by the bat, it attacks the insect and catches it.
Moths of some families have very sensitive hearing equipment. These moths can hear the high
frequency squeaks of the bats and know when a bat is flying nearby and are able to escape from its
capture.

19. Which wave property determines----a)Loudness, b) Pitch ? **********

Ans: a) Loudness is determined by amplitude of the wave.
b) Pitch is determined by the frequency of the wave.

20. What is the range of frequencies associated with ----a)Infrasound b)Ultrasound?

Ans: a) below 20 Hz
b) More than 20000 Hz

21. We cannot hear the sound of wings of birds when they fly, but still we can hear the sound of wings
of mosquito .Why?*****
Ans: The audible range of frequency for human ear is 20Hz to 20000 Hz. When birds fly, their wings
produces sounds of frequency less than 20 Hz(Infrasound).So we cannot hear the sound of wings of
birds.
But the wings of mosquito produces sound whose frequency lie between the audible range .So we can
hear them fly.
22.If you clap on one end of a long steel pipe you will hear two distinct sounds on the other end of the pipe.
Explain.*****
Ans: Here we have two media for the sound to travel and in these two media sound has different speed. As steel
is a solid, sound travels faster through steel than through air , so sound through steel reaches before sound
through air and we hear two sounds of clap on the other end.
***(Show that sound needs medium to travel) –NCERT