SOUND 25MARKS
1 Why can ultrasound not be heard by humans?
A The amplitude is too great.
B The frequency is too great.
C The speed is too great.
D The wavelength is too great.
2 A sound wave has a certain amplitude and a certain frequency.
A second sound wave is quieter and lower in pitch than the first sound wave.
The second wave has
A a larger amplitude and a greater frequency.
B a larger amplitude and a smaller frequency.
C a smaller amplitude and a greater frequency.
D a smaller amplitude and a smaller frequency.
3 Two sounds X and Y are produced by loudspeakers.
The amplitude and frequency of each sound wave is given in the table.
How does sound Y compare with sound X?
A Y is louder and has a higher pitch.
B Y is louder and has a lower pitch.
C Y is quieter and has a higher pitch.
D Y is quieter and has a lower pitch.
4. What is the approximate range of hearing of a healthy human ear?
A 2.0Hz to 2.0kHz
B 2.0Hz to 20 kHz
C 20Hz to 2.0kHz
D 20Hz to 20kHz
5. A candle flame is placed in front of a loudspeaker.
The loudspeaker produces a sound wave that causes air particles to vibrate. The vibrating air
particles make the candle flame vibrate in the same direction as the air particles.
Which row shows the direction of vibration of the candle flame, and the nature of sound waves?
6. Sound wave P has a greater amplitude and a larger wavelength in air than sound wave Q.
How do the loudness and pitch of P compare with the loudness and pitch of Q?
A P is louder and higher in pitch than Q.
B P is louder and lower in pitch than Q.
C P is quieter and higher in pitch than Q.
D P is quieter and lower in pitch than Q.
7. A sound wave travels from a point X to another point Y
Which diagram represents the movement of the air molecules, due to the sound wave, in the
region between X and Y?
8. An echo-sounder on a ship produces a pulse of sound. The echo is received by the echo-
sounder after two seconds.
The speed of sound in sea-water is 1500m/ s.
What is the depth of the sea-water below the ship?
A 750m B 1500m C 3000m D 6000m
9. Which row states two properties of sound waves?
10. A quiet sound is produced by a loudspeaker. The loudness of the sound is increased.
Which property of the sound wave is increased?
A amplitude
B frequency
C speed
D wavelength
11. A man holding a starting pistol stands 640m away from a spectator.
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
12. A pulse of sound is produced at the bottom of a boat. The sound travels through the water
and is reflected from the sea bed. The sound reaches the boat again after 1.2s.
The speed of sound in the water is 1500m/ s.
How far below the bottom of the boat is the sea bed?
A 450m B 900m C 1800m D 3600m
THEORY
Q.1 (a) Fig. 1.1 represents the waveform of a sound wave. The wave is travelling at constant
speed.
FIG 1.1
(i) On Fig. 1.1,
1. label with the letter X the marked distance corresponding to the amplitude of the wave,
[1]
2. label with the letter Y the marked distance corresponding to the wavelength of the wave.
[1]
(ii) State what happens to the amplitude and the wavelength of the wave if
1. the loudness of the sound is increased at constant pitch,
Amplitude ...................................................................................................................
Wavelength ................................................................................................................. [2]
2. the pitch of the sound is increased at constant loudness.
Amplitude ...................................................................................................................
Wavelength ................................................................................................................ [2]
[Total: 6]
Q.2 (a) A sound wave in air consists of alternate compressions and rarefactions along its pat
(i) Explain how a compression differs from a rarefaction.
...........................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Explain, in terms of compressions, what is meant by
1. the wavelength of the sound,
....................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................ [1]
2. the frequency of the sound.
....................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................ [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 = ...........................................................[1]
(ii) State why this sound cannot be heard by human beings.
...........................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) The pulse of sound hits a stationary object and is reflected back to the bat. The pulse is
received by the bat 0.12 s after it was emitted.
Calculate the distance travelled by the pulse of sound during this time.
distance = ...........................................................[2]
[Total: 7]
