1. Identify two factors that affect the speed of sound.

Ans: The density and temperature of the medium. Also the nature of the medium, some
media (e.g. rubber) impair the propagation of sound waves.

2. Explain why sound travels faster in water than in air..

Ans: Water is more dense, collisions between molecules occur more often and propagate
the wave more quickly.

3. Distinguish between infrasound and ultrasound.

Ans: Infrasound has a frequency below that normally audible to humans (approximately 20
Hz); ultrasound has a frequency greater what can be perceived by humas (approximately
20,000 Hz).

4. Which of the following must change when pitch becomes higher?

a. amplitude—no
b. frequency—yes
c. wavelength—yes
d. intensity—no
e. speed of the sound waves--no

5. Which of the following must change when a sound gets louder?

a. amplitude—yes
b. frequency—no
c. wavelength—no
d. intensity—yes
e. speed of the sound waves--no

6. Why does middle-C on a piano sound different than middle-C on a violin?

Ans: Different instruments have different harmonics.

7. Why does an acoustic guitar generally sound louder than an electric guitar with an electronic
amplifier?
Ans: The sound box of an acoustic guitar resonates with the strings and produces a wave
with greater amplitude than that of the non-resonant electric.

8. Describe the process through which sound waves in the air are translated into nerve
impulses to the brain.
Ans: Soundwaves strike the eardrum, which vibrates against the hammer. The hammer
passes that vibration through 2 other bones, and begins to resonate with a membrane in the
ear called the cochlea. Different portions of the membrane resonate at different
frequencies. As each portion vibrates it rubs against hairs growing near the brain cell, which
in turn send a signal to the brain.

9. Why are sonograms made with ultrasound waves instead of audible sound waves?
 Ans: Ultrasound is more easily focused. Ultrasound is inaudible, there is less chance of
damaging ears or other organs (sonograms are often used on unborn children).

10. Why do most pianos contain a large sounding board under the strings?
Ans: The sounding board resonates with the strings to produce a louder sound.