Chp - Sound

Date: 06/01/2022
Long Answer Questions

Q1. Explain the term intensity of sound. Give examples of sounds of high and low
intensity. What does the intensity of sound depends on?

Ans. The loudness of a sound is also called its intensity. A powerful source of sound,
such as a loudspeaker, produces a sound of high frequency, while low power source
such as vibrating wire produces sound of low-intensity. It depends on the power of the
source and the distance of the listener from the source

Q2. What is meant by the pitch of sound? Give a few examples of sounds of high and
low pitch. Explain with examples how pitch is different from intensity?

Ans. The sharpness or dullness of a sound is called its pitch. A child's voice is of high
pitch, while the sound of a large drum is of low pitch, male voices on the average have a
lower pitch than female voices but of high intensity.

Q3. What are overtones how are they related to the quality of a sound?

Ans. The fundamental frequency is the first harmonic. The frequencies which are
present along with fundamental are called overtones. Every source emits sound with its
own fixed pattern of overtones. This is what helps us recognise different sources. In
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general, Richer or more pleasant sounds have a great number of overtones mixed in a
higher proportion.

Q4. Describe an experiment to show that sound does not travel through a vacuum.

Ans. An electric bell is suspended inside a large glass jar. A rubber stopper closes the
mouth of the jar. The two wires of the bulb pass through this stopper. The air in the jar
can be pumped out through an opening at the bottom of the jar. Initially, the jar is filled
with air. The bell is set ringing and its sound can be heard clearly from outside. The air
is then gradually started out by the pump. The sound of the bell becomes fainter and
finally cannot be heard at all, although the bell can be seen to be working. If the air is
then allowed into the jar, the sound of the bell can be heard again.

Note: Draw figure 6.8(on pg 62) with this answer.

Q5. Explain why and when we hear Echoes. Describe how sonar is used.

Ans. Echoes occur because sound is reflected by solid surfaces. In fact, echoes are
reflected sound. We can distinguish between a sound and its Eco only if the Echo
reaches us about 1/10 of a second after we hear the sound. If it arrives sooner than that
we cannot distinguish it as another sound . That is why we do not hear echoes all the
time, though there are many reflectors of sound all around us.

Part 2 Ans 5. An Apparatus called Sonar is used in ships to locate underwater objects
and to find the depth of water. It sends out high frequency sound vibrations, called
ultrasonic vibrations, into the water. The time taken by the vibrations to return (after
reflection) is then used to calculate the distance of the reflecting surface.

Q6. How would you show that sound propagates through liquids?

Ans.

1. Fill a mug with water.

2. Shake a small Bell inside the water make sure that the bell does not touch the
mark as this will reduce the vibrations of the bell.
3. Place your ear close to the mug.
4. We can hear ringing of the bell.
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Conclusion : this concludes that sound propagates through liquids.

Q7. Describe an activity to show that sound propagates better through liquids than
through air.

Ans.

1. Take a metre scale or a long metal rod and hold one end of it to your ear.
2. Ask one of your friends to tap gently on the other and.
3. Ask the other friend whether he or she can hear the sound.
4. Repeat the experiment by making the sound softer and louder.

Conclusion : we observe that sound Travels better through liquids than through air by
listening to both the sound in air and as well as in solids.

Q8. Distinguish between longitudinal and transverse waves. Use examples to explain.

Ans. In a transverse wave, the vibrations (or disturbance) are perpendicular to the
direction in which the wave travels. An example of transverse waves are the ripples that
spread over the surface of a pool of water when something (say a stone) is thrown into
the pool. The disturbance (or ripples) spreads out at right angles to the movement of
water.

Sound waves, are longitudinal waves. Let us consider the example of the drummer. The
compression and rarefaction of the air molecules are in the direction in which the wave
travels. Waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate in the direction of
propagation of the waves are called longitudinal waves.

Q9. What is sound insulation or soundproofing? How is a room soundproofed?

Ans. Soundproofing refers to cutting out unwanted sounds. Most often, a room is
soundproofed either to eliminate the reflections of sound, or to prevent the leakage of
sound to and from the room or both. Concert halls, auditoriums, theatres, etc., are
soundproofed to prevent the repeated reflections of sound from the walls, ceiling and
floor. Without sound insulation, the reverberations, or repeated reflections, would make
the sound indistinct. The walls and ceilings are usually double layered and covered with
materials that absorb sound and the floor is carpeted.
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