Chapter 

16 – Sound and Hearing
Problem 16.1
a. 𝑝max 𝐵𝑘𝐴 so 𝑓 (𝑣 is the speed of sound)
.
b. 𝑓 3.88 10 Hz 3.88 kHz.
. .

Problem 16.2
𝑑 𝑣𝑡
a. Since along the path to the diver the sound travels 𝐻 in air, the sound wave travels in
water for the same time as the wave travels a distance 𝐷 𝐻 in air:
⇒𝐷 𝐷 𝐻 ⇒ 𝐷? 𝐷 𝐻 𝐻.
b. 𝐷? 22.0 1.90 1.90 88.5 m.

Problem 16.3
Intensity is energy per unit time per unit area. 𝛽 10𝑑𝐵 log , with 𝐼 known. The area
of the eardrum is 𝐴 𝜋𝑟 .
/
a. log and so 𝐼 𝐼 10 .
/
𝐸 𝐼𝐴𝑡 with 𝐴 𝜋𝑟 gives 𝐸 𝐼 𝜋𝑟 Δ𝑡10 with Δ𝑡 1 s.
/
b. 𝐾 𝑚𝑣 so 𝑣
.
c. (a) 𝐸 10 𝜋 4.2 10 10 1.39 10 J 13.9 𝜇J
. .
(b) 𝑣 3.73 m/s.
.

Problem 16.4
The vocal tract is modelled as a stopped pipe, open at one end and closed at the other end, so
we know the wavelength of the standing waves in the tract.

a. For a stopped pipe, 𝜆 𝑛 1,3,5 … . and 𝑣 𝑓𝜆, so 𝑓 with 𝑓 𝑓minimal ;

𝐿 .
minimal

b. 𝐿 0.391 m.

   
Problem 16.5
Use the standing wave pattern to relate the wavelength of the standing wave to the length of
the air column and then use 𝑣 𝜆𝑓 to calculate 𝑓. There is a displacement antinode at the top
(open) end of the air column and a node at the bottom (closed) end.

a. 𝜆 4𝐿 so 𝑓 .
b. the length halves, so 𝜆 4 2𝐿 so 𝑓 .
c. (a) 𝑓 614 Hz;
.
(b) 𝑓 1.23 10 Hz 1.23 kHz.
.

Problem 16.6
For constructive interference the path difference is an integer number of wavelengths and for
destructive interference the path difference is a half-integer number of wavelengths.
𝜆 .

a. To move from constructive interference to destructive interference, the path difference

must change by . If you move a distance 𝑥 toward speaker B, the distance to B gets
shorter by 𝑥 and the distance to A gets longer by 𝑥 so the path difference changes by 2𝑥.
2𝑥 so 𝑥
b. 𝑥 0.125 m.

Problem 16.7
Apply the Doppler shift equation 𝑓 𝑓

The positive direction is from listener to source.

a. apply the Doppler shift equation, 𝑣 0; 𝑣 𝑣 (as it is to the right)
so 𝑓 𝑓 1 𝑓 (here 𝑣 is the speed of sound).
b. now 𝑣 𝑣 ;𝑣 𝑣 so 𝑓 𝑓.
c. 𝑓beat 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓.
.
d. (a) 𝑓 1 392 374.9 Hz;
.
(b) 𝑓 392 371.3 Hz;
.
(c) 𝑓beat 374.9 371.3 3.6 Hz.

   
Problem 16.8 
a. Apply Doppler 2 times: 𝑓 𝑓 now apply to the reflected sound:

𝑓 𝑓 𝑓.
b. The driver detects a frequency 𝑓 and the waves returning from the truck move past him
𝑣 𝑣 so the wavelength he measures is
𝜆 𝑣 𝑣 𝑣 𝑣 .
. .
c. (a) 𝑓 2200 2459 Hz;
. .
.
(b) 𝜆 344 19.0 0.155 m
.

Problem 16.9
a. Flute: stopped pipe 𝑓 𝑛𝑓 , 𝑛 ; for the string 𝑓 𝑛𝑓 , 𝑛𝑓 .
For resonance 𝑛 𝑓 , 𝑛 𝑓 , so 𝑛 𝑛 𝑓 and 𝑛 𝑛 .
.
so 𝑛 𝑛 .
. .
So the string will resonate for 𝑛 3𝑛 ( 3, 6, 9, …).
b. For 𝑛 3𝑛 the string will resonate with 𝑛 4𝑛 ( 4, 8, 12, …).

Problem 16.10
max
a. Same sound intensity level: 𝛽sopr 𝛽bass so 𝐼sopr 𝐼bass then 𝐼 so to get when
max,bass
𝐼sopr 𝐼bass , then 𝑝max,sopr 𝑝max,bass has to be satisfied and 1.
max,sopr
bass sopr sopr #
b. 𝐼 𝜌𝐵𝜔 𝐴 so then 𝐴 so 8.
sopr bass bass #/
/
c. 𝛽 10 𝑑𝐵 log so 𝐼 𝐼 10 ;
/
also 𝐼 𝜌𝐵𝜔 𝐴 2𝜋 𝜌𝐵 𝑓 𝐴 ⇒ 𝐴
#
max,bass bass
d. (a) 1; (b) 8;
max,sopr sopr
.
(c) 𝐴 4.82 10 m 48.2 nm.
. .

Problem 16.11
a. For an open pipe the successive harmonics are 𝑓 𝑛𝑓 with 𝑛 1, 2, 3, ….
The difference between two successive harmonics is Δ𝑓 𝑛 1 𝑓 𝑛𝑓 𝑓
and 𝑛 ;
with the given frequencies Δ𝑓 1764 1372 392 Hz and 𝑛 which is not
 an integer. Conclusion: not an open pipe.
For a stopped pipe 𝑓 𝑛𝑓 with 𝑛 1, 3, 5, ….
The difference between two successive harmonics is Δ𝑓 𝑛 2 𝑓 𝑛𝑓 2𝑓
and 𝑛 ;
with the given frequencies Δ𝑓 1764 1372 392 Hz and 𝑛 7.
Conclusion: stopped pipe.
b. See (a): 𝑛 7; so 7th and 9th harmonics
c. Stopped pipe: 𝑓 ⇒𝐿 0.439 m 43.9 cm.

Problem 16.12
There is a node at the piston, so the distance the piston moves is the node to node distance, .

Use 𝑣 𝜆𝑓 to calculate 𝑣 and 𝑣 to calculate 𝛾 from 𝑣.

a. 𝑑 𝑑 Δ𝑑 ⇒ 𝜆 2Δ𝑑 then 𝑣 𝜆𝑓 2Δ𝑑𝑓 2 𝑑 𝑑 𝑓.

b. 𝑣 ⇒𝛾 4 𝑑 𝑑 𝑓 .
c. (a) 𝑣 2 𝑑 𝑑 𝑓 2 55.5 18.0 10 500 375 m/s.
.
(b) 𝛾 4 55.5 18.0 10 500 1.39
.

Problem 16.13
𝜆

a. If the separation of the speakers is denoted D, the condition for destructive interference
is √𝑥 𝐷 𝑥 𝛽𝜆, where 𝛽 is an odd multiple of one-half. Adding 𝑥 to both sides,
squaring, canceling the 𝑥 term from both sides and solving for 𝑥 gives 𝑥 𝜆
Plug in 𝛽 , , , , to get the values for 𝑥. Take 𝛽 with 𝑛 1, 2, 3, ..:
𝑥 𝜆.

b. Repeating the above for integral values of 𝛽: 𝛽 𝑛⇒ 𝑥 𝜆.

c. Destructive interference: 𝑥 𝜆 0⇒ 𝜆 ⇒𝑓 .
For 𝑛 1 this is 𝑓 .

   
Problem 16.14
The positive direction is from listener to source. The heart wall is moving toward the receiver
so the Doppler effect increases the frequency and the final frequency received, 𝑓 , is greater
than the source frequency, 𝑓
wall
a. Heart wall receives the sound, 𝑓 𝑓 ,𝑓 𝑓 ,𝑣 0, 𝑣 𝑣wall so 𝑓 𝑓
Heart wall emits the sound, 𝑓 𝑓 ,𝑣 𝑣wall , 𝑣 0
wall wall
so 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓
wall wall wall
wall wall
then 𝑓 𝑓 1 𝑓 𝑓 ⇒ 𝑣wall .
wall wall

b. 𝑣wall 0.0320 m/s 3.20 cm/s.

.

Problem 16.15
a. 𝜆 .
b. Apply the Doppler effect equation. The frequency of the directly radiated waves is 𝑓 .
The moving whale first plays the role of a moving listener, receiving waves with
frequency 𝑓 ′. The whale then acts as a moving source, emitting waves with the same
frequency, 𝑓 𝑓 ′ with which they are received. Let the speed of the whale be 𝑣 .
Whale receiving waves, 𝑓 𝑓 , then whale emits waves so 𝑓 𝑓 .
But 𝑓 𝑓 ′ so 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓 and thus

Δ𝑓 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓 1 .

c. (a) 𝜆 0.0494 m 4.94 cm.

.
. .
(b) Δ𝑓 219 Hz
.