MITADT’s

MIT School of Computing

Engineering Physics

Unit 1: Acoustics & Ultrasonics

Acoustics
Questions

1. Is the wavelength of a sound wave of a given frequency same in all medium? Why? (2)

2. What are difference between a musical sound and noise? (2)

3. How the sound produced by two different musical instruments differ from each other even if they
are playing same musical note? (2)

5. Define the intensity of sound and give the expression for sound intensity level (2)

6. If the difference of sound intensity level between two sound is 1dB, what is the relation between
their intensities? (2)

7. Define echo and give the conditions for echo. (2)

8. What is reverberation? (2)

9. Define reverberation time and give the Sabine’s equation of reverbertation time. (2)

10. Define absorption coefficient of a material. Using Sabine’s formula, explain the method of
determining the sound absorption coefficient of a material. (4)

11. What are acoustic requirements of a good auditorium. (2)

12. Explain various factors affecting architectural acoustics of a lecture hall or an auditorium and
give their remedies. (6)

13. What is echelon effect? How can we decrease it? (2)

14. What are the different types of noise? How can we reduce them ? (3)

Problems

1. A hall has a volume of 1200 m 3. Its total absorption is equivalent to 480 m 2 of open window.
Calculate reverberation time of the hall. What will be the effect on the reverberation time if
audience fill the hall and thereby increase the absorption by another 480 m 2 of open window?
(2)
0.161𝑉
(Hint: 𝑇 = ,
𝐴
Ans. T1 = 0.4 sec, T2 = 0.2 sec)
2. A classroom has dimensions 20 x 15 x 5 m 3. The reverberation is 3.5 sec. Calculate the total
absorption of its surface and the average absorption constant. (3)
0.161𝑉 𝑛
(Hint: 𝑇 = , A =∑𝑖=1 𝛼𝑖 𝑆𝑖 ,
𝐴
Ans. A = 69m 2, αav= 0.073)

3. The reverberation time is found to be 1.5 sec for an empty hall and it is found to be 1 sec when a
curtain cloth of 20 m 2 is suspended at the centre of the hall. If the dimensions of the hall are 10 x 8
x 6 m3, calculate the coefficient of absorption of curtain cloth. (3)
0.161𝑉 𝑛
(Hint: 𝑇 = , A =∑𝑖=1 𝛼𝑖 𝑆𝑖 ,
𝐴
Ans. Aempty = 51.52, αcurtain = 0.644 )

4. For an empty assembly hall of size 20 x 15 x 10 m 3 the reverberation time is 3.5 sec. Calculate
the average absorption coefficient of the empty hall. What area of the hall should be covered by the
curtain to reduce the reverberation time to 2.5 sec. Given the absorption coefficient of the curtain
cloth is 0.55. (3)

0.161𝑉
(Hint: 𝑇 = , A =∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝛼𝑖 𝑆𝑖, 𝐴 =∝ 𝑎𝑣𝑔 𝑆
𝐴
Ans. A = 138m 2 , αav = 0.106, Swall = 124.3m 2)

5. A hall has volume of 2265 m 3 and its total absorption is equivalent to 92.9
m2. How many persons should be seated in the hall so that the reverberation time becomes 2
seconds? Given that the absorption area of one person is equivalent to 0.186 m 2 of the open
window. Calculate the reverberation time of the hall also. (3)
0.161𝑉 𝑛
(Hint: 𝑇 = , A =∑𝑖=1 𝛼𝑖 𝑆𝑖, 𝐴𝑎𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝐴𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 ∗ 𝑁𝑜. 𝑜𝑓𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑠)
𝐴
Ans = 481 persons
 Ultrasonics

Questions

1. What is magnetostriction effect? (2)

2. Explain the magnetostriction effect and working of magnetostriction ultrasonic generator with
circuit diagram. (6)

3. What is Piezo-electric effect? (2)

4. Describe inverse Piezo-electric effect. (2)

5. Describe the use of ultrasonic waves for SONAR and flaw detection. (6)

6. Explain principle and working of piezo electric ultrasonic generator. (6)

7. Why ultrasonic waves are used in the detection of objects submerged in sea? (2)

8. Explain the working of a SONAR. (2)

9. Explain the advantages and limitations of ultrasonic testing. (3)

10. Numericals as mentioned in the notes