Chapter

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WAVES AND SOUND
11
NON TEXTUAL
1.What is a wave?
Ans : A wave is a moving disturbance.
OR
A wave is a periodic disturbance that moves through the medium when the particles of the medium
induce the neighbouring particles into motion.

2. What is sound? How is it produced?

Ans: Sound is a form of energy that gives us the sensation of hearing.
It is produced by vibration of objects or particles.

3. How many types of waves are there? Define them with examples.
Ans : There are two types of waves. They are
i) Mechanical wave ii) Electromagnetic wave
i) Mechanical wave: A wave that needs a material medium for its propagation is known as a
mechanical wave.
Example: Sound waves, ripples formed on the surface of water.

ii) Electromagnetic wave: A wave that can travel even in vacuum is known as an
electromagnetic wave.
Example: Light waves, radio waves.

4. What are the main characteristics of a sound wave?

Ans : The main characteristics of a sound wave are:
i)Frequency
ii)wavelength
iii)speed of propagation.

5.Define frequency of a wave. Write its symbol and its S.I. unit.
Ans :The number of vibrations or oscillations per unit time in a wave is known as its frequency.
Its symbol is ν (nu) and its S.I.unit is hertz( Hz).

6) Define wavelength of a wave. Write its symbol and its S.I. unit.
Ans : The distance between two nearest crests or troughs in a transverse wave or the distance between
two nearest compressions or rarefactions in a longitudinal wave is known as wavelength of a wave.
Its symbol is λ (lemda). And its S.I. unit is m(metre).

7. Define time period.Write its symbol and its S.I.unit.

Ans : The time taken to complete one oscillation or vibration is known as time period.
Its symbol is ‘T’ and S.I.unit is s(second).

Standard- 9 Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Uripok, Imphal, Manipur 795004 1

 PHYSICS WAVES AND SOUND

8.How many types of mechanical waves are there?. Name and define them with examples.
Ans : There are two types of mechanical waves. They are i) transverse wave and
ii) longitudinal wave.
i)Tranverse wave: A mechanical wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in a direction
perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave is known as a transverse wave.
Example: Ripples formed on the surface of water, light waves(even though it is an electromagnetic
wave)
ii)Longitudinal wave: : A mechanical wave where the particles of the medium vibrate in the line of
direction of propagation of the wave is known as a longitudinal wave.
Example: Sound waves.

9. Define amplitude of a wave. Write its symbol and its S.I. unit.
Ans: The magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium on either side of the mean value of
density or pressure of the medium is called the amplitude of the wave.
Its symbol is ‘A’ and its S.I.unit is m(metre).

10. What is tone?

Ans : Sound of single frequency is known as tone.

11. What is note?

Ans : Sound which is a mixture of several frequencies is known as note.

12. What is mean position of an object?

Ans : The undisturbed position of an object is known as mean position of the object.

13. What is quality or timbre?

Ans: The characteristic of sound which enables us to distinguish one sound from another having the
same pitch and loudness is called quality or timbre.

14. What is the relationship between speed of propagation, frequency and wavelength of a wave?
Ans : The relationship between speed of propagation, frequency and wavelength of a wave is speed of
propagation=frequency X wavelength.
i.e., v = ν x λ

15. What determines the loudness or softness of sound?

Ans :The amplitude of sound determines its loudness or softness.

16. On what factor does the amplitude of sound wave depend?

Ans :The amplitude of sound wave depends upon the force with which a sounding object is made to
vibrate.

2 Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Uripok, Imphal, Manipur 795004 Standard 9

 PHYSICS WAVES AND SOUND

17. On what factors does the loudness of sound depend?

Ans : The loudness of sound depends on
i) Amplitude of vibration: More the amplitude of vibration , more is the loudness.
ii) Area of vibration: More the area of vibration , more is the loudness of sound.
iii) Distance between the sounding body and receiving body: lesser the distance between the
sounding body and the receiving body, more is the loudness.
iv) Direction of wind: if wind blows towards the direction of the receiving body from the sounding
body, loudness of sound is more.

18. What is the difference between noise and musical sound?

Ans: Sound which is unpleasant to the ear is called noise whereas sound which is pleasant to hear and
is of rich quality is called musical sound.

19.Define intensity of sound.

Ans : The amount of sound energy crossing through a unit area per second is called the intensity of
sound.

20. Define loudness of sound.

Ans : Loudness is the amount of sensation produced in the ear and depends upon the listener.

21. How is the speed of sound in different medium?

Ans: Sound travels with different speeds in different medium. Sound travels fastest in solid, lesser in
liquid and the least in air or gas.

22.What is reflection of sound?

Ans : The phenomenon of bouncing off of sound from a surface is known as reflection of sound.

23. What is echo?

Ans : The reflected sound that we hear is known as echo.

24. How long does the sensation of sound persist in our brain?
Ans : The sensation of sound persists in our brain for about 0.1 s.

25. What is reverberation/reververation?

Ans : The repeated reflection that results in the persistence of sound is called
reverberation of sound.

26. What are the ways to reduce reverberation?

Ans : The reverberation can be reduced by covering the roofs and walls of the auditorium with sound-
absorbent materials like compressed fibreboard, rough plaster or draperies. The seat materials in
auditoriums are also selected on the basis of their sound absorbing properties.

Standard- 9 Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Uripok, Imphal, Manipur 795004 3

 PHYSICS WAVES AND SOUND

27.What is the audible range of frequency?

Ans : 20 hertz to 20,000hertz is the audible range of frequency.

28. What is infrasonic or infrasound?

Ans : Sound of frequency lesser than 20hertz is known as infrasonic or infrasound.

29.What is ultrasonic or ultrasound?

Ans : Sound of frequency higher than 20,000hertz(20KHz) is known as ultrasonic or ultrasound.

30.Write the uses of ultrasound.

Ans: Ultrasounds are used
i) in industries (cleaning, detection of flaws or cracks),
ii) for medical purposes (echocardiography, ultrasound scanner, breaking of small stones
formed in kidneys; sterilization) and
iii) in navigation purposes.

31. What is SONAR? What is its full form?

Ans : SONAR is device used to measure the depth of seabed, direction and speed of under water
objects.
It stands for Sound Navigation And Ranging.

32. What does SONAR consist of ? Where is it installed?

Ans : Sonar consists of a transmitter and a detector for ultrasonic waves.
Both are installed in a boat or a ship.

33. What is hearing Aid?

Ans : A hearing aid is an electronic device operated with the help of battery and used by persons with
hearing loss.

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

5. When you call your friend by name, do you produce a wave pulse of sound or a periodic wave?
Ans : When you call your friend by name, a periodic wave is produced as there is a continuous
disturbance of air.

7. Flash and thunder are produced simultaneously. But thunder is heard a few seconds after the flash is
seen, why?
Ans : It is because light travels faster than sound.

8. Does sound follow the same laws of reflection as light does? Expain.
Ans: Yes.
It is because, the angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.

4 Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Uripok, Imphal, Manipur 795004 Standard 9

 PHYSICS WAVES AND SOUND

The incident sound, the normal at the point of incidence and the reflected sound always lie in the same
plane.

13. A sound waves travels in a medium at a speed of 340m/s. If its wavelength is 1 . 7cm, What is the
frequency? Will it be an audible sound?
Ans : Given, speed of sound in air, V= 340m/s
Wavelength,λ = 1 . 7cm =0.017m
By V =νλ we get
V
ν=
λ
340m/s
⇒ν=
0.017m
Or ν = 20,000Hz
It is an audible sound.

15. A source of sound produces 20 crests and 20 troughs in 0.2s. Find the frequency of the wave.
Ans : Given, no. of crests=20, no. of troughs = 20
So, no. of vibrations=20
Time,t=0.2s
no.of vibrations
By, frequency,ν= we get
Time
20
ν= =100Hz
0.2
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Standard- 9 Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Uripok, Imphal, Manipur 795004 5