Question

Basics of Sound
1. Choose the correct answer out of following.
(a) Speed of sound waves is constant in vacuum
(b) Speed of sound waves is dense medium is greater than rare
medium
(c) Speed of sound waves is rare medium is greater than dense medium
(d) Speed of sound in any medium is independent of temperature
2. What is the frequency range of sound auditable to humans?
(a) 20 kHz to 20 MHz
(b) 20 Hz to 20 MHz
(c) 20 Hz to 20 kHz
(d) 20 kHz to 20 GHz

3. What is true regarding the speed of sound in vacuum?

(a) Speed of sound in vacuum is a constant quantity
(b) Speed of sound in vacuum is variable
(c) Speed of sound is equal to speed of light in vacuum
(d) Sound cannot travel in vacuum

4. When sound travels through air, the air particles ______.

(a) vibrate along the direction of wave propagation
(b) vibrate but not in any fixed direction
(c) vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation
(d) do not vibrate

5. Sound waves do not travel through

(a) Solids
(b) Liquids
(c) Gases
(d) Vacuum

6. Sound waves are

(a) Transverse
(b) Longitudinal
(c) Partly longitudinal and partly transverse
(d) Sometimes longitudinal and sometimes transverse
7. The frequency which is not audible to the human ear is
(a) 50 Hz
(b) 500 Hz
(c) 5000 Hz
(d) 50000 Hz

8. The speed of sound in medium depends upon

(a) Properties of the medium
(b) Amplitude
(c) Frequency
(d) Wavelength

9. Which of the following will remain unchanged when a sound wave travels in
air or in water?
(a) Amplitude (b) Wavelength
(c) Frequency (d) Speed
10. Sound and light waves both
(a) have similar wavelength in vacuum
(b) obey the laws of reflection
(c) travel as longitudinal waves
(d) travel through vacuum
11. Which of the following quantities is transferred during wave propagation?
(a) Speed
(b) Mass
(c) Matter
(d) Energy
12. The relation between wave velocity 'v', frequency 'f ', and wavelength 'l' is ___
(a) v = f / λ
(b) v = λ / f
(c) v = f λ
(d) v = 1/λf

13. A sound source sends waves of 400 Hz. It produces waves of wavelength 2.5
m. The velocity of sound waves is
(a) 100 m/s
(b) 1000 m/s
 (c) 10000 m/s
(d) 3000 km/s

14. Sound waves shows which of following properties d

(a) Reflection
(b) Refraction
(c) Diffraction
(d) All of above

15. Sound waves do not show which of the following properties? c

(a) Interference
(b) Diffraction
(c) Polarization
(d) Refraction

16. The number of vibrations of the particles of a medium through which sound b
wave travels in one second is known as
(a) Wave velocity
(b) Frequency
(c) Time period
(d) One wave

17. The time required by a particle in a medium through which sound wave is a
traveling to complete one vibration is
(a) Time period
(b) Frequency
(c) Amplitude
(d) Wavelength
18. The distance traveled by a sound wave in one time period is _________ a
(a) Wavelength
(b) Amplitude
(c) Velocity
(d) Intensity
19. The maximum displacement of a particle of the medium through which sound
is traveling is b
(a) Wavelength
(b) Amplitude
(c) Velocity
(d) Displacement
20. Wavelength of sound is d
(a) Distance traveled by the sound wave during one vibration of a particle
(b) Distance between two adjacent compressions
(c) Distance between two adjacent rarefaction
(d) All the above

21. A sound wave of wavelength 10 cm traveling with a speed of 340 m/s has c
frequency of
(a) 34 Hz
(b) 340 Hz
(c) 3400 Hz
(d) 1/34 Hz

22. A sound wave of wavelength 10 cm traveling with a speed of 340 m/s has time
period b
(a) 1/34 s
(b) 1/3400 s
(c) 3400 s
(d) 34 s

23. The distance traveled by sound wave of frequency 3.4 kHz traveling with a b
speed of 340 m/s in one time period is ________ m
(a) 100
(b) 10
(c) 1
(d) 0.1

24. The amplitude of sound wave of frequency 3.4 kHz traveling with a speed of
340 m/s is ______ d
(a) 100
(b) 1/100
(c) 1
(d) None of above

25. When a sound wave of wavelength 10 cm travels with a speed of 340 m/s the c
particles of the medium vibrate at the rate of _______ vibrations per second
(a) 34
(b) 340
(c) 3400
(d) 1/34
26. When a sound wave of wavelength 10 cm travels with a speed of 340 m/s the b
particles of the medium take _____ seconds to complete one vibration
(a) 1/34
(b) 1/3400
(c) 3400
(d) 34
27. A sound wave of wavelength 10 cm traveling with a speed of 340 m/s covers a
distance in one second c
(a) 1
(b) 34
(c) 340
(d) 3400
28. What happens when a sound incidents over a surface? d
(a) All the sound energy is
reflected
(b) All the sound energy is absorbed
(c) All the sound energy is transmitted
(d) Partial absorption, partial reflection and partly transmission of
sound energy

29. Which of the following quantities is transferred during wave propagation? a

(a) Energy
(b) Speed
(c) Mass
(d) Matter

30. A sound vibrator is making 100 vibrations in one second. The frequency of
sound c
produced is
(a) 3400 Hz
(b) 340 Hz
(c) 100 Hz
(d) 1000 Hz

31. Sound waves of frequency less than 20 Hz is known as c

(a) Ultrasonic
(b) Audible
(c) Infrasonic
(d) Supersonic
32. Sound waves of frequency more than 20 kHz are known as a
(a) Ultrasonic
(b) Audible
(c) Infrasonic
(d) Supersonic

33. Speed exceeding the speed of sound is known as d

(a) Ultrasonic
(b) Audible
(c) Infrasonic
(d) Supersonic

34. How the speed of sound wave depends on temperature of the medium? c
(a) It decreases with increase in the temperature of the medium
(b) Speed of sound does not depend on temperature
(c) It increases with increase in the temperature of the medium
(d) Speed of sound increases and decreases alternately
35. Loudness of sound depends upon c
(a) Intensity of sound
(b) Sensitivity of ear
(c) Both intensity of sound and sensitivity of ear
(d) None of above
36. The amount of sound energy flowing per unit area per unit time is known as a
(a) Intensity
(b) Loudness
(c) Pitch
(d) Timbre

37. The unit of intensity of sound is d

(a) Bel
(b) Decibel
(c) W/m
(d) W/m2

38. The smallest intensity of sound that human ear can detect is known as b
(a) Critical intensity
(b) Threshold intensity
(c) Minimum intensity
(d) Zero intensity
39. According to Weber-Fechner law, the loudness of sound is c
(a) Proportional to intensity level
(b) Inversely proportional to intensity level
(c) Proportional to logarithm of intensity level
(d) Inversely proportional to logarithm of intensity level

40. Bel and/or Decibel is a unit of which quantity for sound? a

(a) Loudness
(b) Intensity
(c) Frequency
(d) Quality

41. Higher frequency sound is said to have higher b

(a) Loudness
(b) Pitch
(c) Timbre
(d) Intensity

42. Musical instruments have higher c

(a) Loudness
(b) Pitch
(c) Timbre
(d) Intensity

43. Timbre enables us to distinguish two sounds of c

(a) Different intensities
(b) Different frequencies
(c) Same frequencies
(d) Different wavelengths
44. Presence of overtone in sound decides its a
(a) Quality
(b) Pitch
(c) Loudness
(d) Intensity
45. Quality of sound is because of b
(a) Frequency
(b) Overtones
(c) Wavelength
(d) Intensity
46. The fundamental frequency of sound decides its d
(a) Timbre
(b) Loudness
(c) Intensity level
(d) Pitch

47. Intensity level of sound decides its a

(a) Loudness
(b) Pitch
(c) Timbre
(d) None of these

48. Assuming the speed of sound in air as 340 m/s, a person receives an echo
from a well after 0.2 seconds. What would be depth of the well? b
(a) 20 m
(b) 34 m
(c) 40 m
(d) 50 m

49. Assuming the speed of sound in air as 340 m/s, a person receives an echo
from a hill after 1 second. What would be the distance of the hill from the
person? a
(a) 1700 m
(b) 170 m
(c) 340 m
(d) 3400 m

50. When size of the obstacle in the path of sound is small compared to its b
Wavelength which of the following effects will be observed?
(a) Interference of sound
(b) Diffraction of sound
(c) Reflection of sound
(d) Polarization of sound

51. When size of the obstacle in the path of sound is large compared to its c
Wavelength which of the following effects will be observed?
(a) Interference of sound
(b) Diffraction of sound
(c) Reflection of sound
(d) Polarization of sound
 52. Sound gets focused in a hall due to surfaces a
(a) Concave
(b) Convex
(c) Flat
(d) Absorbing
53. The minimum distance between the source and the reflector, so that an echo
Is heard is approximately equal to b
(a) 10 m
(b) 17 m
(c) 34 m
(d) 13 m
54. The intensity of sound waves is directly proportional to a
(a) Square of amplitude
(b) Square root of amplitude
(c) Inverse of amplitude
(d) Inverse square root of amplitude

55. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a musical sound? d

(a) Pitch
(b) Wavelength
(c) Quality
(d) loudness

56. The persistence of audible sound due to the successive reflections from the c
Surrounding objects even after the source has stopped to produce that sound
is called _________.
(a) Reflection
(b) Echo
(c) Reverberation
(d) Rarefaction

57. Reverberation of sound is because of reflection of sound from d

(a) Only top surface of the hall
(b) Only side walls of the hall
(c) Only from the floor of the hall
(d) Multiple reflection of sound from all parts of the hall

a
58. Reverberation time is defined as
(a) Time taken by sound to fall to inaudible level
(b) Time taken by sound to get reflected from side walls
(c) Average time of reflection from all the reflecting surfaces
(d) Time taken by sound to reach from source to the end of the hall

59. Reverberation time is defined as time taken by the sound to fall to ________
after d
the source in a hall stops producing sound
(a) Zero level
(b) Half of the initial level
(c) One tenth of the initiallevel
(d) Minimum audibility level
60. O.W.U. is the unit of b
(a) Absorption (b)Absorption coefficient
(c) Reverberation time (d) Loudness
61. O.W.U. is the unit of b
(a) Absorption
(b) Absorption
coefficient
(c) Reverberation time
(d) Loudness
62. Absorption coefficient of an open window is _____ a
(a) 1
(b) 0
(c) 0.1
(d) 0.5

63. According to Sabine’s formula, the reverberation time is given by b

(a) Opening the windows
(b) Using curtains
(c) Using carpets
(d) Closing the windows and emptying the hall

64. Reverberation time of a hall can be decreased by d

(a) Opening the windows
(b) Using curtains
(c) Using carpets
 (d) All of the above

65. Loose fitting metal window frames in a hall causes c

(a) Reverberation
(b) Echelon effect
(c) Resonance
(d) Focusing

66. Succession of echoes from a set of regularly spaced obstacles in a hall cause b
(a) Reverberation
(b) Echelon effect
(c) Resonance
(d) Focusing

67. Concave surfaces in a hall should be covered with sound absorbing materials
to avoid d
(a) Reverberation
(b) Echelon effect
(c) Resonance
(d) Focusing
68. Heavy curtains with folds are used to reduce d
(a) Reverberation ( c) Resonance
(b) Echelon effect (d) Focusing
a
69. Floor in the hall is covered with carpets to reduce
(a) Reverberation
(b) Echelon effect
(c) Resonance
(d) Focusing

70. Staircase in a hall are covered with carpets to reduce b

(a) Reverberation
(b) Echelon effect
(c) Resonance
(d) Focusing

71. If a hall is filled with its maximum capacity with audience, its reverberation
time is a
(a) Minimum
 (b) Maximum
(c) Constant
(d) None of above

72. Distant walls in a hall are covered with sound absorbing materials to avoid c
(a) Reverberation
(b) Echelon effect
(c) Echo
(d) Resonance

73. Double doors and windows having separate frames and enclosing sound b
absorbing materials are used to reduce _____
(a) Reverberation
(b) External noise
(c) Loudness
(d) Echelon effect

74. For a good quality sound in a hall, reverberation time should be a

(a) Optimum
(b) Minimum
(c) Maximum
(d) Zero

75. The walls of the windows should be designed so as to d

(a) Focus the sound at the centre of the hall
(b) Amplify the sound
(c) Reflect the sound towards all directions
(d) Absorb the sound

The wavelength of sound wave of frequency 6.8 kHz traveling with a speed
76. of c
340 m/s is
(a) 20 m
(b) 2 m
(c) 0.05 m
(d) 0.5 m
 Ultrasonic (Piezoelectric, Magnetostriction)
82. Sound waves of frequency less than 20 Hz are known as c
(a) Ultrasonic
(b) Audible
(c) Infrasonic
(d) Supersonic
83. Sound waves of frequency greater than 20 kHz are known as a
(a) Ultrasonic
(b) Supersonic
(c) Infrasonic
(d) Audible
84. When pressure is applied to two opposite faces of a crystal like quartz, equal b
and opposite charges develop on a pair of perpendicular faces. This effect is
called as
(a) Magnetostriction effect
(b) Piezoelectric effect
(c) Inverse piezoelectric effect
(d) Electromagnetic induction

85. When potential difference is applied to two opposite faces of a crystal like c

quartz, there is either compression of expansion of the crystal across a

Perpendicular axis. This effect is known as
(a) Magnetostriction effect
(b) Piezoelectric effect
(c) Inverse piezoelectric effect
(d) Electromagnetic induction

86. The change of length of a ferromagnetic substance when placed in a

magnetic a
field is known as
(a) Magnetostriction effect
(b) Piezoelectric effect
(c) Inverse piezoelectric effect
(d) Electromagnetic induction
87. In piezoelectric effect a
(a) A potential difference is developed across certain crystals on
applying pressure
 (b) There is deformation of crystal on applying potential difference
(c) There is change in length of ferromagnetic substance in magnetic field
(d) There is induced e.m.f. due to change in magnetic flux

88. In inverse piezoelectric effect b

(a) A potential difference is developed across certain crystals on
applying pressure
(b) There is deformation of crystal on applying potential difference
(c) There is change in length of ferromagnetic substance in magnetic field
(d) There is induced e.m.f. due to change in magnetic flux
89. In Magnetostriction effect c
(a) A potential difference is developed across certain crystals on applying
pressure
(b) There is deformation of crystal on applying potential difference
(c) There is change in length of ferromagnetic substance
in magnetic field
(d)There is induced e.m.f. due to change in magnetic flux

90. Which of the following methods is used to generate ultrasonic waves of c

frequency less than 100 kHz
(a) Piezoelectric effect
(b) Inverse piezoelectric effect
(c) Magnetostriction effect
(d) None of above

91. In piezoelectric effect, the natural frequency of vibration of crystal is b

(a) Directly proportional to thickness
(b) Inversely proportional to thickness
(c) Directly proportional to square root of thickness
(d) Inversely proportional to square root of thickness

92. In piezoelectric effect, the natural frequency of vibration of crystal is a

(a) Directly proportional to Young Modulus
(b) Inversely proportional to Young Modulus
(c) Directly Proportional to square of Young Modulus
(d) Inversely Proportional to square of Young Modulus

93. In piezoelectric effect, the natural frequency of vibration of crystal is d

(a) Directly proportional to density
 (b) Inversely proportional to density
(c) Directly proportional to square root of density
(d) Inversely proportional to square root of density

94. The frequency of oscillation of tank circuit in a piezoelectric oscillator is

(a) (b)
(c) (d)

95. Which of the following is a piezoelectric material? c

(a) Iron
(b) Nickel
(c) Quartz (or tourmaline)
(d) None of above
For maximum amplitude of vibrations in piezoelectric generator, the
96. frequency of tank circuit should be the fundamental frequency of the crystal c
(a) Less than
(b) More than
(c) Equal to
(d) Half of

97. If the frequency of the tank circuit is equal to the fundamental frequency of a
crystal in piezoelectric generator, the amplitude of vibration is ______
(a) Maximum
(b) Minimum
(c) Independent of frequency
(d) Zero

98. If the thickness of the piezoelectric crystal is doubled, its natural frequency
will be b
(a) Doubled
(b) Halved
(c) Remains same
(d) Tripled

99. Which of the following is used in Magnetostriction oscillator? c

(a) Quartz
(b) Tourmaline
(c) Nickel
(d) Aluminum
100. In Magnetostriction effect, the natural frequency of vibration is d
(a) Inversely proportional to length
(b) Directly proportional to square root of Young’s modulus
(c) Inversely proportional to square root of density
(d) All of above

101. In Magnetostriction effect, the natural frequency of vibration is b

(a) Directly proportional to length
(b) Inversely proportional to length
(c) Directly proportional to square root of length
(d) Inversely proportional to square root of length

102. The property of ultrasonic waves to produce heating effect in the medium is b
used for their detection in ______ method
(a) Sensitive flame
(b) Thermal detector
(c) Kundt’ s tube
(d) Piezoelectric

103. The property of ultrasonic waves to produce stationery waves in the medium
is used for their detection in ______ method c
(a) Sensitive flame
(b) Thermal detector
(c) Kundt’ s tube
(d) Piezoelectric

104. Which of the following is not observed for ultrasonic waves? c

(a) Interference (b) Diffraction
(c) Polarization (d) Reflection

105. Ultrasonic waves can travel longer distances compared to audible sound
waves due to
(a) Increased diffraction effect b
(b) Decreased diffraction effect
(c) Increased reflection
(d) Decreased reflection

106. Ultrasonic waves produce d

(a) Heating effect in the medium
(b) Cavitation
 (c) Stationery waves
(d) All of above

107. Ultrasonic waves do not produce a

(a) Net displacement in the medium
(b) Cavitation
(c) Heating effect in the medium
(d) Stationery waves

108. The phenomenon of cavitation is used in c

(a) Welding
(b) Drilling
(c) Cleaning (and also in emulsification)
(d) Soldering

109. The high energy density of ultrasonic waves is made use in d

(a) Emulsification
(b) Flaw detection
(c) Cleaning
(d) Welding

110. The principle of _________ is used in SONAR a

(a) Echo sounding
(b) Cavitation
(c) Diffraction
(d) Refraction

111. Principle of echo sounding is used in d

(a) Flaw detection
(b) SONAR
(c) Depth sounding
(d) All of above

112. Principle of echo sounding is not used in c

(a) Flaw detection
(b) SONAR
(c) Welding
(d) Depth sounding

113. Sonography is based on the principle of b

 (a) Cavitation
(b) Echo sounding
(c) Diffraction
(d) None of above

114. Rate of chemical reaction can be increased by using the ________ property
of ultrasonic a
(a) Cavitation (b) Echo sounding
(c ) Diffraction (d) None of the Above

115. An ultrasonic pulse travels in a steel specimen with a speed of 6000 m/s. If
the thickness of the specimen is 30 mm, the echo will be received after ___

(a) 5 µs b
(b) 10 µs
(c) 1 µs
(d) 1 ms

116. The speed of ultrasonic waves of frequency 75 kHz in water is 1500 m/s. The b
wavelength of these waves is
(a) 2 mm
(b) 2 cm
(c) 2 m
(d) 20 m

117. A pulse of ultrasonic waves is send down towards the sea bed. The echo is a
recorded after 1 s. if the velocity of ultrasonic waves in sea water is 1500 m/s,
the depth of the sea is
(a) 750 m
(b) 1500 m
(c) 1000 m
(d) 500 m

118. The echo of a pulse of ultrasonic waves from a SONAR returns after 0.5 s. If
the velocity of ultrasonic waves is 1600 m/s, the distance of the obstacle is d
(a) 1600 m
(b) 1200 m
(c) 800 m
(d) 400 m