SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS 9
VIA: ONLINEFREENOTES.COM
CHAPTER 12-SOUND
IN-TEXT / PAGE 174
1. How does the sound produced by a vibrating object
in a medium reach your ear?
Answer: When a body vibrates the air in its
neighborhood is alternately compressed and rarefied.
The compressed air has higher pressure than
surrounding air. It therefore pushes the air particles
near it causing compression to move forward. A
rarefaction or low pressure is created at the original
place. These compressions and rarefaction causes
particles in the air to vibrate about their mean position.
The energy is carried forward in these vibrations. This is
how sound travels.
IN-TEXT / PAGE 175
1. Explain how sound is produced by your school bell?
Answer: When the gong strikes the bell, vibrations are
produced in the bell which is transmitted through the
air to our ears. These vibrations produce sensation of
sound in our ears.
2. Why are sound waves called mechanical waves?
Answer: Sound waves are called mechanical waves
because they need a material medium to travel.
3: Suppose you and your friend are on the moon. Will
you be able to hear any sound produced by your
friend?
Answer: On the moon, sound cannot travel as there is
no atmosphere. Sound cannot travel in vacuum so we
will not be able to hear any sound.
IN-TEXT / PAGE NO: 178
1: Which waves property determines
(a) loudness (b) pitch?
Answer: a) Loudness is determined by the amplitude of
the sound. Greater the amplitude more will be the
loudness.
b) Pitch is determined by frequency. Higher is the
frequency, greater will be the pitch.
66 | Download notes in PDF from instamojo.com/onlinefreenotes
2: Guess which sound has a higher pitch: guitar or car
horn?
Answer: Guitar
IN-TEXT / PAGE 178
1. What are wavelength, frequency, time period and
amplitude of a sound wave?
Answer: Wavelength: The distances between two
consecutive compressions or rarefaction of a wave. Its
S.I unit is meter.
Frequency: One compression and one rarefaction
constitute one vibration. The number of vibration in a
second is called frequency. Its unit is Hertz.
Amplitude: When waves are produced, the particles
vibrate about their mean position. The maximum
displacement from its mean position of a particle is
called its amplitude. It is measured in meters.
Time period: The time taken by the wave to complete
one oscillation i.e., the time between two consecutive
compressions or rarefactions is called time period.
2. How are the wavelength and frequency of a sound
wave related to its speed?
Answer: Speed = Wavelength x frequency
V =λ×ν
3: Calculate the wavelength of a sound wave whose
frequency is 220 Hz and speed is 440 m/s in a given
medium.
Answer: We know,
Velocity = Wavelength × Frequency
v = λ×n
Where, λ denotes Wavelength and n denotes frequency
Given,
v = 440 m/sec
n = 220 Hz
λ=?
v=λ×n
440 = λ × 220
λ = 440 / 220
λ=2
 SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS 9
VIA: ONLINEFREENOTES.COM

Therefore, wavelength (λ) = 2 m 1. What is the audible range of the average human
ear?
4. A person is listening to a tone of 500 Hz sitting at a
distance of 450 m from the source of the sound. What Answer:: Audible range 20 Hz − 20,000 Hz
is the time interval between successive compressions
from the source? 2. What is the range of frequencies associated with (a)
Infra sound? (b) Ultrasound?
Answer:
Answer: (a) Infra-sound
sound less than 20 Hz
ν = 500 Hz.
(b) Ultra-sound
sound greater than 20, 000 Hz.
Therefore T = 1/500 s
= 0.002 s IN-TEXT
TEXT / PAGE 184

1. Distinguish between loudness and intensity of 1. A submarine emits a sonar pulse, which returns
sound? from an underwater cliff in 1.02 s. If the speed of
sound in salt water is 1531 m/s, how far away is the
Answer: Loudness and intensity both depend upon the cliff?
amplitude of sound. But loudness is the physiological
response of our ears to a particular
icular frequency. Our ears Answer: t = 1.02 s
are more sensitive to some frequencies as compared to v = 1531 m/s
others. Intensity is the amount of sound energy passing d (Distance) = v × t
per second per unit area. It is proportional to square of = 1531×1.022 m
amplitude. = 780.81 m

IN-TEXT / PAGE NO: 179 /BOOK QUESTIONS

EXERCISES/BOOK

1. In which of the three media, air, water or iron, does 1. What is sound and how is it produced?
sound travel the fastest at a particular temperature? Answer: Sound is a form of energy and it is produced
due to vibrations of different types of object. For
Answer: Sound travels faster in iron and slowest in air.
example: A vibrating tuning fork, a bell, wires in a sitar
IN-TEXT / PAGE NO: 180 and a guitar etc.
2: Describe with the help of a diagram, how
1. An echo returned in 3 s. What is the distance of the
compressions and rarefactions are produced in air
reflecting surface from the source,, given that the
near a source of sound.
speed of sound is 342 ms−1?
Answer: If we blow a horn, speak, or produce sound by
Answer: Time for echo = 3 s an object in air we are pushing the air molecules. These
v = 342 m/s molecules, in turn, push the adjacent molecules which
Therefore distance: d = v × t impart their energy to the next ones. After losing
= 342×3 m energy in the interaction, the molecule is back to its
= 513 m. original (mean) position. This results in formation of
compressions and rarefac
rarefactions.
IN-TEXT / PAGE NO: 181

1. Why are the ceilings of concert halls curved?

Answer: The ceilings of concert halls are curved so that

after reflections from the surface, sound can reach each
and every part of the hall.

IN-TEXT / PAGE NO: 182

67 | Download notes in PDF from instamojo.com/onlinefreenotes

nstamojo.com/onlinefreenotes
 SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS 9
VIA: ONLINEFREENOTES.COM

3: Cite an experiment to show that sound needs a Answer:

material medium for its propagation.
Answer: Take an electric bell and an airtight glass bell
jar. The electric bell is suspended inside the airtight bell
jar. The bell jar is connected to a vacuum pump, as
shown in following figure. Now, if we press the switch,
we will be able to hear the bell.
Now start the vacuum pump. When the air in the jar is
pumped out gradually, the sound becomes fainter, 8. Two children are at opposite ends of an aluminium
although the same current is passing through the bell. rod. One strikes the end of the rod with a stone. Find
the ratio of times taken by the sound wave in air and
After some time when less air is left inside the bell jar
in aluminium to reach the second child.
you will hear a very feeble sound. At the end, when all
the air is removed completely, we will not be able to Answer: Speed of sound in air = 346m/s
hear the sound of bell. This show sound requires Speed of sound in aluminium rod = 6420m/s
material medium.
Let the length of the rod be Y
4. Why sound wave is called a longitudinal wave?
We know,
Answer: A sound wave is called a longitudinal wave time = distance/speed
because it travels in the form of compressions and time taken in air = Y/346
rarefactions in the medium, where the particles of the time taken in aluminium rod = Y/6420
medium vibrate in a direction which is parallel to the
direction of propagation of the sound wave. ratio =(Y/346)/(Y/6420)
= (Y/346) x (6420/Y) [reciprocal]
5. Which characteristic of the sound helps you to
Y would get cancelled
identify your friend by his voice while sitting with
= 6420/346
others in a dark room?
= 18.55
Answer: The timbre of sound is that characteristic
9. The frequency of a source of sound is 100 Hz. How
which enables us to distinguish one sound from the
many times does it vibrate in a minute?
other even when these are of the same pitch and
loudness. Each person has its own timbre of sound and Answer: Since the frequency of the source of sound is
this characteristic helps us to identify a person from 100 Hz
others even without looking at him (i.e., in a dark Number of vibrations of the source in 1 second = 100
room). Number of vibrations of the source in 1 minute (i.e., 60
second) =100x60
6. Flash and thunder are produced simultaneously. But
= 6000
thunder is heard a few seconds after the flash is seen,
why? 10. Does sound follow the same laws of reflection as
light does? Explain.
Answer: The flash of light is seen earlier than the
thunder of sound even though both are produced Answer: Yes, sound follow the same laws of reflection
simultaneously because the speed of light (c) is greater as light does. The laws of reflection of sound are as
than speed of sound (v) by 10° as follows:
i. The incident sound wave, the reflected sound wave,
and the normal at the point of incident all lie in the
plane.
7. A person has a hearing range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
ii. The angle of incidence of sound wave and angle of
What are the typical wavelengths of sound waves in
reflection of sound wave to the normal are equal.
air corresponding to these two frequencies? Take the
speed of sound in air as 344 ms-1.

68 | Download notes in PDF from instamojo.com/onlinefreenotes

 SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS 9
VIA: ONLINEFREENOTES.COM

11. When a sound is reflected from a distant object, an Here, Speed = 339 m s-1
echo is produced. Let the distance between the Wavelength = 1.5 cm = 0.015 m
reflecting surface and the source of sound production
remains the same. Do you hear echo sound on a hotter Therefore,
day? Frequency = 339/0.013 = 22600 Hz

Answer: In any medium as we increase the temperature
the speed of sound increases. For example, the speed of
sound in air is 331 m s-1 at 0 °C and 344 m s-1 at 22 °C.
So, on a hotter day, we cannot here the echo between
the same distances.
12: Give two practical applications of reflection of
sound waves.
Answer: The practical applications of sound are as
follows:
It is not audible (as the audible frequency is 20 Hz to
20000 Hz).
15. Explain how a transverse wave can be generated in
a slinky.
Answer: A slinky produce transverse, longitudinal and
standing waves. The first coil transfers its energy to the
second coil and so on. In this manner, energy is
transported from one end of the slinky to the other,
from its source to another location.

i. Megaphones or loudhailers are based on multiple 16. Give two points of distinction between transverse
reflections of sound. ii. Stethoscope is a medical and longitudinal waves.
instrument used for listening to sounds produced within Answer:
the body is also based on multiple reflection of sound.
Transverse waves Longitudinal waves
13. A stone is dropped from the top of a tower 500 m
high into a pond of water at the base of the tower. The particles of medium Particles of medium
When is the splash heard at the top? Given, g = 10 m s oscillate perpendicular to oscillate along the direction
2 and speed of sound = 340 ms-1 the direction of of the propagation of the
propagation of wave. waves.
Answer: Given,
Height, s = 500m They propagate through They propagate through
g=10 crests and troughs. compression and
Speed of sound = 340 ms-1 rarefactions.
u=0
Now, 17. What is a speaking tube? What is its use?
s = ut+1/2at2
Answer: A speaking tube is a device based on two cones
500 = 0xt + ½ x 10 x t2
connected by an air pipe through which speech can be
500= 0 + 5 x t2
transmitted over an extended distance.
500/5 = t2
100 = t It is used in two-way radio.
t=10 sec
18. Name a few applications of ultrasound in medicine.
Now, the time for the resound=500/340
=1.47 sec Answer: A few applications of ultrasound in medicine
are:
Therefore, total time = 10+1.47
=11.47 sec i. Ultrasound is generally used to clean parts located in
hard-to-reach places, for example, spiral tube, odd
14. A sound wave travels at a speed of 339 m s. If its shaped parts, electronic components etc.
wavelength is 1.5 cm, what is the frequency of the
wave? Will it be audible? ii. Ultrasounds can be used to detect cracks and flaws in
metal blocks.
Answer: We know that, Frequency =
Speed/Wavelength

69 | Download notes in PDF from instamojo.com/onlinefreenotes

 SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS 9
VIA: ONLINEFREENOTES.COM

19. What is an echo? Explain the following uses of

multiple reflection of sound (i) Sound boards (ii) Ear
trumpet (iii) Speaking tube.
Answer: If we shout or clap near a suitable reflecting
object such as a tall building or a mountain, we will hear
the same sound again a little later. This sound which we
hear is called an echo.
(i) Sound boards: Sound boards in large halls or
auditorium, large concave wooden boards are placed
behind the speaker. The speaker stands at the focus of
this concave reflecting surface. After reflection the
sound is spread evenly towards the audience. This
makes the sound readily available even at a distance.
(ii) Ear trumpet: Ear trumpet or hearing aid is used by
the persons who are hard of hearing. The sound waves
received by the wide end of the trumpet are reflected
into a much narrower area, leading it to the ear. This
increases amplitude of the vibrating air inside the ear
and helps in improving hearing.
(iii) Speaking tube: Speaking tube is a hollow tube– one
end is the speaker's end, whereas the other one is the
listener's end. In these devices, the sound waves suffer
reflection repeatedly and the energy of the waves
remains confined to the tube. The sound waves are
prevented from spreading out.
20. A vibrating body produces a wave of wavelength
2.5 m in a medium where the wave travels with a
velocity of 1250 m s-1. Find the period of vibration of
the wave?
Answer:
21. Longitudinal waves travel at the speed of 10 m s-1
in a coiled spring. If the distance between two
successive rarefactions is 1.0 cm, find the frequency of
the wave.
Answer: The distance between two successive
rarefraction is nothing but the wavelength of the wave.
Hence,
λ = 1 cm
= 0.01 m
Given speed of the wave = 10 m/s
We know,
The frequency of the wave is the ratio of speed to
wavelength. Hence,
Frequency = speed/wavelength
= v/λ
= 10/0.01
= 1000 Hz
Hence the frequency of the wave will be 1000 Hz.
22. An observer measures the time interval between
the sighting of lightning and hearing the thunder. He
finds it to be 5.0 s. If the speed of sound in air is 340 m
s-1, how far is the cloud from the observer?
Answer: The distance between two successive
rarefraction is nothing but the wavelength of the wave.
λ = 1 cm = 0.01 m
Given speed of the wave = 10 m/s
We know that frequency of the wave is the ratio of
speed to wavelength
Hence

For the time period of the wave we know that, Frequency = Speed/Wavelength
= v/λ
= 10/0.01
= 1000 Hz
Hence the frequency of the wave will be 1000 Hz.

70 | Download notes in PDF from instamojo.com/onlinefreenotes

 SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS 9
VIA: ONLINEFREENOTES.COM
23. What is reverberation? How can it be reduced?
Answer: A sound created in a big hall will persist by
repeated reflection from the walls until it is reduced to
a value where it is no longer audible. The repeated
reflection that results in this persistence of sound is
called reverberation. To reduce reverberation, the roof
and walls of the auditorium are generally covered with
sound-absorbent materials like compressed fiberboard,
rough plaster or draperies. The seat materials are also
selected on the basis of their sound absorbing
properties.
24. What is loudness of sound? What factors does it
depend on?
Answer: The loudness (or softness) of a sound is
determined by its amplitude. If amplitude is higher, it is
a louder sound. It depends upon the force with which
an object is made to vibrate.
25. Explain how bats use ultrasound to catch a prey.
Answer: Bats can produce and hear sound of frequency
up to 100 kHz. The sound produced by flying bat gets
reflected from its prey in front of it. By hearing this
reflected sound, it can detect the prey even during
nights.
26. How is ultrasound used for cleaning?
Answer: To clean any objects, it is placed in a cleaning
solution and ultrasonic waves are sent into the solution.
Due to the high frequency, the particles of dust, grease
and dirt get detached and drop out. The objects thus
get thoroughly cleaned.
27. Explain the working and application of a sonar.
Answer: Sonar consists of a transmitter and a detector
and is installed in a boat or a ship. The transmitter
produces and transmits ultrasonic waves. These waves
travel through water and after striking the object on the
seabed, get reflected back and are sensed by the
detector. The detector converts the ultrasonic waves
into electrical signals which are appropriately
interpreted. The distance of the object that reflected
the sound wave can be calculated by knowing the speed
of sound in water and the time interval between
transmission and reception of the ultrasound. If the
time interval between transmission and reception of
ultrasound signal be t and the speed of sound through
seawater be v. The total distance, 2d travelled by the
ultrasound is then, 2d = v x t.
71 | Download notes in PDF from instamojo.com/onlinefreenotes
The sonar technique is used to determine the depth of
the sea and to locate underwater hills, valleys,
submarine, icebergs, sunken ship etc.
28: A sonar device on a submarine sends out a signal
and receives an echo 5 s later. Calculate the speed of
sound in water if the distance of the object from the
submarine is 3625 m.
Answer: Total distance travelled by sound = 2 x 3625
= 7250 m
Time taken = 5 seconds
Therefore, speed = distance / time
= 7250 / 5 m/s
= 1450 m/s
So, the speed of sound in water is 1450 m/s.
29. Explain how defects in a metal block can be
detected using ultrasound.
Answer: Ultrasounds can be used to detect the defect
in metal blocks. The cracks or holes inside the metal
blocks, which are invisible from outside reduces the
strength of the structure. Ultrasonic waves are allowed
to pass through the metal block and detectors are used
to detect the transmitted waves. If there is even a small
defect, the ultrasound gets reflected back indicating the
presence of the flaw or defect.
30. Explain how the human ear works.
Answer: The outer ear is called “pinna’’. It collects the
sound from the surroundings. The collected sound
passes through the auditory canal. At the end of the
auditory canal there is a thin membrane called the ear
drum or tympanic membrane. When a compression of
the medium reaches the eardrum the pressure on the
outside of the membrane increases and forces the
eardrum inward.
Similarly, the eardrum moves outward when a
rarefaction reaches it. In this way the eardrum vibrates.
The vibrations are amplified several times by three
bones (the hammer, anvil and stirrup) in the middle ear.
The middle ear transmits the amplified pressure
variations received from the sound wave to the inner
ear. In the inner ear, the pressure variations are turned
into electrical signals by the cochlea. These electrical
signals are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, and
the brain interprets them as sound.
 SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS 9
VIA: ONLINEFREENOTES.COM

TICK (✓) THE CORRECT OPTION

1. Which of the following does not require a medium

to propagate?
Answer: i. radio waves
2. The distance between adjacent crests is called:
Answer: iv. wavelength
3. The audible range for a normal human being is:
Answer: ii. 20 Hz to 20 KHz
4. Loudness is a sensation depending upon:
Answer: iii. Frequency
5. An astronaut cannot hear his companion on the
surface of the moon because:
Answer: ii. there is no medium for sound propagation
*****

72 | Download notes in PDF from instamojo.com/onlinefreenotes