Physics · Science General

Acoustics and Sound Waves

2,006 Questions

Acoustics and sound waves deal with mechanical vibrations traveling through media like air and water. Key concepts include wave reflection, beats, echoes, the Mach number, and infrasound. These physics fundamentals are regularly tested in general science sections of multiple competitive exams.

Sound wave propagationEchoes and reflectionWave interferenceMach numberInfrasound frequency

Acoustics and Sound Waves Questions

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

The time gap between the two sounds-direct and echo depends upon:

  1. medium through which the sound travels

  2. the type of obstacle

  3. the speed of sound

  4. All
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The time gap between the two sounds-direct and echo depends upon the medium through which the sound travels. These two sounds can be heard distinctly provided the Distance between the observer and the reflecting surface is large enough to allow the reflected sound to reach him without interfering with the direct sound.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

The direct sound and the echo can be heard differently provided:

  1. Distance between the observer and the reflecting surface is large enough to allow the reflected sound to reach him interfering with the direct sound.

  2. Distance between the obstacle and the source is small enough to allow the reflected sound to reach him interfering with the direct sound.

  3. Distance between the observer and the reflecting surface is large enough to allow the reflected sound to reach him without interfering with the direct sound.

  4. Distance between the obstacle and the reflecting surface is large enough to allow the reflected sound to reach him interfering with the direct sound.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The time gap between the two sounds-direct and echo depends upon the medium through which the sound travels. These two sounds can be heard distinctly provided the Distance between the observer and the reflecting surface is large enough to allow the reflected sound to reach him without interfering with the direct sound.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

For the production of an echo, size and nature of obstacle should be:

  1. quite small, rigid

  2. quite small, soft

  3. quite large, rigid

  4. quite large, soft
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

For the production of an echo, the reflecting surface or the obstacle should be rigid such as building, hill, cliff.
Echo can be produced if the size of the obstacle reflecting the sound is quite large.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

The minimum distance in air between the observer and the obstacle for an echo to be heard clearly at temperatures higher than $25^o$C is:

  1. less than 17.2m

  2. more than 17.2m

  3. equal to 17.2m

  4. cant be predicted
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The minimum distance in air between the observer and the obstacle for an echo to be heard clearly at temperatures higher than $25^o$C is more than 17.2 m.
The speed of sound increases with rise in temperature.

Multiple choice physics study of sound conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

Echo can be heard if 

  1. the minimum distance between the source of sound and the obstacle is $17m$

  2. the obstacle is rigid and hard.

  3. both A and B hold

  4. none of A and B hold
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The options are the conditions for an echo to be produced. The obstacle should be rigid at a minimum distance of $17m$ for an echo to be produced.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

A sponge is kept at a distance of 19m from the source of sound then:

  1. no echo will be heard

  2. an echo can be heard

  3. no sound will be heard

  4. none
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The minimum distance in air between the observer and the obstacle for an echo to be heard clearly is nearly 17.2 m. This condition is followed here but for the production of an echo, the obstacle should be rigid.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

Fill in the following blanks with suitable words
(a) An echo is simply a ______ sound.
(b) Pitch of sound depends on __.
(c) Loudness of sound depends on _.
(d) Quality of sound depends on_.
(e) Echoes are caused by the ______ of sound.

  1. (a) Reflected, (b) Frequency, (c) Amplitude, (d) Waveform, (e) Reflection

  2. (a) reflection, (b) amplitude, (c) frequency, (d) waveform, (e) reflected

  3. (a) waveform, (b) reflected, (c) reflection, (d) frequency, (e) amplitude

  4. (a) frequency, (b) waveform, (c) reflected, (d) amplitude, (e) reflection
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

$1.$ Echo is simply the reflection of sound that arrives at the listener with a delay after the direct sound.

$2.$ Pitch is the quality of sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it. It depends on the frequency of the sound.
$3.$ Loudness is the subjective perception of sound pressure.  It depends on the amplitude.
$4.$ Quality of sound depends on the waveform. By analyzing the shape of the wave we can determine the quality of sound.
$5.$ Echoes are caused by the reflection of sounds that arrives at the listener with a delay after the direct sound.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

In a room two walls are at a distance of 159 m, then

  1. no echo will be heard

  2. an echo can be heard

  3. no sound will be heard

  4. none
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rooms having walls less than 17.2 m away from each other, no echo can be heard. here, 159 m is greater than 17.2 m. So an echo will be heard if other conditions are fulfilled.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

When echo is heard?

  1. If the time interval between original sound and reflected sound is more than 1/10s.

  2. If the time interval between original sound and reflected sound is less 1/10s.

  3. If the time interval between original sound and reflected sound is less than 1/120s.

  4. If the time interval between original sound and reflected sound is 1/120s
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

If the time interval between original sound and reflected sound is more than $\frac{1}{10}\,s$, then the original sound and the reflected sound can be clearly heard. This reflected sound is known as echo.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

For the production of an echo,size and nature of the obstacle should be :

  1. small and rigid respectively

  2. small and soft respectively

  3. large and rigid respectively

  4. large and soft respectively
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

For the production of an echo, the reflecting surface or the obstacle should be rigid such as building, hill, cliff. Echo can be produced if the size of the obstacle reflecting the sound is quite large.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

In a room two walls are at a distance of 159 m. Then :

  1. no echo will be heard

  2. an echo can be heard

  3. no sound will be heard

  4. none of these are true
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In rooms having walls less than 17.2m away from each other, no echo can be heard. Here,walls of the room are at a distance of 159 m, much greater than 17.2m. So an echo will be heard if other conditions are fulfilled.

Multiple choice physics acoustics conditions for hearing echo echo reflection of sound and echo ultrasound and its applications

A sponge is kept at a distance of 19m from a source of sound.

  1. No echo will be heard

  2. An echo can be heard

  3. No sound will be heard

  4. None of the above is true
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The minimum distance in air between the observer and the obstacle for an echo to be heard clearly is nearly 17.2m. This condition is followed here but for the production of an echo, the obstacle should be rigid.