SOUND BASICS

1 (a) State how a longitudinal wave differs from a transverse wave.

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...............................................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) A sound wave of frequency 7.5 kHz travels through a steel beam at a speed of 6100 m / s.

(i) Calculate the wavelength of this sound wave in the steel beam.

wavelength =.........................................................[2]

(ii) The sound wave passes from the end of the beam into air.

State

1. the effect on the speed of the sound,

..............................................................................................................................................[1]

2. the effect on the wavelength of the sound.

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[Total: 6]

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2 (a) Fig. 6.1 shows the position of layers of air, at one moment, as a sound wave of constant
frequency passes through the air. Compressions are labelled C. Rarefactions are labelled R.

C R C R C R C R C R C

Fig. 6.1

(i) State how Fig. 6.1 would change if

1. the sound had a higher frequency,

..............................................................................................................................................[1]

2. the sound were louder.

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..............................................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) On Fig. 6.1, draw a line marked with arrows at each end to show the wavelength of the sound. [1]

(b) In an experiment to measure the speed of sound in steel, a steel pipe of length 200 m is struck at one
end with a hammer. A microphone at the other end of the pipe is connected to an accurate timer.
The timer records a delay of 0.544 s between the arrival of the sound transmitted by the steel pipe and
the sound transmitted by the air in the pipe.

The speed of sound in air is 343 m / s. Calculate the speed of sound in steel.

speed of sound in steel =........................................................................[3]

[Total: 7]

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3(a) Two types of seismic waves are produced by earthquakes. They are called P-waves and S-waves.
P-waves are longitudinal and S-waves are transverse.

(i) Explain what is meant by the terms longitudinal and transverse.

longitudinal ........................................................................................................................

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transverse ..........................................................................................................................

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[2]

(ii) State another example of

1. a longitudinal wave, ....................................................................................................

2. a transverse wave. .....................................................................................................

(iii) A seismic wave has a speed of 7.2 km / s and a frequency of 30 Hz.

Calculate its wavelength.

wavelength =.........................................................[2]

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 (b) Fig. 5.1 shows an electric bell ringing in a sealed glass chamber containing air. to

vacuum pump

bell

Fig. 5.1

A student hears the bell ringing. The air is then removed from the chamber. State and

explain any change in the sound heard by the student.

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[Total: 8]

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 (a) Underline the most appropriate value below for the speed of sound in water. [1]
4 1.5 m / s 15 m / s 150 m / s 1 500 m / s 15 000 m / s

(b) Sound travels in water as a series of compressions and rarefactions.

Describe what is meant by a compression and by a rarefaction.

compression .............................................................................................................................

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rarefaction .................................................................................................................................

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[2]

(c) An echo-sounder sends out a pulse of sound to determine the depth of the sea bed. It measures
the time between sending out the pulse and receiving its echo.

Fig. 7.1 shows a boat using an echo-sounder.

echo-sounder

12 m echopulse of sound

sea bed

Fig. 7.1
The sea bed is 12 m below the echo-sounder.

(i) Use your value for the speed of sound in water from (a) to calculate the time between the
sending out of the pulse and receiving its echo.

time =................................................................[3]

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(ii) The boat passes over a region of the sea bed of the same depth, where the reflection of sound
waves is weaker.
State whether there is an increase, a decrease or no change in the amplitude and pitch of the
reflected wave.

amplitude ...........................................................................................................................

pitch ...................................................................................................................................
[2]

[Total: 8]

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 A sound wave, travelling in air, approaches a solid barrier with a gap in the middle. Fig. 6.1 represents the
5 compressions and rarefactions of the sound wave. The compressions are labelled A, B and C.

barrier
A B C

compression

rarefaction

Fig. 6.1

(a) State how a compression differs from a rarefaction.

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...............................................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) The speed of sound in air is 340 m / s. The frequency of the sound is 850 Hz.

For this wave, determine

(i) the wavelength,

wavelength =.....................................................................[2]

(ii) the time that elapses before compression A reaches the barrier.

time =....................................................................[2]

(c) On Fig. 6.1, draw the shape and positions of compressions B and C as compression A reaches
the barrier. [2]

(d) Sound waves can also travel in water.

State how the speed of sound in water compares with the speed of sound in air.

...............................................................................................................................................................[1]

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