Important Question on the topic Sound
1. How is sound produced?
Answer: Sound is produced by vibrations that travel through a medium, such
as air.
2. What are the two main components required for sound production?
Answer: Vibrating object and a medium for the sound to travel through.
3. Can you give examples of natural sound production?
Answer: Examples include animals vocalizing and natural phenomena like
thunder.
4. How do musical instruments contribute to sound production?
Answer: Musical instruments produce sound through vibrations caused by
plucking, striking, or blowing.
5. What role does the human voice play in sound production?
Answer: The human voice produces sound through vibrations of the vocal
cords, modified by the resonating cavities in the throat and mouth.
[Link] is sound produced in plucked instruments?
Answer: Sound is produced in plucked instruments when the strings are
plucked, causing them to vibrate and transmit vibrations to the instrument's
body, amplifying and shaping the sound.
7. Assertion: Rubbing is a common method of sound production in frictional
instruments.
Reason: Frictional instruments produce sound when surfaces are rubbed
together, generating vibrations.
Answer: Both Assertion and Reason are true. And R is the correct explaination
of A.
8. What is the function of the outer ear or pinna?
Answer: The outer ear, also known as the pinna, serves multiple functions in
the auditory system. Firstly, it acts as a collector, funneling sound waves into
the ear canal towards the eardrum. Secondly, it aids in sound localization by
helping to determine the direction from which a sound originates.
Additionally, the unique shape and contours of the pinna help in filtering and
amplifying certain frequencies, enhancing our ability to perceive and
differentiate sounds. Overall, the outer ear plays a crucial role in capturing
and processing sound before it reaches the middle and inner ear for further
processing and interpretation.
9. How do humans hear sounds?
Answer: Humans hear sounds through a remarkable system comprising the
outer, middle, and inner ear. Firstly, sound waves are captured by the pinna,
the visible part of the outer ear, and directed down the ear canal to the
eardrum. This vibrating membrane then transmits the sound energy to the
three tiny bones in the middle ear—hammer, anvil, and stirrup—known as the
ossicles. These bones amplify and transmit the vibrations to the cochlea in the
inner ear. Within the cochlea, hair cells convert the mechanical vibrations into
electrical signals, which are then sent to the brain via the auditory nerve. The
brain interprets these signals, allowing us to perceive different types of
sounds, including speech, music, and environmental noises. This intricate
process enables humans to engage with and understand the auditory world
around them.
10. Ganesh did an experiment. At first he kept an alarm bell inside a bell jar as
shown in the figure below He observed that when he switched on the alarm, he
could hear its sound. He repeated the step after removing all the air inside the
bell jar, but now he could not hear the sound of the alarm.
(a) What can he conclude from this activity?
Answer: Ganesh can conclude that sound requires a medium, such as air, to
travel. When the air was present inside the bell jar, it served as the medium
for sound propagation, allowing him to hear the alarm. However, when he
removed all the air from the bell jar, there was no medium for the sound
waves to travel through, resulting in the absence of sound despite the alarm
being switched on.
[Link] Oscillatory motion.
Answer: The back and forth movement of a body in air, which produces sound
is called oscillatory motion.
[Link] do you mean by Time period? What is the SI unit of Time period?
Answer: The time required to complete one vibration or oscillation by a
vibrating object is called its time period. The SI unit of time period is second
(s).
13. How does a megaphone stop the spreading of sound in different directions?
Answer: A megaphone stops the spreading of sound in different directions by
focusing sound waves forward through its conical shape, directing and
amplifying the sound in a specific direction for increased volume and reach.
14. Define Frequency. State te SI unit of Frequency.
Answer: The total number of vibrations produced by a vibrating body in one
second is called frequency. The English alphabet ‘f’ is used to denote
frequency. The SI unit of measurement of frequency is hertz (Hz).
15. What role does amplitude play in determining the intensity of a sound wave,
and what is its SI unit?
Answer: Amplitude directly influences the intensity of a sound wave, with
higher amplitudes corresponding to greater intensity and louder sounds. The
SI unit of amplitude is the meter (m) or sometimes expressed in decibels (dB).
16. What are the three main characteristics of sound, and how do they affect
our perception of sound?
Answer: The three main characteristics of sound are pitch, loudness, and
timbre. Pitch is determined by the frequency of sound waves, with higher
frequencies producing higher pitches. Loudness corresponds to the amplitude
of sound waves, influencing the volume perceived by the listener. Timbre
refers to the quality or tone color of a sound, influenced by its harmonic
content. Together, these characteristics shape our perception of sound,
allowing us to differentiate between various sounds based on their pitch,
volume, and tonal qualities.
17. Distinguishes between Audible and Inaudible Sounds.
Answer:
Audible Sound Inaudible Sound
i. Audible sounds are within the i. Inaudible sounds fall outside
frequency range of 20 Hz to 20000Hz. the human hearing range.
ii. These sounds can be detected by ii. They cannot be detected by
the human ear and perceived as the human ear.
sound.
iii. Examples are animals such as iii. Examples are animals such as
whales, elephants & dogs, monkeys and bats.
hippopotamuses.
iv. They play a significant role in iv. Although humans can't hear
communication, navigation, and them, inaudible sounds can still
daily life activities. have significant effects in
various contexts, such as
medical imaging and pest
control.
18. Distinguishes between wind instruments and string instruments
Answer:
Wind Instrument String Instrument
i. Wind instruments produce sound by i. String instruments produce sound
vibrating air within the instrument. through vibrating strings.
ii. They include instruments like flute, ii. They include instruments like violin,
clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and cello, guitar, and piano (when strings
trombone. are struck).
iii. Sound is produced by blowing air Iii. Sound is produced by plucking,
into the instrument or through a reed. bowing, or striking the strings.
iv. Pitch is changed by altering the iv. Pitch is changed by altering
length of the air column or by pressing the tension or length of the
keys/valves. strings.
19. Which part of the timpani vibrates to produce a musical note ?
Answer: The part of the timpani that vibrates to produce a musical note is the
drumhead or membrane. When struck with a mallet, the drumhead vibrates,
creating sound waves that resonate within the body of the timpani, producing
the desired musical note. Adjusting the tension of the drumhead can change
the pitch of the note produced.
20. A musical note is produced when a musician blows air into a trumpet .
explain .
Answer: When a musician blows air into a trumpet, the air vibrates the
player's lips, creating oscillations in the air column inside the trumpet. These
vibrations produce sound waves with specific frequencies corresponding to
musical notes. By changing lip tension, air pressure, and valve combinations,
the musician can produce different pitches and play melodies on the trumpet.
21. How does the phenomenon of reflection contribute to the transmission of
sound over long distances?
Answer: Reflection allows sound waves to bounce off surfaces, extending the
reach of sound over long distances. For example, in mountainous terrain or
urban environments, sound waves can reflect off buildings, mountains, or
other obstacles, enabling communication or the transmission of signals over
vast areas.
22. What role does the surface texture play in the reflection of sound?
Answer: The surface texture affects the degree of sound absorption or
reflection. Smooth surfaces, like concrete walls, reflect sound waves more
efficiently, whereas rough surfaces, like foliage or curtains, absorb sound,
reducing reflection.
23. How does the shape of a room influence the reflection of sound?
Answer: The shape of a room affects sound reflection. Irregularly shaped
rooms with angles or curves can scatter sound waves, reducing the formation
of echoes, while symmetrical rooms may amplify certain frequencies due to
constructive interference.
24. How can understanding the principles of sound reflection enhance
architectural design?
Answer: Knowledge of sound reflection allows architects to design spaces with
optimal acoustics. By strategically placing sound-absorbing materials, shaping
room dimensions, and incorporating sound-reflective surfaces, architects can
create environments suitable for various activities, such as concert halls,
lecture rooms, or recording studios.
25. The given diagram shows two sound waves X and Y
(a) Which unit is used to measure the loudness of sound waves X and Y?
Answer: Wave X = Louder sound
Wave Y = Soft sound
(b) On which factor does the loudness of sound depend –Time , distance and
amplitude ?
Answer: The loudness of sound primarily depends on the amplitude of the
sound wave. Amplitude refers to the magnitude of the displacement of the
particles in the medium as the sound wave passes through it. Greater
amplitude corresponds to louder sound. While time and distance can affect
how sound is perceived, they are not direct determinants of loudness.
(c) Which wave represents a louder voice ? Why?
Answer: A wave with greater amplitude represents a louder voice. Amplitude
corresponds to the intensity or volume of the sound wave, so a wave with
higher amplitude produces a louder sound. Therefore, a voice represented by
a wave with larger amplitude indicates a louder voice.
(d) Which characteristics of sounds help to distinguish between two different
sounds with same loudness ? give one example.
Answer: The characteristic that helps distinguish between two different
sounds with the same loudness is pitch. Pitch refers to the frequency of a
sound wave, which determines how high or low a sound is perceived. For
example, a piano note and a trumpet note may have the same loudness but
different pitches, allowing us to distinguish between the two sounds.
