Sound
Multiple Choice questions (MCQs)
1. Note is a sound
(a) of mixture of several frequencies (b) of mixture of two frequencies only
(c) of a single frequency (d) always unpleasant to listen
Ans. (a)
The sound which is produced due to a mixture of several frequencies is called a note and it is pleasant
to listen too. An octave consists of eight different note, ranging from 256Hz to 512Hz.
2. A key of a mechanical piano struck gently and then struck again but much harder this time. In the
second case
(a) sound will be louder but pitch will not be different
(b) sound will be louder and pitch will also be higher
(c) sound will be louder but pitch will be lower
(d) both loudness and pitch will remain unaffected
Ans. (c)
In the second case, sound will be louder but pitch will be lower, because pitch of sound directly depends
on frequency.
3. In SONAR, we use
(a) ultrasonic waves (b) infrasonic waves
(c) radio waves (d) audible sound waves
Ans. (a)
SONAR is a device that user ultrasonic waves to measure the distance, direction and speed of
underwater objects.
4. Sound travels in air, if
(a) particles of medium travel from one place to another
(b) there is no moisture in the atmosphere
(c) disturbance moves
(d) both particles as well as disturbance travel from one place to another
Ans. (c)
Sound travels in air if disturbance moves. As during the propagation of sound waves, particles only
vibrates in its own position and disturbances created by the vibration of particle moves from one place
to other.
5. When we change feeble sound to loud sound we increase its
(a) frequency (b) amplitude (c) velocity (d) wavelength
Ans. (b)
The loudness or softness of a sound is determined basically by its amplitude. So for a loud sound it must
have higher amplitude.
6. In the given curve, half the wavelength is
(a) AB (b) BD (c) DE (d) AE
Ans. (b)
In this curve, half the wavelength is BD. Because it is half the length of one complete cycle.
7. Earthquake produces which kind of sound before the main shock wave begins
(a) ultrasound (b) infrasound (c) audible sound (d) None of these
Ans. (b)
Earthquakes produces low frequency (i.e., 5 Hz) infrasound before the main shock waves begin which
possibly alert the animals and they get disturbed.
8. Infrasound can be heard by
(a) dog (b) bat (c) rhinoceros (d) human beings
Ans. (c)
Infrasound are the waves whose frequency is less than 20 Hz. Rhinoceroses communicate using
infrasound of frequency as low as 5 Hz.
9. Before playing the orchestra in a musical concert, a sitarist tries to adjust the tension and pluck the
string suitably. By doing so, he is adjusting
(a) intensity of sound only
(b) amplitude of sound only
(c) frequency of the sitar string with the frequency of other musical instruments
(d) loudness of sounds
Ans. (c)
Sitarist is adjusting frequency of the sitar string with the frequency of other musical instruments.
Because if it is not done so, the sound will be unpleasant to listen.
10. A wave source produces 20 crests and 20 troughs in 0.2 sec. Find the frequency of the wave.
(a) 200 Hz
(b) 500 Hz
(c) 100 Hz
(d) 300 Hz
Ans: (c)
A crest is the maximum value of the wave quantity. So at the source, the wave quantity attains
20
maximum value for 20 times in 0.2 sec. The number of times it becomes maximum in 1 second is =
0.2
100 . So the frequency is 100 Hz
11. A stone dropped from the top of a tower of height 300 m splashes into a pond of water at its base. When
will the sound of the splash be heard at the top? (Velocity of sound = 340 ms–1 and g
= 9.8 ms–2)
(a) 5.6 s
(b) 8.7 s
(c) 5.4 s
(d) 6.7 s
Ans:(b)
Time after which the splash is heard at the top is equal to the sum of the time t1 taken by the stone to
fall down and the time t2 taken by the sound to travel from bottom to top.
1 2
Using s = ut + at .
2
1 2
We get s = gt 1
2
2s 2 300
t1 = =
g 9.8
s = 7.82 s.
height of tower
Again t2 =
velocity of sound
300
t2 = = 0.885 s.
340 ms−1
Total time = t1 + t2
= (7.82 + 0.88)s = 8.7 s
12. A sound wave has a frequency of 1000 Hz and a wave length of 34 cm. How long will it take to travel 1
km?
(a) 3.20 s
(b) 2.94 s
(c) 5.94 s
(d) 3.10s
Ans:(b)
We have f = 1000 Hz and
34
= 34 cm = m.
100
The wave speed is
34
v = f = (1000s–1) m = 340 m/s.
100
The time taken by the wave to travel 1 km is :
s 1km 1000 m
t= = = = 2.94s
v 340 m / s 340 m / s
13. Two sources of sound are said to be in resonance when :
(a) they are similar
(b) they produce sounds of same frequency
(c) they are situated at a particular distance from each other
(d) they are excited by the same agency
Ans: (b)
14. A pendulum vibrates with a time period of 1 second. The sound produced by it is :
(a) supersonic
(b) audible
(c) infrasonic
(d) ultrasonic
Ans:(c)
15. he length of the pendulum for which the time period is 1 second is :
(take g = π2 ms–2)
(a) 50 cm
(b) 75 cm
(c) 25 cm
(d) 100 cm
Ans:(c)
L
T=2π
g
gT2 g 11 1
L= = = m.
4π2 4 g 4
= 0.25 m = 25 cm
1
16. The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon is th of the value on earth. The time period
6
of a simple pendulum of length 30 cm at the surface of the moon will be:
(a) 2.69
(b) 1.42
(c) 0.84
(d) 7.62
Ans:(a)
L
T=2π
g
Here L = 30 cm = 0.3 m;
g
gm = 6 ms2
L 0.3
Tm = 2 π = 2 × 3.14
g g /6
0.3
= 2 × 3.14
g
1.2
= 2 × 3.14 = 2.69 s
9.8
17. The speed of the bob of an oscillating pendulum is zero :
(a) at the mean position
(b) at an extreme position
(c) between the mean position and the left extreme
(d) between the mean position and the right extreme
Ans: (b)
18. Nodes and antinodes are places of :
(a) maximum and minimum displacements respectively
(b) minimum and maximum displacements respectively
(c) minimum and maximum pressure changes respectively
(d) none of these
Ans : (b)
19. Which of the following is not correct ?
(a) The characteristic of sound that distinguishes a shrill noise from a grave one is called pitch
(b) Pitch is not frequency, but it changes with frequency
(c) Voice of a girl is shriller than that of a boy
(d) The roaring of a lion is shriller than the buzz of an insect
Ans: (d)
20. Match the following and choose the correct answer.
a. Microphone 1. Wind energy into mechanical energy
b. Speaker 2. Mechanical energy into sound energy
c. Reeds of a harmonium 3. Electrical energy into sound energy
d. Sails of a ship electrical energy 4. Sound energy into
(a) a – 4, b – 3, c – 1, d – 2
(b) a – l, b – 2, c – 3, d – 4
(c) a – 4, b – 2, c – 3, d – 1
(d) a – 4, b – 3, c – 2, d – 1
Ans (d)
