QUALITY MATERIAL

CLASS 9 SUB. PHYSICS

CHAPTER SOUND
MCQS:
1. The graph shows how the speed of a sound changes
as it travels through medium I, then medium II and then
medium III. The mediums are respectively
(a) gas, liquid and solid
(b) liquid, gas and solid
(c) solid, gas and liquid
(d) solid, liquid and gas

2. The type of waves generated on the surface of water

when a stone is dropped in it is/are
(a) longitudinal wave (b)transverse wave
(c) electromagnetic wave (d)both (a) and (b)

3. When a vibrating object moves forwards, it creates a region of high pressure called as
(a) refraction (b)reflection (c) rarefaction (d)compression
4. To hear a distinct echo, each time interval between the original sound and the reflected
sound must be:
(a) 0.2 s (b)1s (c) 2s (d) 0.1 s
5. Speed of sound depends upon
(a) temperature of the medium (b) temperature and pressure of medium
(c) temperature of source producing sound (d) pressure of the medium
6. A wave in a slinky travels to and fro in 10 seconds. The length of the slinky is 5 m.The
velocity of the wave is
(a) 1m/s (b) 2.5m/s (c) 2m/s (d) 0.5m/s
7. The correct representation of the audible range for human beings is
(a) 2 kHz – 20 kHz (b) 0.02 kHz – 20 kHz (c) 0.2 kHz – 20 kHz (d) 0.02 kHz – 2 kHz

8. We can distinguish between a man’s voice and a woman’s voice of the same loudness
even without seeing them. This is due to a characteristic of sound which measures the
shrillness of sounds. The correct unit of the quantity on which this characteristic of sound
depends is
(a) hertz (b) meter/second (c) meter (d) unit less

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9. The echo-receiver of a sonar attached to a ship, receives
the echo from the bottom of sea 4 s after the ultrasonic
waves were sent into the sea. If the speed of sound in water
is 1500 m/s, then the depth of the sea is
(a)6000 m (b)3000 m (c)15000 m (d) 3500 m
10. 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
i. amplitude of the sound.
ii. frequency of the sitar string with the frequency of other musical instruments.
iii. intensity of sound.
iv. loudness of sound.
Choose the correct option:
(a) (i) and (iii) (b) only (ii) (c) (ii) and (iv) (d) only (iv)
11. The bats can fly in the darkness of night without colliding with the other objects by
emitting special sounds while flying. Which of the following sounds is used by the bats to
navigate?
(a) ultrasound (b) infrasound (c) audible sound (d) both (a) and (b)

12. The sound travels from particle to particle in the form of vibrations and has different
speeds in different mediums. The maximum speed of vibrations which produce audible
sound is in
(a) sea water (b) ground glass (c) human blood (d) dry air
13. If the speed of a wave is 380 m/s and its frequency is 1900 Hz, then the wavelength of
the wave is
(a) 20 m (b) 0.2 m (c) 200 m (d) 2 m
14. The principle on which the stethoscope works is
(a) multiple refractions (b) multiple reflections (c) wave motion (d) energy
15.A man sings in a circular room. At which position will he hear
himself the loudest?
(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D
16. A bat releases a sound wave forward. It detects an echo 0.8 s later. If the speed of
sound in air is 300 m s-1. How far is the bat away from the obstacle in front?
(a) 120 m (b) 240 m (c) 300 m (d) 375 m
17. When ultrasonic, infrasonic and audible waves travel through a medium with speeds
Vu, Vi and Va respectively, then
(a)Vu, Vi and Va are equal (b) Vu > Va > Vi
(c)Vu < Va < Vi (d) Va < Vu and Vu ≈ Vi
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18. Which of the following changes when sound is reflected?
(a) Wavelength (b) Frequency (c) Speed (d) Amplitude
19.In the region of compression or rarefaction, in a longitudinal wave the physical quantity
which does not change is
a) Pressure (b) Mass (c) Density (d) Volume
20. Which is not the condition for hearing sound?
(a) There must be a vibrating body capable of transferring energy.
(b) There must be a material medium to pick up and propagate energy.
(c) The medium must have a large density.
(d) There must be receiver to receive the energy and interpret it.
21. A stretched slinky is given a sharp push along its length. A wave travels from one end
to another. The wave so produced is
(a) Transverse wave (b) Longitudinal wave (c) Stationary wave (d) Seismic waves
ASSERTION AND REASON QUESTIONS:
Directions: In the following questions, a statement of assertion (A) is followed by a
statement of reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
(a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct
explanation of assertion (A).
(b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the correct
explanation of assertion (A).
(c) Assertion (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false but reason (R) is true.

1. Assertion(A): Sound would travel faster on a hot summer day than on a cold winter
day.
Reason(R) : Velocity of sound increases with increase in temperature.
2. Assertion(A): Compression and rarefaction involve changes in density and pressure.
Reason(R) : When particles are compressed, density of the medium increases and when
they are rarefied, density of medium decreases.
3. Assertion(A): The velocity of sound increases with increase in humidity.
Reason(R) : Velocity of sound does not depend upon the medium.
4. Assertion(A): The waves in which the individual particles of the medium move about
their mean positions in a direction perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, is
known as transverse wave.
Reason(R) : Sound is a longitudinal wave.
5. Assertion(A): The matter or substance through which sound is transmitted is called a
medium.
Reason(R) : Sound does not need any medium to travel from the point of generation
to the listener.

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6. Assertion(A) : Echo is the repetition of sound due to reflection of original sound by an
obstacle.
Reason(R) : Echo does not depend upon the nature of the obstacle from which the sound
reflects.
7. Assertion (A): Pitch of a note depends upon its wavelength.
Reason(R) : The distance between two consecutive compressions or two consecutive
rarefactions of a wave is called as wavelength of the wave.
8. Assertion (A): Amplitude is the maximum displacement from its mean position to
extreme position of a particle of the medium in which a wave propagates.
Reason(R) : The loudness or softness of a sound is determined basically by its amplitude.
9. Assertion (A): A wave is a disturbance that moves through a medium when the
particles of the medium set neighboring particles into motion.
Reason(R) : A particle of the medium in contact with the vibrating object is first
displaced from its equilibrium position and produces a wave.
10. Assertion(A): To hear a distinct echo, the time interval between the original sound and
the reflected one must be greater than or equal to 0.1 s.
Reason(R): The sensation of sound persists in our brain for about 0.1 s.
11. Assertion(A): Ultrasounds can be used to detect cracks and flaws in metal blocks.
Reason(R) : Ultrasound waves reflect when there is a change in mass density.
12. Assertion(A): : Megaphones, horns, trumpets and shehanais are all designed to send
sound in a particular direction without spreading it in all directions
Reason(R) : In these instruments, a tube followed by a conical opening reflects sound
successively to guide most of the sound waves from the source in the forward direction
towards the audience.
13. Assertion: Waves produced by a motor boat sailing in water are both longitudinal and
transverse in nature.
Reason: The longitudinal and transverse waves cannot be produced simultaneously.
14. Assertion: The flash of lightening is seen before the sound of thunder is heard.
Reason: Speed of sound is greater than speed of light.
15. Assertion: Transverse waves can be produced on the surface of liquids.
Reason: Light waves are transverse waves.
16. Assertion: Pitch of a note depends upon its wavelength.
Reason More the pitch of a sound, shriller is the sound produced.

2 MARKS QUESTIONS
1. Suppose you and your friend are on the moon. Will you be able to hear any sound
produced by your friend? Justify your answer.
2. Which sound has a higher pitch: guitar or car horn? Give reason.
3. Write conditions for the production of an echo.

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4. The frequency of a source of sound is 50 Hz. How many times does it vibrate in a
minute?
5. (a) Distinguish between tone and note.
(b) Which wave property determines: (i) Loudness (ii) Pitch
6.A stone is dropped from the top of a tower 500 m high into a pond of water at the base of
the tower. When is the splash heard at the top?
Given, g = 10 m s−2 and speed of sound = 340 m s−1.
7.A sound wave travels at a speed of 339 m s-1. If its wavelength is 1.5 cm, find the
frequency of the wave. Will it be audible?

8. What is reverberation ? Write two ways of reducing reverberation.

9. When a sound is reflected from a distinct object, an echo is produced. Let the distance
between the reflecting surface and the source of sound production remains the same. Do
you hear echo sound on a hotter day?
10. Why do echoes produced in an empty auditorium usually decrease when it is full of
audience?

11.Calculate (a) the wavelength (b) the time period of a tuning fork of frequency 512 Hz
which is set to vibrate. Velocity of sound in air is 320 m/s.

12. A longitudinal wave of wavelength 1 cm travels in air with a speed of 330 ms–1.
Calculate the frequency of the wave. Can this wave be heard by a normal human being?
13. State any two characteristics of a wave motion.

3 MARKS QUESTIONS
1. A person standing between the two vertical cliffs and 640m away from the nearest cliff,
produces sound. He hears the first echo after 4s and the second echo 3s later. Calculate
(a) the velocity of sound in air. (b) the distance between the cliffs.
2. The wavelength of sound disturbance having wave velocity 340 m/s is 30 cm in air.
What will be the wavelengths of this disturbance in Helium and water if the speed of
sound in helium is 970 m/s and 1450 m/s in water?
3. In a ripple tank, 12 full ripples are produced in one second. If the distance between a
crest and next trough is 10 cm, find
(a) Wavelength (b) frequency (c) velocity of the wave.
4. The given graph shows the displacement versus time relation for a disturbance
travelling with a velocity of 2000 m/s. Calculate the wavelength of the disturbance.

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5. Represent graphically by two separate diagrams in each case
a) Two sound waves having the same amplitude but different frequencies.
b) Two sound waves having the same frequency but different amplitudes.
c) Two sound waves having different amplitudes and also different wavelengths.
6. (a) A sound wave of wavelength 0.332 m has a time period of 10-3 s. If the time period
is decreased to 10-4 s, calculate the wavelength and frequency of new wave.
b) Give reasons, the reverberation time of a hall used for speeches should be very
short.
7. (a) Draw the sound waves for a low pitched and the high pitched sound.

(b) Write one use of ultrasonography.

8. Two children are at opposite ends of an aluminium rod. One strikes the end of the rod
with a stone. Find the ratio of times taken by the sound wave in the air and in aluminium
to reach the second child. [val = 6420 ms-1, vair = 346 ms-1]

9. With the help of a simple diagram, explain how defects in a metal block can be detected
using ultrasound.

5 MARKS QUESTIONS
1. The diagram represents the waveform of a sound wave.

(a) Determine the amplitude of the wave.

(b) Determine the wavelength of the wave.
(c)Determine the distance between consecutive crest and trough in meter.
(d) The frequency of the wave is 200 Hz .
i. Calculate the time period of the wave.
ii. Using your answer in (b), calculate the velocity of the wave in m/s.
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 2.(a) Flash and thunder are produced simultaneously. But thunder is heard a few seconds
after the flash is seen, why?
b) State two characteristics of a musical sound. On what factors do they depend ?
c) Write two differences between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
3. (i) A man fires a gun and hears its echo after 5 seconds. The man then moves 310 m
towards the hill and fires his gun again. This time he hears the echo after 3 seconds.
Calculate the speed of sound.
(ii) Explain, why echoes can not be heard in a small room.

CASE BASED QUESTIONS

1. The speed of the waves is measured in m/s. Frequency is the number of waves passing any
point per second. If the frequency is 5 Hz, then its time period is 1/5 s (0.2 s). The distance
between two consecutive compressions or two consecutive rarefactions is called the
wavelength of the wave. Amplitude is the maximum distance that a point moves from its
rest position when a wave passes. The speed, frequency and wavelength of any set of
waves are linked by the equation: Speed = Frequency × Wavelength.

The waves in A and B, given below, are travelling across water. (1+1+2)

a) What is the wavelength and amplitude of the waves in A?

b) If two waves in A pass the flag every second then find its frequency.
c) Use the wave equation to calculate the speed of the waves in A. What is the
wavelength of the waves in diagram B given above?
OR
(d) Sound produced by a thunderstorm is heard 10 s after the lightning is seen. Calculate
the approximate distance of the thunder cloud. (Given speed of sound = 340ms -1).

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2. See the given activity and answer the following
questions. (1+1+2)
(a) Name the phenomenon you observed in the given
activity.
(b) Find the minimum distance to observe this
phenomenon. (Given speed of sound is 342m/s)
(c) A sound is returned in 3 s. Find the distance of the
reflecting surface from the source, given that the speed
of sound is 342m/s.
OR
(d) A radar signal is received 0.2×10−4 s after it was sent and reflected by an aeroplane.
How far is the aeroplane if speed of the wave is 3×108 m/s?
3. The figure shows a loudspeaker cone oscillating to
produce sound waves. (1+1+2)
(a) As the sound wave passes a point, it produces regions of
higher and lower pressure. State the names of these regions.
(b) Explain the term crest of a wave.
(c) State the effect on the loudness and pitch of the sound
from the loudspeaker when
(i) The amplitude increases but the frequency of the sound stays the same.

(ii) The amplitude stays the same but the frequency increases.
OR
(d) Plot the following:
(i) A longitudinal wave in air on a density-distance graph.
(ii) A transverse wave on a displacement-distance graph

ANSWERS
MCQS:
1. (d). Solid, liquid and gas 2. (b)Transverse wave 3. (d)Compression
4. (d). 0.1 s 5.(a) Temperature of the medium 6.(a) 1m/s
7.(b) 0.02 kHz – 20 kHz 8.(a) hertz 9.(b) 3000 m
10.(b) only (ii) 11.(a) Ultrasound 12.(b) Ground glass
13.(b) 0.2 m 14.(b) Multiple reflections 15. (d) D
16.(a) 120 m 17. (a)Vu, Vi and Va are equal 18.(d) Amplitude
19.(b) Mass 20.(c) The medium must have a large density.
21.(b) Longitudinal wave
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ASSERSION AND REASON QUESTIONS
1. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
2. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
3. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
4. (b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion.
5. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
6. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
7. (d) Assertion is false but reason is true.
8. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
9. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
10. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of
assertion.
11.(a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
12. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of
assertion.
13. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
14.(a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
15. (b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion
16. (d) Assertion is false but reason is true.