CLASS 7 PHYSICS : CH 6 SOUND

Introduction to Sound
1. What is sound, and how is it different from other forms of energy? How is
it produced?
Answer:
Sound is a form of energy produced by vibrating objects. It propagates as mechanical waves
through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) due to the vibration of particles. Unlike light (which
can travel through a vacuum), sound requires a medium for propagation.

Production of Sound:

• Sound is produced when an object vibrates.

• These vibrations create compressions and rarefactions in the surrounding medium
(like air), which travel as sound waves.

2. Describe how sound is produced in string instruments like the guitar and
in wind instruments like the flute.
Answer:

• String Instruments (Guitar): When a string is plucked, it vibrates, causing the

surrounding air particles to vibrate and produce sound. The pitch depends on the
string's length, thickness, and tension.
• Wind Instruments (Flute): Blowing air into the flute causes the air column inside to
vibrate, producing sound. The pitch is altered by covering and uncovering holes to
change the effective length of the vibrating air column.

3. How are compressions and rarefactions formed in a sound wave?

Answer:

• Compressions: When vibrating particles push closer together, creating regions of high
pressure.
• Rarefactions: When particles move apart, creating regions of low pressure.
These alternate regions propagate through the medium, forming a sound wave.

Production and Propagation of Sound

4. Why can sound not travel in a vacuum? Explain with an example.
Answer:
Sound requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) for particle vibration. In a vacuum, there are
no particles to transmit sound.
Example: In space, astronauts cannot hear sounds directly; they communicate through
radios.

5. Describe the propagation of sound through air using the concept of

particle vibration.
Answer:
Sound propagates through air as particles vibrate back and forth. The vibrations create
compressions (high pressure) and rarefactions (low pressure) that move as a wave in the
direction of sound travel.

6. Explain the relationship between sound waves and the medium they travel
through.
Answer:
The speed, intensity, and quality of sound waves depend on the medium’s density, elasticity,
and temperature. Solids transmit sound fastest, while gases transmit it the slowest.

7. What is the function of the eardrum in hearing?

Answer:
The eardrum vibrates when sound waves hit it. These vibrations are transferred to the middle
ear bones, amplifying the sound before it reaches the inner ear.

8. Explain resonance with the help of an example involving a tuning fork.

Answer:
Resonance: When an object vibrates at its natural frequency due to another vibrating object
of the same frequency.

Example:
When a tuning fork vibrates near another tuning fork with the same frequency, the second
tuning fork starts vibrating without being struck.

9. How does resonance play a role in musical instruments like drums or

violins?
Answer:
In instruments like drums, the stretched membrane vibrates, setting the air inside into
resonance, amplifying the sound. In violins, the hollow body resonates with the strings’
vibrations to produce louder and richer tones.

Characteristics of Sound Waves

10. What is a longitudinal wave? Explain why sound waves are longitudinal.
Answer:
A longitudinal wave is a wave in which particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the
direction of wave propagation.
Sound waves are longitudinal because the air particles vibrate back and forth in the same
direction as the wave's motion, creating compressions and rarefactions.

11. What are the main characteristics of sound waves?

The main characteristics of sound waves are:

(a) Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions in a

sound wave.
(b) Frequency: The number of vibrations or cycles per second, measured in Hertz
(Hz).
(c) Amplitude: The maximum displacement of particles from their equilibrium
position, determining the loudness of sound.
(d) Time Period: The time taken for one complete vibration or cycle, measured in
seconds.
(e) Speed of Sound: The rate at which sound waves travel through a medium.

12. What is the unit of frequency, and what does it signify?

Answer:
The unit of frequency is Hertz (Hz).
1 Hz signifies one vibration or cycle per second.

Types of Sound Based on Frequency

13. What are the types of sound based on frequency?
Answer:

1. Infrasonic Sound: Frequencies less than 20 Hz.

2. Audible Sound: Frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, which can be heard by
humans.
3. Ultrasonic Sound: Frequencies greater than 20,000 Hz.

14. What is the range of audible frequencies for humans?

Answer:
Humans can hear sounds with frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.

15. Give two examples each of animals that can hear:

(a) Infrasonic sounds: Elephants, Whales.
(b) Ultrasonic sounds: Bats, Dolphins.
16. How do bats and dolphins use ultrasonic sounds for navigation?
Answer:
Bats and dolphins use echolocation:

• They emit ultrasonic waves that reflect off objects in their path.
• By analyzing the echoes, they determine the distance, size, and shape of objects.

17. Define SONAR and explain its working with a labeled diagram.
Answer:
SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging): A technology that uses ultrasonic waves to
detect objects underwater.

Working:

1. Ultrasonic waves are emitted by the SONAR device.

2. These waves reflect off underwater objects and return as echoes.
3. The time taken for the echo to return helps calculate the distance to the object.

18. List four uses of ultrasonic waves in industries and medicine.

Answer:

1. Medical imaging: Ultrasounds for monitoring pregnancies.

2. Cleaning delicate instruments: Ultrasonic cleaners.
3. Industrial testing: Detecting cracks in metal.
4. Navigation: SONAR in submarines.

Ch.of sound : Loudness and Pitch

19. Differentiate between loudness and pitch.

Property Loudness Pitch

Refers to the shrillness or

Definition Refers to the intensity of sound.
deepess of sound.

Depends on Amplitude of the wave. Frequency of the wave.

High-pitched sound
Example Louder sound from a drum.
of a whistle.
20. How does the amplitude of a sound wave affect its loudness?
Answer:
The loudness of a sound is directly proportional to its amplitude. Higher amplitude results in
a louder sound, while lower amplitude results in a softer sound.

21. Why does a child’s voice usually have a higher pitch than an adult’s
voice?
Answer:
A child’s vocal cords are shorter and tighter, leading to higher frequency vibrations. Higher
frequency corresponds to a higher pitch.

22. What factors affect the pitch of a sound produced by a vibrating string?
Answer:

1. Length: Shorter strings produce higher pitch.

2. Tension: Greater tension increases pitch.
3. Thickness: Thinner strings produce higher pitch.
4. Material: Strings made of denser material produce lower pitch.

23. Define noise and give three examples.

Answer:
Noise: Irregular, unpleasant, and non-harmonic sound.
Examples:

1. Traffic noise.
2. Loud construction work.
3. Blasting music from speakers.

24. What is a noise-pollution threshold, and what are its effects on human
health?
Answer:
Noise pollution occurs when sound levels exceed 65 decibels (dB) for prolonged periods.

Effects on health:

1. Hearing loss.
2. Stress and anxiety.
3. Sleep disturbances.
4. Increased risk of hypertension.

25. List three measures to control noise pollution.

Answer:
 1. Use soundproof materials in construction.
2. Limit the use of loudspeakers and vehicle horns.
3. Plant more trees to absorb sound.

Speed of Sound
26.What is the speed of sound? How does it vary in different media?
Answer:
The speed of sound is the distance traveled by a sound wave per unit time.

Speed of Sound in Different Media:

1. Solids: Highest speed because particles are closely packed.

2. Liquids: Moderate speed.
3. Gases: Lowest speed due to loosely packed particles.

Example:

• Speed in air (at 20°C): ~343 m/s

• Speed in water: ~1,500 m/s
• Speed in steel: ~5,000 m/s

27. What factors affect the speed of sound in a medium?

Answer:
The speed of sound depends on:

1. Nature of Medium: Sound travels faster in solids than in liquids and gases due to
particle density.
2. Temperature: Higher temperatures increase the speed of sound in gases.
3. Pressure and Density: In gases, sound speed increases with decreased density and
increased pressure.

28. Why is the speed of sound greater in solids than in gases?

Answer:
In solids, particles are tightly packed, allowing vibrations to transfer more efficiently. In
gases, particles are farther apart, making the transfer slower.

29. Why does sound travel faster on a hot day than on a cold day?
Answer:
On a hot day, air molecules have higher kinetic energy, increasing the speed of sound. On a
cold day, lower kinetic energy slows down the particle vibrations, reducing sound speed.

Reflection of Sound and Echo

30. Explain the phenomenon of reflection of sound. What is an echo?
Answer:
Reflection of Sound: When sound waves hit a surface, they bounce back, following the laws
of reflection.

Echo:
An echo is the reflection of sound that is heard after the original sound.

• It occurs when the reflected sound reaches the ear after a time interval of 0.1
seconds or more.
• Minimum distance for an echo to occur in air: 17.2 meters.

31. State the conditions required for the formation of an echo.

Answer:
For an echo to form:

1. The reflecting surface must be at least 17.2 meters away from the sound source.
2. The time interval between the original sound and the reflected sound should be at
least 0.1 seconds.
3. The surface should be large and hard to reflect the sound effectively.

32. Explain how sound waves follow the laws of reflection with a diagram.
Answer:
Sound waves obey the laws of reflection:

1. Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection.

2. The incident wave, reflected wave, and the normal lie in the same plane.

33. What are some practical applications of the reflection of sound?

Answer:

1. SONAR: Used to detect objects underwater.

2. Echo Testing: Measuring distances using echoes.
3. Acoustics: Designing auditoriums to reflect sound effectively.