Waves Sound Acoustics Competitive Exams
100 questions · General Science
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Question 1 of 100
The human ear is most sensitive to frequencies in the range of about
ExplanationThis range covers important speech sounds.
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Question 2 of 100
The fundamental frequency of a stretched string does NOT depend on its
Explanationf = (1/2L)√(T/μ).
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Question 3 of 100
Resonance occurs when
ExplanationEnergy transfer is maximum, producing a large amplitude vibration.
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Question 4 of 100
In a standing wave, the distance between two consecutive nodes is
ExplanationNodes and antinodes alternate every λ/4.
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Question 5 of 100
The fundamental frequency of an open pipe 1 m long (v = 340 m/s) is
Explanationf = v/2L = 340/2 = 170 Hz.
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Question 6 of 100
As an ambulance siren approaches you, the pitch you hear is
ExplanationWaves are compressed in front of a moving source, so apparent frequency rises.
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Question 7 of 100
A jet flies at Mach 2 where the speed of sound is 340 m/s. Its speed is
ExplanationSpeed = Mach number × speed of sound = 2 × 340.
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Question 8 of 100
Two tuning forks of 256 Hz and 260 Hz sounded together produce a beat frequency of
ExplanationBeat frequency = |f₁ − f₂| = 4 Hz.
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Question 9 of 100
A ship sends an ultrasonic pulse and receives the echo from the sea bed after 2 s. If the speed of sound in sea water is 1,500 m/s, the depth is
ExplanationDepth = (v × t)/2 = (1500 × 2)/2 = 1,500 m.
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Question 10 of 100
The loudness of a sound mainly depends on its
ExplanationGreater amplitude means more energy and a louder sound.
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Question 11 of 100
The superposition of two waves to give a resultant of larger or smaller amplitude is called
ExplanationThe resultant displacement is the algebraic sum of individual displacements.
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Question 12 of 100
Sound cannot travel through
ExplanationSound is a mechanical wave and needs a material medium; a vacuum has no particles to vibrate.
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Question 13 of 100
The highest point of a transverse wave is called the
ExplanationThe lowest point is the trough.
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Question 14 of 100
In a pipe closed at one end, the first overtone has a frequency equal to
ExplanationOnly odd harmonics exist: f, 3f, 5f; the first overtone is the third harmonic.
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Question 15 of 100
A sonic boom is produced when
ExplanationShock waves form and are heard as a loud boom.
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Question 16 of 100
Astronauts on the Moon talk using radio sets because
ExplanationWithout air, sound cannot propagate; radio waves can travel in vacuum.
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Question 17 of 100
If the amplitude of a sound wave is doubled, its intensity becomes
ExplanationIntensity ∝ (amplitude)².
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Question 18 of 100
For a clear echo to be heard, the minimum distance between the source and the reflecting surface in air (speed ≈ 344 m/s) is about
ExplanationThe ear retains a sound for 0.1 s; total path = 344 × 0.1 = 34.4 m, so one-way ≈ 17 m.
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Question 19 of 100
We can hear a person talking around a corner but cannot see him because
ExplanationDiffraction is significant when wavelength is comparable to the obstacle or opening size.
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Question 20 of 100
The fundamental frequency of a pipe closed at one end of length 0.5 m (v = 340 m/s) is
Explanationf = v/4L = 340/(4 × 0.5) = 170 Hz.
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Question 21 of 100
Polarisation is possible for transverse waves but not for sound in air because sound waves are
ExplanationPolarisation needs vibrations perpendicular to the direction of travel.
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Question 22 of 100
The sound level of normal conversation is about
ExplanationA whisper is ~30 dB and traffic noise ~80 dB.
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Question 23 of 100
Which of the following is a transverse wave?
ExplanationLight is an electromagnetic transverse wave; sound in air is longitudinal.
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Question 24 of 100
The audible range of frequencies for a normal human ear is
ExplanationBelow 20 Hz is infrasound and above 20,000 Hz is ultrasound.
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Question 25 of 100
Newton's formula for the speed of sound gave a value lower than the observed one. Laplace corrected it by assuming that sound propagation is
ExplanationCompressions and rarefactions occur too quickly for heat exchange; v = √(γP/ρ).
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Question 26 of 100
The speed of a transverse wave on a stretched string is
ExplanationT = tension, μ = mass per unit length.
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Question 27 of 100
The Doppler effect is the
ExplanationIt is observed for sound, light and other waves.
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Question 28 of 100
The speed of sound in air increases when temperature increases because
ExplanationAt higher temperature molecules collide more rapidly, so disturbance passes quicker (v ∝ √T).
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Question 29 of 100
A pipe closed at one end produces
ExplanationClosed pipes have a node at the closed end and an antinode at the open end: f, 3f, 5f…
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Question 30 of 100
The time period of a wave of frequency 25 Hz is
ExplanationT = 1/f = 1/25 = 0.04 s.
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Question 31 of 100
The unit used to measure sound intensity level (loudness level) is
ExplanationThe decibel is a logarithmic unit for sound level.
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Question 32 of 100
In a sound wave, regions of high pressure are called
ExplanationLow pressure regions are rarefactions.
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Question 33 of 100
An echo is caused by
ExplanationSound hits a hard surface and bounces back, so it is heard again.
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Question 34 of 100
For a supersonic aircraft at Mach 2, the half-angle of the Mach cone is
Explanationsin θ = 1/M = 1/2, so θ = 30°.
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Question 35 of 100
The pitch of a sound depends on its
ExplanationHigher frequency gives a higher (shriller) pitch.
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Question 36 of 100
An increase of 20 dB corresponds to an intensity increase by a factor of
ExplanationFactor = 10^(20/10) = 100.
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Question 37 of 100
If the amplitude of a sound wave is increased, the sound becomes
ExplanationAmplitude controls loudness.
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Question 38 of 100
A wave of speed 340 m/s and frequency 170 Hz has a wavelength of
Explanationλ = v/f = 340/170 = 2 m.
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Question 39 of 100
A source of 500 Hz moves towards a stationary observer at 34 m/s (v = 340 m/s). The observed frequency is about
Explanationf′ = fv/(v − vₛ) = 500 × 340/306 ≈ 556 Hz.
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Question 40 of 100
Sound with frequency below 20 Hz is called
ExplanationElephants and whales use infrasound to communicate.
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Question 41 of 100
A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 4 m. Its speed is
Explanationv = fλ = 50 × 4 = 200 m/s.
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Question 42 of 100
Sound waves in air are
ExplanationAir particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel.
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Question 43 of 100
A gel is applied between the probe and the skin during an ultrasound scan to
ExplanationAir has very different acoustic impedance from tissue and would reflect almost all the ultrasound.
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Question 44 of 100
A sound of intensity 10⁻⁶ W/m² has a level of (I₀ = 10⁻¹² W/m²)
Explanationβ = 10 log(10⁻⁶/10⁻¹²) = 10 × 6 = 60 dB.
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Question 45 of 100
Constructive interference occurs when the path difference between two coherent waves is
ExplanationWaves arrive in phase and add up.
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Question 46 of 100
Sound with frequency above 20,000 Hz is called
ExplanationUltrasound is beyond the upper limit of human hearing.
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Question 47 of 100
Sound travels fastest through
ExplanationParticles in solids are closely packed and strongly bonded, so vibrations pass quickly.
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Question 48 of 100
The number of waves passing a point in one second is the
ExplanationFrequency is measured in hertz.
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Question 49 of 100
Which part of the ear first receives sound vibrations and starts to vibrate?
ExplanationThe eardrum (tympanic membrane) vibrates when sound waves reach it.
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Question 50 of 100
Which part of the inner ear helps in maintaining body balance?
ExplanationThey sense head rotation and movement.
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Question 51 of 100
When two identical sound sources replace one, the sound level increases by about
ExplanationIntensity doubles: 10 log 2 ≈ 3 dB.
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Question 52 of 100
Unpleasant and unwanted sound is called
ExplanationNoise is irregular and disturbing; music is pleasant and regular.
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Question 53 of 100
Compared with a man's voice, a woman's voice generally has
ExplanationShorter, thinner vocal cords vibrate at a higher frequency.
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Question 54 of 100
The threshold of pain for the human ear is approximately
ExplanationProlonged exposure above 85 dB can damage hearing.
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Question 55 of 100
Beats are produced when two sound waves of
ExplanationPeriodic rise and fall of loudness is heard.
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Question 56 of 100
Which of the following waves does NOT need a medium to travel?
ExplanationElectromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.
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Question 57 of 100
Sound travels ______ in humid air than in dry air.
ExplanationMoist air is less dense (water vapour is lighter than N₂ and O₂), so sound speed is higher.
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Question 58 of 100
The energy transmitted by a wave per unit time is proportional to
ExplanationP ∝ A²f² for a given medium and cross section.
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Question 59 of 100
The speed of sound in an ideal gas is proportional to
Explanationv = √(γRT/M), so v ∝ √T.
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Question 60 of 100
The SI unit of sound intensity is
ExplanationIntensity is power passing through a unit area.
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Question 61 of 100
The approximate speed of sound in air at room temperature (about 20 °C) is
ExplanationAt 0 °C it is about 331–332 m/s and it rises with temperature.
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Question 62 of 100
In the wave equation y = A sin(kx − ωt), the wave number k equals
Explanationk is the number of radians per unit length.
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Question 63 of 100
According to Sabine's formula, reverberation time is directly proportional to
ExplanationT = 0.161 V/A: larger volume gives longer reverberation, more absorption shortens it.
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Question 64 of 100
A wave transfers
ExplanationParticles only oscillate about their mean position; the disturbance moves on.
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Question 65 of 100
Thunder is heard after lightning is seen because
ExplanationLight travels at about 3 × 10⁸ m/s while sound travels at about 343 m/s.
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Question 66 of 100
Sound is often heard from farther distances at night because
ExplanationSound speed is lower in cool air near the ground, so waves bend downward.
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Question 67 of 100
Bats find their way in the dark by using
ExplanationBats emit ultrasound and sense its echo (echolocation).
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Question 68 of 100
The SI unit of time period of a wave is
ExplanationTime period T is the time for one complete oscillation.
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Question 69 of 100
Reverberation is
ExplanationIt is common in large halls and can make speech unclear.
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Question 70 of 100
An increase of 10 dB in sound level means the intensity becomes
ExplanationEach 10 dB corresponds to a tenfold change in intensity.
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Question 71 of 100
Sound is produced by
ExplanationEvery sound originates from a vibrating body, e.g. a guitar string or a drum skin.
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Question 72 of 100
A wave is described by y = 5 sin(200πt − 0.5πx). Its frequency is
Explanationω = 2πf = 200π, so f = 100 Hz.
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Question 73 of 100
Ultrasonic waves are commonly generated using the
ExplanationAn alternating voltage makes a quartz crystal vibrate at ultrasonic frequency.
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Question 74 of 100
A string fixed at both ends has a fundamental frequency f. The frequency of its third harmonic is
Explanationfₙ = n f₁ for a string fixed at both ends.
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Question 75 of 100
Mach number is defined as the ratio of
ExplanationMach > 1 means supersonic.
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Question 76 of 100
In an auditorium, curtains, carpets and cushioned seats are used to
ExplanationSoft porous materials absorb sound energy.
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Question 77 of 100
For pipes of equal length, the ratio of the fundamental frequency of a closed pipe to that of an open pipe is
ExplanationClosed: v/4L; open: v/2L, so the ratio is 1 : 2.
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Question 78 of 100
If the tension in a stretched string is made four times, the speed of the wave on it becomes
Explanationv ∝ √T, so v becomes √4 = 2 times.
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Question 79 of 100
A stationary source emits 400 Hz. An observer moves towards it at 34 m/s (v = 340 m/s). The observed frequency is
Explanationf′ = f(v + vₒ)/v = 400 × 374/340 = 440 Hz.
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Question 80 of 100
A loudspeaker converts
ExplanationA microphone does the opposite.
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Question 81 of 100
Dispersion of a wave means
ExplanationDifferent frequencies travel at different speeds in a dispersive medium.
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Question 82 of 100
Ultrasound scanning (sonography) is preferred over X-rays for examining a foetus because
ExplanationUltrasound does not ionise tissue.
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Question 83 of 100
A 340 Hz sound passes from air (340 m/s) into a medium where its speed is 1,360 m/s. Its new wavelength is
ExplanationFrequency stays 340 Hz; λ = v/f = 1360/340 = 4 m (it was 1 m in air).
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Question 84 of 100
Waves on the surface of water are examples of
ExplanationThey need water as a medium to travel.
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Question 85 of 100
A sitar and a flute play the same note but sound different. This is due to difference in
ExplanationThey contain different overtones (harmonics), giving different waveforms.
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Question 86 of 100
In a drum, sound is produced by the vibration of
ExplanationStriking the stretched skin makes it vibrate.
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Question 87 of 100
The distance between two consecutive crests of a wave is called
ExplanationWavelength (λ) is the length of one complete wave.
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Question 88 of 100
The approximate speed of sound in water is
ExplanationWater is denser but much less compressible than air, so sound is faster.
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Question 89 of 100
The relation between wave speed (v), frequency (f) and wavelength (λ) is
ExplanationSpeed equals frequency times wavelength.
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Question 90 of 100
When a sound wave passes from air into water, the quantity that remains unchanged is its
ExplanationFrequency depends only on the source.
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Question 91 of 100
The three tiny bones of the middle ear (hammer, anvil, stirrup) function to
ExplanationThey pass and increase the force of eardrum vibrations towards the cochlea.
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Question 92 of 100
The SI unit of frequency is
Explanation1 Hz = 1 vibration (cycle) per second.
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Question 93 of 100
The phase difference between two waves producing destructive interference is
ExplanationCrest meets trough, so displacements cancel.
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Question 94 of 100
SONAR stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging and works by using
ExplanationIt measures depth/distance under water from reflected ultrasound.
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Question 95 of 100
The time for which the ear retains the impression of a sound (persistence of hearing) is about
ExplanationTherefore echoes returning in less than 0.1 s merge with the original sound.
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Question 96 of 100
Acoustic impedance of a medium is given by
ExplanationLarge mismatch in Z between two media causes strong reflection.
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Question 97 of 100
The sound level of a whisper is about
ExplanationNormal conversation is about 60 dB and a jet engine is about 120–140 dB.
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Question 98 of 100
Ultrasound frequencies used in medical diagnostic imaging typically lie in the range
ExplanationHigher frequency gives shorter wavelength and better resolution.
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Question 99 of 100
The decibel scale is
Explanationβ = 10 log₁₀(I/I₀).
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Question 100 of 100
The quality or timbre of a sound allows us to
ExplanationA flute and a violin playing the same note sound different due to waveform.
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