Sound is a longitudinal wave and sound cannot travel through a vacuum, so this Year 10 sheet opens with the wave type and its medium requirement. The answers record 340 m/s as the air speed and amplitude as the quantity behind loudness.
Key Takeaways
Sound is a longitudinal wave (Q1).
Sound cannot travel through a vacuum (Q2).
Q3 records 340 m/s as the sound speed.
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)
2.Sound cannot travel through which of the following?
(a) a vacuum(b) a solid(c) a liquid(d) a gas
3.What is the approximate speed of sound in air?
(a) 340 m/s(b) 3 × 10⁸ m/s(c) 1500 m/s(d) 10 m/s
4.The loudness of a sound depends on which property of the wave?
(a) amplitude(b) frequency(c) wavelength(d) speed
5.The pitch of a note depends on which property of the wave?
(a) frequency(b) amplitude(c) loudness(d) quality
6.An echo is caused by which wave behaviour?
(a) reflection of sound(b) refraction of sound(c) diffraction of sound(d) absorption of sound
Section B: Short Answer Type Questions (2 Marks Each)
Show all steps clearly.
7.Why is sound described as a longitudinal wave?
8.Define an echo.
9.Describe one method for measuring the speed of sound in air.
10.Define ultrasound.
11.State the typical range of human hearing.
12.What determines the loudness of a sound?
13.What determines the pitch of a note?
14.Why does sound travel faster in a solid than in air?
Section C: Numericals & Word Problems (3 Marks Each)
Apply the concepts to solve the problems. Show all working.
15.A person shouts at a cliff 170 m away. Sound travels at 340 m/s. Using time = 2 × distance ÷ speed, calculate how long it takes for the echo to be heard.
16.Thunder is heard 3 s after a flash of lightning. Using distance = speed × time with a speed of 340 m/s, calculate how far away the lightning struck.
17.An echo from a cliff returns in 1.2 s. Using distance = speed × time ÷ 2 with a speed of 340 m/s, calculate the distance to the cliff.
18.A ship uses sonar to find the depth of the sea. Sound travels in water at 1500 m/s and the echo returns after 4 s. Using depth = speed × time ÷ 2, calculate the depth of the sea bed.
19.A sound is heard 0.5 s after it is made at a point 170 m away. Using speed = distance ÷ time, calculate the speed of sound.
20.A note has a frequency of 440 Hz and a wavelength of 0.77 m. Using v = f × λ, calculate the speed of the sound.
Answer Key
1. a) longitudinal
2. a) a vacuum
3. a) 340 m/s
4. a) amplitude
5. a) frequency
6. a) reflection of sound
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End of Worksheet
People Also Ask
What type of wave is sound?
Longitudinal, option (a) in this worksheet (Q1).
What can sound not travel through?
A vacuum, option (a) in this worksheet (Q2).
What is the speed of sound in air?
340 m/s, option (a) in this worksheet (Q3).
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