1. Identify two factors that affect the speed of sound.

Ans: The density and temperature of the medium. Also the nature of the
medium, some media (e.g. rubber) impair the propagation of sound
waves.

2. Explain why sound travels faster in water than in air..

Ans: Water is more dense, collisions between molecules occur more often
and propagate the wave more quickly.

3. Distinguish between infrasound and ultrasound.

Ans: Infrasound has a frequency below that normally audible to humans
(approximately 20 Hz); ultrasound has a frequency greater what can be
perceived by humas (approximately 20,000 Hz).

4. Which of the following must change when pitch becomes higher?

a. amplitudeno
b. frequencyyes
c. wavelengthyes
d. intensityno
e. speed of the sound waves--no
f.
5. Which of the following must change when a sound gets louder?
 a. amplitudeyes
b. frequencyno
c. wavelengthno
d. intensityyes
e. speed of the sound waves--no
g.
6. Why does middle-C on a piano sound different than middle-C on a violin?
h. Ans: Different instruments have different harmonics.
i.
7. Why does an acoustic guitar generally sound louder than an electric guitar
with an electronic amplifier?
j. Ans: The sound box of an acoustic guitar resonates with the strings
and produces a wave with greater amplitude than that of the non-
resonant electric.
k.
8. Describe the process through which sound waves in the air are translated
into nerve impulses to the brain.
l. Ans: Soundwaves strike the eardrum, which vibrates against the
hammer. The hammer passes that vibration through 2 other bones,
and begins to resonate with a membrane in the ear called the cochlea.
Different portions of the membrane resonate at different frequencies.
As each portion vibrates it rubs against hairs growing near the brain
cell, which in turn send a signal to the brain.
m.
9. Why are sonograms made with ultrasound waves instead of audible sound
waves?
n. Ans: Ultrasound is more easily focused. Ultrasound is inaudible, there
is less chance of damaging ears or other organs (sonograms are often
used on unborn children).
o.
p.
10.Why do most pianos contain a large sounding board under the strings?
q. Ans: The sounding board resonates with the strings to produce a
louder sound.