SCIENCE

Sound - Notes Class:7

Answer the following questions:

1. What is Sound? How is it produced?

Ans Sound is a form of energy that produces the sensation of hearing. It is produced by the
vibration of particles in the medium.

2. Define vibration of a particle.

Ans A rapid back and forth motion of a particle about its mean position is known as vibration.

3. Distinguish between noise and music.

Ans Noise Music
1. Produced by irregular vibration. Produced by regular and periodic
vibration.
2. Unpleasant and harsh to the ears Soothing and pleasant to the ears.
3. Sound level is above 120 decibel Sound level is less than 60 decibel.
4. Name some sources of sound.
Ans Tuning forks, Musical instruments such as stringed instruments, percussion instruments,
wind instruments, reed instruments etc.

5 Define reflection of sound.

Ans The returning back of the sound wave on striking a surface such as wall, metal sheet etc.,
is called the reflection of sound wave.

6. What is meant by an echo? What is the condition necessary for an echo to be heard
distinctly.
Ans The sound heard after reflection from a distant obstacle after the original sound has
stopped is called an echo.
The echo is heard distinctly if it reaches the ear at least 0.1 second after the original sound
is produced.

7. What is SONAR?
Ans The method of determining the distance of a sound reflecting surface by producing echo is
called Sound Navigation And Ranging (SONAR)

8. What are the uses of SONAR ?

Ans 1. For determining the depth of a sea.
2.By ships to detect submarines or viceversa
3.By bats and dolphins to locate any obstacle in their path.
4. For medical diagnosis by ultrasonography.

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 9. Define the following terms with respect to a wave.
1. Oscillation : The to and fro motion which constitutes one full wave is known as one
oscillation.
2. Wave length () : The length of a wave corresponding to one oscillation is known as
its wave length.
3. Amplitude (A): The maximum displacement of a wave on either side of its mean
position is called its amplitude.
4. Time period (T): The time taken by a wave to complete one oscillation is known as its
time period.
5. Frequency (f): The number of oscillations produced by a wave in one second is called
its frequency.

10. How is frequency of a sound wave related its time period ?

Ans f =1/T

11. Classify types of sound according to the frequency and audibility to human ear.
Ans Infrasonic(subsonic) sound Sonic sound Ultrasonic sound
Less than 20 Hz (inaudible) 20 Hz to 20 KHz Greater than 20KHz
(audible) (inaudible)

12. State some uses of ultrasound.

Ans 1. Certain animals like bats, dolphins locate any obstacle or its prey in its path by
producing ultrasound.
2. Ultrasonic vibrations used in dish washers, makes the detergent particles vibrate
against dirty utensils and clean them.
3. Ultrasonic vibrations are used in imaging the internal organs of human body.
4. Ultrasonic vibrations are used for relieving pains in joints and muscles.

13. Name three characteristics of sound. Also state the factors that determine these
characteristics of sound.
Ans characteristics Factors
Loudness Amplitude of sound
Pitch Frequency of sound
Quality or Timbre Wave form

14 What is the unit of loudness of sound?

Ans Unit – decibel or dB

15. What is noise pollution? What are its impacts?

Ans 1. The disturbance caused by an undesirable and non-periodic loud sound of different kind
is called noise pollution.
2. Constant exposure to high pitch noise increases blood pressure.
3. Sudden exposure to high noise level can cause permanent damage to ear.
4. It causes head ache and inability to concentrate on work and studies.
5. It leads to emotional and behavioral stress.

16. Suggest some ways to prevent noise pollution.

Ans 1. Use of amplifiers and loudspeakers should be restricted.
2. Vehicles should have proper silencers.
3. Cushions and curtains should be used in rooms as they absorb sound.
4. Noise making factories and airports should be shifted far away from the city.
5. Plant more trees around your living area.

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17. How does lightning and thunder occur ?
Ans Lightning is caused due to rapid flow of charge through the air between the oppositely
charged clouds.
The sudden and rapid expansion of air due to lightning sends a disturbance through the air
produces a loud sound called thunder.

18. Fill in the blanks:

a) Vibration of a particle is the necessary condition to produce sound.
b) Sound requires a medium to propagate.
c) Sound travels faster through solids than through gases.
d) Sound produces compressions and rarefactions as it propagates through air.
e) Sound is a kind of energy which propagates in all directions.
f) In stringed instruments the pitch of the sound can be changed by changing the length,
thickness or tightness of the string.
g) In wind instruments , when you blow through one end, air inside the instrument vibrates
and thus produces a note .
h) In reed instruments, when air is blown through these instruments, the reed inside them
vibrates and sound is produced.
i) To hear a clear echo the minimum distance of reflecting surface from the source of sound
is 17 m
j) The characteristic of sound that distinguishes a female voice from a male voice is called
pitch

19. Solve the following:

a) The time period of a wave is 0.25 sec. Find its frequency.
Ans f = 1/T
f =1/0.25
= 4 Hz

b) An echo is heard after 3.5 sec from a hill. Find the distance of the hill from the listener.
Speed of sound in air is 340 m/s.
Ans 2 x distance = speed x time
Distance = 340 x 3.5
2
= 595 m

c) The frequency of sound wave is 500 Hz. Find its time period.
Ans T = 1/f
T = 1/500
=0.002 s

d) A boy hears an echo of his own voice from a distant hill after one second. The speed of
sound in air is 340 m/s. What is the distance of hill from the boy?
Ans Distance = 340 x 1
2
= 170 m

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