Sound (Physics)

Total Questions: 56

1. Put in ascending order of speed of sound in the mediums [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2008]

I. Water, II. Steel, III. Nitrogen:

Correct Answer: (b) III, I, II
Solution:

The speed of sound is different for different type of mediums. The speed of sound is maximum in solids while minimum in gases.

The speed of sound depends upon the density of the medium through which it is travelling. The medium which has higher density, the sound will travel faster in that medium.

2. The sound will have the highest velocity in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

Correct Answer: (d) Steel
Solution:

The speed of sound varies from medium to medium. Sound travels most slowly in gases, it travels faster in liquids and fastest in solids. For example sound travels at 331 m/s in air, it travels at 1531 m/s in sea water and at 5950 m/s in iron.

3. The velocity of sound in air is approximately: [42ⁿᵈ B.P.S.C (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (c) 330 m/sec.
Solution:

The speed of sound varies from medium to medium. Sound travels most slowly in gases, it travels faster in liquids and fastest in solids. For example sound travels at 331 m/s in air, it travels at 1531 m/s in sea water and at 5950 m/s in iron.

4. The velocity of sound is maximum in: [U.P. Lower (Spl) (Pre) 2008, Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) Metal
Solution:

The speed of sound varies from medium to medium. Sound travels most slowly in gases, it travels faster in liquids and fastest in solids. For example sound travels at 331 m/s in air, it travels at 1531 m/s in sea water and at 5950 m/s in iron.

5. If Va, Vw and Vs respectively are the speed of sound in air, water and steel, then: [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (a) Va < Vw < Vs
Solution:

As we know that the speed of sound is different for different types of medium. In general, sound travels faster in liquid than gases and faster in solid than in liquid.

6. In which medium the speed of sound is maximum at a temperature of around 20°C? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2004]

Correct Answer: (d) Iron
Solution:

The speed of sound depends on the elasticity and density of the medium through which it is travelling. Greater the elasticity and the density, sound travels faster in that medium. At temperature of 20°C, the speed of sound is maximum in iron.

7. Sound waves: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (d) Can travel both in solid and gaseous medium.
Solution:

Sound waves need to travel through a medium such as a solid, liquid or gas. The sound waves travel through each of these mediums by vibrating the molecules in the matter.

The molecules in solids are packed very tightly but in liquids are not packed as tightly as solid, and in gases they are very loosely packed.

The spacing of the molecules, enable sound to travel much faster through solid than gases. So sound waves can travel in solid, liquid and gaseous medium.

8. Sound waves travel fastest in: [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (a) solids
Solution:

Sound is a mechanical wave and needs a material medium like air, water, steel etc. for its propagation. It cannot travel through vacuum. Speed of sound is different in different medium. Speed of sound is maximum in solid than liquid and gas.

9. In which of the following option sound may not be across/travel? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]

Correct Answer: (b) vacuum
Solution:

Sound is a mechanical wave and needs a material medium like air, water, steel etc. for its propagation. It cannot travel through vacuum. Speed of sound is different in different medium. Speed of sound is maximum in solid than liquid and gas.

10. Sound waves do not travel in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (d) Vacuum
Solution:

Sound is a mechanical wave and needs a material medium like air, water, steel etc. for its propagation. It cannot travel through vacuum. Speed of sound is different in different medium. Speed of sound is maximum in solid than liquid and gas.