Physics [5 Mark Question Answer]

The two sounds of same loudness and same pitch produced by different instruments differ due to their different waveforms.
The waveforms depend on the number of the subsidiary notes and their relative amplitude along with the principal note.
Diagram below shows the wave patterns of two sounds of same loudness and same pitch but emitted by two different instruments. They produce different sensation to ears because they differ in waveforms: one is a sine wave, while the other is a triangular wave.

The intensity at any point of the medium is the amount of sound energy passing per second normally through unit area at that point.
The loudness of a sound depends on the energy conveyed by the sound wave near the eardrum of the listener. Loudness, being a sensation, also depends on the sensitivity of the ears of the listener. Thus the loudness of sound of a given intensity may differ from listener to listener. Further, two sounds of the same intensity but of different frequencies may differ in loudness even to the same listener because of the sensitivity of ears is different for different frequencies. So, loudness is a subjective quantity while intensity being a measurable quantity is an objective quantity for the sound wave.

When we tune a radio receiver, we merely adjust the values of the electronic components to produce vibrations of frequency equal to that of the radio waves which we want to receive. When the two frequencies match, due to resonance the energy of the signal of that particular frequency is received from the incoming waves. The signal received is then amplified in the receiver set.

The sound box is constructed such that the column of the air inside it, has a natural frequency which is the same as that of the strings stretched on it, so that when the strings are made to vibrate, the air column inside the box is set into forced vibrations. Since the sound box has a large area, it sets a large volume of air into vibration, the frequency of which is same as that of the string. So, due to resonance a loud sound is produced.

(a) No loud sound is heard with the tubes A and C, but a loud sound is heard with the tube B.
(b) Resonance occurs with the air column in tube B whereas no resonance occurs in the air column of tubes A and C. The frequency of vibrations of air column in tube B is same as the frequency of vibrations of air column in tube D because the length of the air column intube D is 20-18 = 2cm and that in tube B is 20-14 = 6 cm (3 times). On the other hand, the frequency of vibrations of air column in tubes A and C is not equal to the frequency vibrations of air column in tube B.
(c) When the frequency of vibrations of air column is equal to the frequency of the vibrating tuning fork, resonance occurs.

(a) Set the pendulum A into vibration by displacing it to one side, normal to its length. It is observed that pendulum D also starts vibrating initially with a small amplitude and ultimately it acquires the same amplitude as the pendulum A initially had. When the amplitude of the pendulum D becomes maximum, the amplitude of the pendulum A becomes minimum since the total energy is constant. After some time the amplitude of the pendulum D will decreases and amplitude of A increases. The exchange of energy takes place only between the pendulums A and D because their natural frequencies are same. The pendulums B and C also vibrate, but with very small amplitudes.

(b) The vibrations produced in pendulum A are communicated as forced vibrations to the other pendulums B, C and D through XY. The pendulums B and C remain in the state of forced vibrations, while the pendulum D comes in the state of resonance.

(a) The vibrating tuning fork A produces the forced vibrations in the air column of its sound box. These vibrations are of large amplitude because of the large surface area of air in the sound box. They are communicated to the sound box of the fork B. The air column of B starts vibrating with the frequency of the fork A. Since the frequency of these vibrations is same as the natural frequency of the fork B, the fork B picks up these vibrations and starts vibrating due to resonance.

(b) On putting the tuning fork A to vibrate, the other tuning fork B will also start vibrating. The vibrations produced in the second tuning fork B are due to resonance.

Mount two identical tuning forks A and B of same frequency upon two separate sound boxes such that their open ends face each other as shown.



If the prong A is struck on a rubber pad, it starts vibrating. On putting A on its sound box, tuning
fork B also starts vibrating and a loud sound is heard. The vibrations produced in B are due to
resonance.

(i) Damped vibrations
(ii) Example: When a slim branch of a tree is pulled and then released, it makes damped vibrations.
(iii) The amplitude of vibrations gradually decreases due to the frictional (or resistive) force which the surrounding medium exerts on the body vibrating in it. As a result, the vibrating body continuously loses energy in doing work against the force of friction causing a decrease in its amplitude.
(iv) After some time, the vibrating body loses all of its energy and stops vibrating.

The periodic vibrations of a body of decreasing amplitude in the presence of resistive force are called the damped vibrations.
The amplitude of the free vibrations remains constant and vibrations continue forever. But, the amplitude of damped vibrations decreases with time and ultimately the vibrations ceases.
For eg, When a slim branch of a tree is pulled and then released, it makes damped vibrations.
A tuning fork vibrating in air excute damped vibrations.

(1) Just as rays of light, sound waves travel back in the opposite direction on hitting an obstacle.

(2) This is called the reflection of sound.

(3) The laws of reflection for sound are the same as those for light.

(4) Repetition of sound caused by reflection of sound waves from an obstacle is known as an echo.

(5) A hearing aid is one such device used by people who are hard of hearing. Here, sound waves, which are received by the hearing aid, are reflected into a narrower area leading to the ear.