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All questions of Sound (PHY) for MCAT Exam

A sound source of frequency 600 Hz is moving towards an observer with velocity 20m/s. The speed of sound is 340m/s. The frequency heard by observer will be
  • a)
    630.5hz
  • b)
    30hz
  • c)
    637.5hz
  • d)
    63.5 Hz
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Preeti Khanna answered
F(s)/F(l) = [V+V(s)]/[V+V(l)]
V = velocity of sound = 340m/s
V(l) = velocity of listener = 0
F(l) = frequency heard by listener = ?
V(s) = velocity of source = -20m/s (because, it's source to listener)
F(s) = frequency of source = 600hz
By putting these values in the above formula and solving we get,
F(l) = 637.5 Hz.
Hence C is correct.

If a source of sound was moving toward a receiver at 1/3 the speed of sound, what would the resulting wavelength be?
  • a)
    6 times the emitted wavelength
  • b)
    2/3 of the emitted wavelength
  • c)
    1/3 of the emitted wavelength
  • d)
    Can not be found
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

We need to find the resulting wavelength of the sound wave, which can be calculated using the formula: λ' = λ(v +/- vs) / (v + u) Since the source is moving towards the observer, we can use the negative sign for vs: λ' = λ(v - vs) / (v + u) λ' = λ(v - (-1/3)v) / (v + u) λ' = λ(4/3v) / (v + u) We can also use the formula for the speed of the sound wave: v = fλ which gives us: λ = v/f Substituting this value in the above equation, we get: λ' = (4/3)(v/f) / (v + u) λ' = (4/3)f / (3v + u) We know that the velocity of the observer (u) is zero since it is stationary. Thus, the equation simplifies to: λ' = (4/9)f/v This means that the resulting wavelength is 2/3 of the emitted wavelength since: λ' / λ = (4/9f/v) / (f/v) = 4/9 = 0.44 Therefore, the correct answer is option B, 2/3 of the emitted wavelength.

In Doppler effect change in frequency depends on
  • a)
    distance between source and listener
  • b)
    speeds of source and listener
  • c)
    density of air
  • d)
    half of distance between source and listener
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Om Desai answered
The reason for the Doppler effect is that when the source of the waves is moving towards the observer, each successive wave crest is emitted from a position closer to the observer than the crest of the previous wave.

A radar sends a radio signal of frequency 9 x 109 Hz towards an aircraft approaching the radar. If the reflected wave shows a frequency shift of 3 X 103 Hz, the speed with which the aircraft is approaching the radar in m/s is (velocity of radio signal is 3 X 108 m/s).
  • a)
    100
  • b)
    150
  • c)
    50
  • d)
    25
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
Given:
Frequency of radio signal n=9×10 9Hz
 Frequency shift n0=3×103Hz
 Velocity of radio signal v=3×108m/s
 Frequency shift shown by reflected wave is Shift =n−n
=>n−n=(v+u/v−u)n−n
 
Shift=(2u/v−u)n
Now, putting the given values in Eq. (i), we get,
3×103=(2u/3×10-8−u)9×109
                    
⇒3×108−u=2u×9×109/3×103
=6u×106
⇒6×106u+u=3×108
 
u(6×106+1)=3×108
 
u(6000001)=3×108
 
u=3×108/6000001=49.999≈50m/s

If the source of sound moves at the same speed or faster than speed of the wave then it results in
  • a)
    Doppler effect
  • b)
    Beats
  • c)
    Shock waves
  • d)
    Refraction of sound
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Lavanya Menon answered
The Doppler Effect is observed whenever the speed of the source is moving slower than the speed of waves. But if the source actually moves at the same speed as or faster than the waves, a different phenomenon is observed. This phenomenon is known as Shock waves or Sonic Booms.

Which of the following is necessarily true regarding frequency, angular frequency, and period of a given wave?
  • a)
    The magnitude of the angular frequency is larger than the magnitude of the period.
  • b)
    The product of the frequency and period is equal to the angular frequency.
  • c)
    The magnitude of the angular frequency is larger than the magnitude of the frequency.
  • d)
    The product of the angular frequency and period is 1
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
The angular frequency is related to the frequency through the equation ω = 2πf. Therefore, the magnitude of the angular frequency will always be larger than the magnitude of the frequency. The magnitude of the angular frequency may or may not be larger than the magnitude of period; these variables are inversely proportional, eliminating choice (A). The product of the frequency and the period is always 1 because these two are inverses of each other, eliminating choice (B). Finally, the product of the angular frequency and period will always be 2π because ω = 2πf = 2π/T, eliminating choice (D).

Doppler’s effect in sound is:
  • a)
    Superimposing
  • b)
    Asymmetrical
  • c)
    Infinite
  • d)
    Symmetrical
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Ramesh Chand answered
Sound wave require a material medium for their propagation. Therefore we say that the Doppler effect in sound is asymmetric. Hence option B is the right answer.

Which medical instrument uses doppler effect?
  • a)
    Echocardiography
  • b)
    Ultrasound machine
  • c)
    Stethoscope
  • d)
    MRI machine
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohit Shah answered
In medicine, the Doppler Effect can be used to measure the direction and speed of blood flow in arteries and veins. This is used in echocardiograms and medical ultrasonography and is an effective tool in diagnosis of vascular problems.

A student is measuring sound frequencies from the side of a road while walking east. For which of the following situations could the student determine that the difference between the perceived frequency and the actual emitted frequency is zero?
  • a)
    A plane flying directly above him from east to west
  • b)
    A police car passing the student with its siren on
  • c)
    A person playing piano in a house on the street
  • d)
    A dog barking in a car that moves east
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
This question is testing us on our understanding of the Doppler effect. A difference of zero between the perceived and the emitted frequencies implies that the source of the sound is not moving relative to the student. If the car in choice (D) is moving at the same speed as the student, then the relative motion between them could be 0. In all of the other cases, the student and the sound source are necessarily moving relative to each other.

Ignoring attenuation, how does the intensity of a sound change as the distance from the source doubles?
  • a)
    It is four times as intense.
  • b)
    It is twice as intense.
  • c)
    It is half as intense.
  • d)
    It is one-quarter as intense.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
Intensity is equal to power divided by area. In this case, area refers to the surface area of concentric spheres emanating out from the source of the sound. This surface area is given by 4πr2, so as distance (r) doubles, the intensity will decrease by a factor of four.

A child is practicing the first overtone on his flute. If his brother covers one end of the flute for a brief second, how will the sound change, assuming that the new pitch represents the first overtone in the new setup?
  • a)
    The pitch of the sound will go up.
  • b)
    The pitch of the sound will go down.
  • c)
    The pitch of the sound will not change.
  • d)
    The change in the pitch depends on the starting pitch.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
This question is testing our understanding of pipes open at one or both ends. To begin, remember that high-frequency sounds have a high pitch and low-frequency sounds have a low pitch. The pipe in this example begins as one that is open on both ends, and then one end is closed off. Our task, therefore, is to determine how the frequency of the second harmonic differs between a pipe that is open at both ends from one of equal length that is open at only one end. For a pipe of length L open at both ends, the wavelength for the second harmonic (first overtone) is equal to L:

In contrast, for a pipe open at one end and closed at the other, the wavelength is equal to 4L/3:

Keep in mind that the first overtone for a closed pipe corresponds to the third harmonic, not the second. Thus, when the brother covers one end of the flute, the wavelength increases. Given that the wavelength and the frequency of a sound are inversely proportional, an increase in wavelength corresponds to a decrease in frequency. Therefore, when the brother covers one end of the flute, the sound produced by the instrument will be slightly lower in pitch than the original sound.

Ultrasound machines calculate distance based upon:
  • a)
    intensity of the reflected sound.
  • b)
    travel time of the reflected sound.
  • c)
    angle of incidence of the sound.
  • d)
    the detected frequency of the sound.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
While intensity, choice (A), could be used to measure distance, time of travel is an easier indication and most commonly used by ultrasound machines. Apparent frequency, choice (D), is only used in Doppler ultrasound, and not to calculate distance. Angle of incidence, choice (C), can be used to position various structures on the screen of an ultrasound, but is not used to calculate distance.

What is the angular frequency of the third harmonic in a pipe of length 0.6 m with one closed end? (Note: The speed of the sound is approximately 340 m/s).
  • a)
    213 radians per second
  • b)
    425π radians per second
  • c)
    425 radians per second
  • d)
    850π radians per second
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
The angular frequency is related to the frequency of a wave through the formula ω = 2πf. Thus, our initial task is to calculate the frequency of the wave. Knowing its speed, we determine the frequency by first calculating its wavelength (ν = fλ). For the third harmonic of a standing wave in a pipe with one closed end, the wavelength is

The frequency of the wave is therefore

Finally, obtain the angular frequency simply by multiplying the frequency of the wave by 2π:
ω = 2πf = 850π radians per second

An opera singer has two precisely identical glasses. The singer produces as pure a tone as possible and shatters the first glass at a frequency of 808 Hz. She then sings a frequency of 838 Hz in the presence of the second glass. The second glass will likely:
  • a)
    shatter after a longer amount of time because the applied frequency is higher.
  • b)
    shatter after a shorter amount of time because the applied frequency is higher.
  • c)
    not shatter because the applied frequency is not equal to the natural frequency of the glass.
  • d)
    not shatter because higher-frequency sounds are associated with more attenuation.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
If these two glasses are perfectly identical, then the fact that the first glass shattered at 808 Hz tells us that this is very close (if not identical) to the natural (resonant) frequency of the glass. If she produces a frequency that is not equal (or very close) to the natural frequency, then the applied frequency will not cause the glass to resonate, and there will not be the increase in wave amplitude associated with resonating objects. Attenuation will increase with increased frequency because there is more motion over which nonconservative forces can damp the sound wave; however, even if sound level was matched to that which shattered the first glass when accounting for attenuation, the glass would still not shatter for the reasons described above, eliminating choice (D).

Shock waves have the greatest impact when the source is traveling:
  • a)
    just below the speed of sound.
  • b)
    exactly at the speed of sound.
  • c)
    just above the speed of sound.
  • d)
    well above the speed of sound.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Orion Classes answered
Shock waves are the buildup of wave fronts as the distance between those wave fronts decreases. This occurs maximally when an object is traveling at exactly the same speed as the wave is traveling (the speed of sound). Once an object moves faster than the speed of sound, some of the effects of the shock wave are mitigated because all of the wave fronts will trail behind the object, destructively interfering with each other.

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