UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Questions  >  Which one of the following is correct?A concr... Start Learning for Free
Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally, 
  • a)
        Only reflects sound
  • b)
        Only absorbs sound
  • c)
         Only transmits sound
  • d)
        Absorbs and transmits sound
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Onl...
Concrete Wall and Sound Reflection

Introduction:
Sound is a form of energy that travels through the air in the form of waves. These waves can be reflected, absorbed or transmitted when they come into contact with a surface. A concrete wall is a common structure that is used in construction. It is made of cement, sand, water and aggregates like gravel or crushed stone. In this article, we will discuss how a concrete wall interacts with sound.

Reflection of Sound:
When sound waves come into contact with a surface, they can be reflected back. This is because sound waves bounce off hard surfaces like a concrete wall. When the sound waves hit the wall, they bounce back in the opposite direction. This is called sound reflection. Concrete walls are known for their ability to reflect sound waves.

Absorption of Sound:
When sound waves come into contact with a surface, they can also be absorbed. This happens when the sound waves penetrate the surface and are converted into heat energy. Soft surfaces like curtains or foam are known for their ability to absorb sound waves. However, concrete is a hard surface and is not very effective at absorbing sound waves. This means that a concrete wall will not absorb much sound.

Transmission of Sound:
When sound waves come into contact with a surface, they can also be transmitted. This happens when the sound waves pass through the surface. Materials like glass or water are known for their ability to transmit sound waves. Concrete walls are not very effective at transmitting sound waves. This means that a concrete wall will not allow much sound to pass through it.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, a concrete wall is known for its ability to reflect sound waves. It is not very effective at absorbing or transmitting sound waves. This means that a concrete wall will reflect most of the sound waves that come into contact with it.
Free Test
Community Answer
Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Onl...
When sound interacts with any surface, it can do one of four things: 1) it can reflect off of the surface, where the angle of reflection will be complementary to the incidence angle, 2) it can diffuse, whereby the sound wave is “scattered” in different directions on the surface of the wall, and it can penetrate the wall and either be 3) absorbed, whereby acoustical energy is dissipated, or 4) it can be transmitted through the wall, where refraction of the acoustical wave occurs due to difference in impedance.

So, depending on the smoothness of the surfaces, the hardness of the walls, the types of materials, etc, the sound wave will act differently.

Whenever a wave reaches a boundary between two mediums some of the energy is reflected and some is transmitted.
The important parameter is not just the speed of the wave on either side of the boundary but what is called the acoustic impedance (= density × speed). If there is a large difference between the acoustic impedances then you will get most of the wave reflected.
So if you have an air (speed of sound 330 m/s, density 1.2 kg/m3) brick wall (4200 m/s, 1850 kg/m3) boundary a lot of the sound will be reflected.

So when you walk down a tunnel the sound that you emit gets reflected off the walls and even off the open end of the tunnel and comes back to you as an echo.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Similar UPSC Doubts

Top Courses for UPSC

Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2025 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Which one of the following is correct?A concrete wall generally,a) Only reflects soundb) Only absorbs soundc) Only transmits soundd) Absorbs and transmits soundCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev