A person has a hearing range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. What are the typical wavelengths of sound waves in air corresponding to these two frequencies? Take the speed of sound in air as 344 m s–1 .
Solution and Explanation
We know, Speed = Wavelength × frequency
\(V = λ × v\)
For \(v\) = 20 Hz
\(λ_1\) = \(\frac{v}{v_1}\) = \(\frac{344}{20}\) = 17.2 m
For v2 = 20,000 Hz
\(λ_2 =\frac{ v}{v_2} = \frac{344}{20,000}\) = 0.0172 m
Hence, the range of wavelength is 0.0172 m to 17.2 m.
Top Questions on Range of Hearing
- Two children are at opposite ends of an aluminium rod. One strikes the end of the rod with a stone. Find the ratio of times taken by the sound wave in air and in aluminium to reach the second child.
- CBSE Class IX
- Science
- Range of Hearing
- Which characteristic of the sound helps you to identify your friend by his voice while sitting with others in a dark room?.
- CBSE Class IX
- Science
- Range of Hearing
Questions Asked in CBSE Class IX exam
- Explain what the reasons for the following are.
(i) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good.
(ii) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich.
(iii) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally.
(iv) What do these tell you about Einstein?- CBSE Class IX
- A truly beautiful mind
- (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)- CBSE Class IX
- The snake and the mirror
In Fig. 9.26, A, B, C and D are four points on a circle. AC and BD intersect at a point E such that ∠ BEC = 130° and ∠ ECD = 20°. Find ∠ BAC.
- CBSE Class IX
- Angle Subtended by an Arc of a Circle
- Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
- CBSE Class IX
- Kathmandu
Look up the dictionary entries for the words sympathy, familiarity, comfort, care, and surprise. Use the information given in the dictionary and complete the table.
Noun, Adjective, Adverb, Verb, Meaning:
sympathy
familiarity
comfort
care
surprise- CBSE Class IX
- If I were you
Concepts Used:
Sound
Sound is a vibration that propagates the mechanical wave of displacement and pressure, through a medium can be of any matter. In other words, the sound is the thin line between Music sound and Noise.
Types of Sounds:
Sound can be divided into two types depending on its frequency. The following are:-
Infrasonic Waves:
- Infrasonic waves have a frequency lower than 20 Hz. Since it is below the human hearing range, it is inaudible to humans.
- However, several other living organisms use these waves to communicate, whales, sharks, elephants, hippopotamus, etc. these waves are also used in the scientific field, it is used to study upcoming earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, human heart rates, rock formation stages, etc.
Ultrasonic waves:
- Ultrasonic waves have a frequency higher than 20 kHz. Since it is above the human hearing range, it is inaudible to humans.
- These waves are used in the scientific field, it is used to study human heart rates, to take sonograms, navigation of directions, imaging things, uniform sample mixing, communication, testing of samples, etc.