Practice Sound in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

Quick Recap

A longitudinal wave that travels through a medium via compressions and rarefactions.

Vibrating air that your ears detect. No medium, no sound (space is silent).

Example 1

easy
Thunder is heard 6 \text{ s} after lightning is seen. How far away was the lightning strike? Use the speed of sound v = 340 \text{ m/s}.

Example 2

medium
A sound wave in air has a wavelength of 0.5 \text{ m}. What is its frequency? Is this audible? Use v = 340 \text{ m/s}.

Example 3

medium
A person shouts toward a cliff and hears the echo 4 \text{ s} later. How far is the cliff? Use v = 340 \text{ m/s}.

Example 4

medium
A sonar pulse is sent from a ship and the echo returns 0.8 \text{ s} later. The speed of sound in seawater is 1500 \text{ m/s}. How deep is the ocean floor at that point?
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