Sound Waves and Their Behavior

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Sound Waves and Their Behavior — Free MYP5 Physics Practice Questions

1QuestionApplications Sonar Ultrasound and Musical InstrumentsConcept Practice

2 marks~3 minCriterion A

An oscilloscope displays a pure sound wave. Four points are labelled on the trace:

- A — at a trough (lowest point)
- B — at a crest (highest point)
- C — at the equilibrium (midline)
- D — at the next crest

A double-headed arrow on the diagram indicates the vertical distance from the equilibrium position to the crest.

(a) State what physical quantity the double-headed arrow represents, and identify the letter that marks the point used to measure it. [2]

Solutions

2QuestionApplications Sonar Ultrasound and Musical InstrumentsAssessment Practice

3 marks~5 minCriterion A

An ultrasound pulse is emitted at

t = 0\ \mu\text{s}

and travels through layers of skin, fat, and muscle. The first reflected pulse returns at

t = 13\ \mu\text{s}

with an amplitude equal to

80\%

of the emitted pulse. The second reflected pulse returns at

t = 26\ \mu\text{s}

with an amplitude equal to

40\%

of the emitted pulse.

State one mechanism by which the ultrasound pulse loses energy as it travels through biological tissue. [1]

Explain how acoustic impedance mismatch at a tissue boundary determines the amplitude of a reflected pulse. [1]

Using the data provided, explain why the second reflected pulse has a smaller amplitude than the first. [1]

Solutions

3QuestionSpeed of Sound in Solids Liquids and GasesAssessment Practice

4 marks~6 minCriterion D

A mining company plans to use seismic surveys to locate mineral deposits beneath land belonging to an indigenous community. Small explosions at the surface generate P-waves (speed

6000 \ \text{m/s}

in rock) and S-waves (speed

3500 \ \text{m/s}

in rock). Sensors are placed

2 \ \text{km}

from each explosion site.

Calculate the time difference between the arrival of the P-wave and the S-wave at a sensor

2 \ \text{km}

from the explosion. Show your working. [2]

The indigenous community opposes the survey, citing disruption to wildlife and sacred sites; the company argues economic necessity. Using your result from (a) and your knowledge of wave behaviour in rock, evaluate the scientific, environmental, and ethical implications of conducting seismic surveys in this context. [2]

Solutions

4QuestionApplications Sonar Ultrasound and Musical InstrumentsAssessment Practice

6 marks~9 minCriterion A

A clarinet behaves as a tube closed at one end and open at the other. The diagram below shows the fundamental standing wave inside a clarinet of length

L = 0.60 \text{ m}

, with a node at the closed end and an antinode at the open end.

Explain, using wave reflection, why a node forms at the closed end and an antinode forms at the open end. [2]

Show that the fundamental wavelength is

\lambda = 4L

, and calculate the fundamental frequency given that the speed of sound in air is

340 \text{ m/s}

. [2]

A player presses keys to shorten the effective tube length. Analyse how this changes the standing wave pattern inside the clarinet and evaluate the effect on the pitch of the note produced. [2]

Solutions

5QuestionPitch Loudness and Frequency RelationshipAssessment Practice

6 marks~9 minCriterion D

A medical technician uses a 5 MHz ultrasound transducer to image a fetus at a depth of 12 cm. The speed of ultrasound in soft tissue is approximately 1500 m s

^{-1}

. Reflections occur at boundaries between tissues of different densities, including amniotic fluid, muscle, fat, and bone.

Calculate the wavelength of the 5 MHz ultrasound in soft tissue. [1]

Explain how increasing the ultrasound frequency would affect both image resolution and penetration depth, and identify one benefit and one limitation this creates for fetal imaging. [3]

Discuss how the assumption of uniform tissue density limits the accuracy of the ultrasound image, referring to at least two different tissue types present. [2]

Solutions

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