Sound — Paper 2 · IGCSE Physics (9-1) 0972

24 A dolphin has a range of audible frequencies of 150 Hz–150 kHz. Which range of frequencies can be heard both by humans with good hearing and by dolphins? A 20 Hz–150 Hz B 20 Hz–150 kHz C 20 kHz–150 kHz D 150 Hz–20 kHz

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2018

26 A sheet of ice floats on water. A source of sound S is positioned at the edge of the ice sheet. Four microphones are placed equal distances from S. Which microphone detects the sound from S first? A air B D S ice water C

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2018

24 A pulse of sound is produced at the bottom of a boat. The sound travels through the water and is reflected from a shoal of fish. The sound reaches the boat again after 1.2 s. The speed of sound in the water is 1500 m / s. boat shoal of fish How far below the bottom of the boat is the shoal of fish? A 450 m B 900 m C 1800 m D 3600 m

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2019

25 What is the approximate value of the speed of sound in air at normal temperature? A 340 m / s B 34 000 m / s C 340 km / s D 3.0 × 108 m / s

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2019

24 A pulse of sound is produced at the bottom of a boat. The sound travels through the water and is reflected from a shoal of fish. The sound reaches the boat again after 1.2 s. The speed of sound in the water is 1500 m / s. boat shoal of fish How far below the bottom of the boat is the shoal of fish? A 450 m B 900 m C 1800 m D 3600 m

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0972/22 May/June 2019

25 An observer stands at the finish line of a 100 m race. He wants to time the winner’s run. He starts his stop-watch as soon as he sees the smoke from the starting gun instead of when he hears the bang. What is the reason for doing this? A Light travels much faster than sound. B There is a risk he might respond to an echo from a wall. C Humans react slower to sound than to light. D Humans react more quickly to sound than to light.

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0972/22 May/June 2019

25 Which row gives a possible set of values for the speed of sound in ice, in water and in steam? speed of sound speed of sound speed of sound in ice in water in steam m/s m/s m/s A 500 1500 4000 B 1500 4000 500 C 4000 500 1500 D 4000 1500 500

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2019

25 Sound travels through air as a series of compressions and rarefactions. Which statement correctly compares a compression with a rarefaction? A In a compression the wavelength is longer than in a rarefaction. B In a compression the wavelength is shorter than in a rarefaction. C In a compression the density of the air is greater than in a rarefaction. D In a compression the density of the air is lower than in a rarefaction.

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2020

25 A dolphin sends out a sound wave. An echo returns 0.010 s later from a fish which is 7.5 m from the dolphin. What is the speed of the sound wave in water? A 0.075 m / s B 0.15 m / s C 750 m / s D 1500 m / s

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0972/22 May/June 2020

25 Which row gives possible values for the speed of sound? speed in gas speed in liquid speed in solid m / s m / s m / s A 972 1450 3560 B 972 3560 1450 C 1450 3560 972 D 3560 972 1450

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2020

26 A police car with its siren sounding is stationary in heavy traffic. A pedestrian notices that, although the loudness of the sound produced does not change, the pitch varies. Which row describes the amplitude and the frequency of the sound? amplitude frequency A constant constant B constant varying C varying constant D varying varying

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2020

24 What is ultrasound? A sound waves that are so loud that they damage human hearing B sound waves that are too high-pitched for humans to hear C sound waves that are too low-pitched for humans to hear D sound waves that are too quiet for humans to hear

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2021

22 A sound wave is created by a loudspeaker that vibrates backwards and forwards 96 000 times per minute. The speed of sound is 320 m / s. What is the wavelength of the sound wave? A 0.20 m B 5.0 m C 300 m D 18 000 m

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2022

22 The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s. How do the speeds of sound in concrete and water compare with this speed? speed in speed in concrete water A greater greater B greater less C less greater D less less

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2022

24 An observer stands at the finish line of a 100 m race. He wants to time the winner’s run. He starts his stop-watch as soon as he sees the smoke from the starting gun instead of when he hears the bang. What is the reason for doing this? A Light travels much faster than sound. B There is a risk he might respond to an echo from a wall. C Humans react slower to sound than to light. D Humans react more quickly to sound than to light.

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2022

22 Student X fires a starting pistol which produces smoke and sound. Student Y is standing 100 m away and sees the smoke the instant it is produced. The speed of sound in air is 340 m / s. What is the time delay between student Y seeing the smoke and hearing the sound? A 0.29 s B 0.59 s C 1.7 s D 3.4 s

1 marks

Answer: A

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2023

22 A boy shouts and hears the echo from a tall building 2.2 s later. The speed of sound in air is 330 m / s. How far away from the boy is the building? A 150 m B 300 m C 360 m D 730 m

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0972/22 May/June 2023

17 Two men, P and Q, stand close to a gap in a wall, as shown. Man P cannot see man Q but man P can hear man Q speaking. P Q gap Which statement explains this? A Light waves do not diffract at all because they are electromagnetic waves. B Light waves have a range of frequencies but sound has just one frequency. C Sound waves are of a higher frequency than light waves. D Sound waves diffract a lot because their wavelength is a similar size to the width of the gap.

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2023

23 The element mercury exists as a solid, a liquid or a gas. Which row gives a possible set of values of the speeds of sound through mercury? speed of sound in speed of sound in speed of sound in frozen mercury liquid mercury mercury vapour m / s m / s m / s A 250 1500 2500 B 250 2500 1500 C 1500 250 2500 D 2500 1500 250

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2023

22 A sound wave travels at 330 m / s. The distance between the centre of a compression and the centre of the nearest rarefaction in the sound wave is 2.5 cm. What is the frequency of the sound wave? A 66 Hz B 130 Hz C 6600 Hz D 13 000 Hz

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2024

23 Which waves are used in the medical scanning of soft tissue? A gamma rays B infrared C microwaves D ultrasound

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2024

23 A candle flame is placed in front of a loudspeaker. The loudspeaker produces a sound wave that causes air particles to vibrate. The vibrating air particles make the candle flame vibrate in the same direction as the air particles. candle flame loudspeaker Which row shows the direction of vibration of the candle flame and the nature of sound waves? direction of nature of vibration sound waves A longitudinal B transverse C longitudinal D transverse

1 marks

Answer: C

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2024

23 A sound wave travels through the air and strikes a solid block of steel. Some of the sound is reflected from the steel, and some is transmitted through the steel. How does the speed and the wavelength of the sound in steel compare to the speed and the wavelength of the sound in air? speed in steel wavelength in steel A less than in air less than in air B less than in air greater than in air C greater than in air less than in air D greater than in air greater than in air

1 marks

Answer: D

This question in 0972/21 May/June 2025

23 A police car with its siren sounding is stationary in heavy traffic. A pedestrian notices that, although the loudness of the sound produced does not change, the pitch varies. Which row describes the amplitude and the frequency of the sound? amplitude frequency A constant constant B constant varying C varying constant D varying varying

1 marks

Answer: B

This question in 0972/21 Oct/Nov 2025