NATS 1720

NAME:

ASSIGNMENT 2
SOUND & OSCILLATIONS
Due: Oct 20, 2016
Please answer the questions on these pages. You can attach additional
pages if you need more space. If you do then please clearly indicate which
question is being answered on the extra page.
Your completed assignment is to be handed in during class on Thursday, October 20th, or in the NATS 1720 drop-box outside Bethune 218 by no later
than 4pm on Tuesday, October 20th.
This assignment is out of 10 marks.

Marker General Comments

NATS 1720

NAME:

1. Suppose you listen to the sound coming from two loudspeakers, each producing a
pure tone with a wavelength of 30 cm. Describe the loudness of the sound you hear
(compared to the sound of one speaker alone) when you are standing
a) 6 m from one speaker, and 4.8 m from the other. [1 Mark]

b) 5.5 m from one speaker, and 3.2 m from the other. [1 Mark]

2. For the same situation as in question #1a), identify at least one more wavelength for
which the interference behaviour at the same position will be identical. Explain. [2
Marks]

3. Using sonar (sound waves transmitted under water) you find what you believe to be
the wreckage of an old cargo ship. Echoes from the wreck are received from a direction
at 45 degrees to the water surface and directly ahead of your research ship. Since the
temperature of seawater decreases with increasing depth, where is the wreck in reality?
Is it closer to or further away from your vessel? Explain (a sketch is recommended).
[1 Mark]

NATS 1720

NAME:

4. Consider the situation shown below, with a source S and a detector D. The source
emits sound in all directions such that the overpressure amplitude 1 meter away is 1
Pa. Assume the wall to be 100% reflecting.

D
a) Use the method of images to sketch the path of the reflected sound ray connecting
S and D. (use a ruler and try to be as accurate as possible!) [2 Mark]
b) Assuming that a distance of 1 cm on the sketch equals 1 m in the real world,
roughly estimate the overpressure amplitude of the sound wave when it reaches
detector D? Explain. [1 Mark]

c) If the wavelength of the sound produced at S is 1000 Hz, will diffraction be an

important contribution to the overall sound detected at D? Explain. [1 Mark]

5. Bob and Alice are tuning their guitars prior to a recital. Alice has previously tuned
her guitars using a tuning fork so that it plays the note A4 at 440 Hz. When Bob
plays A4 together with Alice, his instrument sounds a slightly lower pitch and they
hear clear beats 4 times every second. What frequency is Bobs guitar producing? [1
Mark]