Question

A.Whale communication. Blue whales apparently communicate with each other using sound of frequency 17.0 Hz, which can be heard nearly 1000 km away in the ocean. What is the wavelength of such a sound in seawater, where the speed of sound is 1531 m/s?B.Dolphin clicks. One type of sound that dolphins emit is a sharp click of wavelength 1.50 cm in the ocean. What is the frequency of such clicks?C.Dog whistles. One brand of dog whistles claims a frequency of 25.0 Hz for its product. What is the wavelength of this sound?D.Bats. While bats emit a wide variety of sounds, one type emits pulses of sound having a frequency between 39.0 Hz and 78.0 Hz. What is the range of wavelengths of this sound?E.Sonograms. Ultrasound is used to view the interior of the body, much as x rays are utilized. For sharp imagery, the wavelength of the sound should be around one-fourth (or less) the size of the objects to be viewed. Approximately what frequency of sound is needed to produce a clear image of a tumor that is 1.00 mm across if the speed of sound in the tissue is 1550 m/s?

Answer 1

A. 90.1 m

The wavelength of a wave is given by:

$\lambda=\frac{v}{f}$

where

v is the speed of the wave

f is its frequency

For the sound emitted by the whale, v = 1531 m/s and f = 17.0 Hz, so the wavelength is

$\lambda=\frac{1531 m/s}{17.0 Hz}=90.1 m$

B. 102 kHz

We can re-arrange the same equation used previously to solve for the frequency, f:

$f=\frac{v}{\lambda}$

where for the dolphin:

v = 1531 m/s is the wave speed

$\lambda=1.50 cm=0.015 m$ is the wavelength

Substituting into the equation,

$f=\frac{1531 m/s}{0.015 m}=1.02 \cdot 10^5 Hz=102 kHz$

C. 13.6 m

Again, the wavelength is given by:

$\lambda=\frac{v}{f}$

where

v = 340 m/s is the speed of sound in air

f = 25.0 Hz is the frequency of the whistle

Substituting into the equation,

$\lambda=\frac{340 m/s}{25.0 Hz}=13.6 m$

D. 4.4-8.7 m

Using again the same formula, and using again the speed of sound in air (v=340 m/s), we have:

- Wavelength corresponding to the minimum frequency (f=39.0 Hz):

$\lambda=\frac{340 m/s}{39.0 Hz}=8.7 m$

- Wavelength corresponding to the maximum frequency (f=78.0 Hz):

$\lambda=\frac{340 m/s}{78.0 Hz}=4.4 m$

So the range of wavelength is 4.4-8.7 m.

E. 6.2 MHz

In order to have a sharp image, the wavelength of the ultrasound must be 1/4 of the size of the tumor, so

$\lambda=\frac{1}{4}(1.00 mm)=0.25 mm=2.5\cdot 10^{-4} m$

And since the speed of the sound wave is

v = 1550 m/s

The frequency will be

$f=\frac{v}{\lambda}=\frac{1550 m/s}{2.5\cdot 10^{-4} m}=6.2\cdot 10^6 Hz=6.2 MHz$