Question

A sound wave with a frequency f is created by a speaker in a room full of nitrogen gas (call this room 1). The wave then travels into another room (room 2), which is full of hydrogen gass.

a) Is the frequency of the wave in room 2 the same of different than the frequency of the wave in the room 1? Explain briefly but clearly

b) is the wave speed of the wave in room 2 the same of different than the wave speed of the wave in the room 1?

c) Is the wavelength of the wave in room 2 the same or different than the wavelength of the wave in the room 1?

Answer 1

a)The frequency of the wave in room 2 is of the same frequency of the wave in room 1. Because the frequency of sound waves does not change on changing medium. The frequency of sound waves depends upon the source of the sound, not on the medium of propagation.

b)Yes, the wave speed of the wave in room 2 is different from the wave speed of the wave in room 1 because the velocity of a sound wave depends on the density of the gas and the 2 gases will have different density so wave speed will be different. (i.e. wave speed of sound wave depends on the medium , it will be different in different medium).

c)Wave speed is directly proportional to the wavelength of the wave so as the wave speed changes wavelength will also change. So, the wavelength of the wave in room 2 is different than the wavelength of the wave in the room 1.