Question

A sound wave travels at a speed of $339m/s$. If its wavelength is $1.5cm$, what is the frequency of the wave? Will it be audible?

Answer 1

Step 1: Given data

The speed of the sound wave is $v=339m/s.$

The wavelength of sound is $\lambda =0.015cm.$

Step 2: Frequency

1. Frequency is the total number of waves produced in unit time.
2. Frequency is defined by the form, $\nu =\frac{V}{\lambda }$, where, V is the speed of the wave and $\lambda$ is the wavelength of the wave.

Step 3: Finding the frequency

As we know, frequency is $\nu =\frac{V}{\lambda }$.

or

$$\begin{gathered} \nu =\frac{V}{\lambda }=\frac{339}{0.015}=22600 \\ or\nu =22600Hz. \end{gathered}$$

We know human ears are able to hear sound waves of a range of frequencies $20-20000Hz$. So, $22600Hz$ is not audible to the human ear.

Therefore, the frequency of the wave is $22600Hz$ and it is not audible.