Question

Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What is an echo? What factors are important to get a distinct echo?

b. Study the construction of the Golghumat at Vijapur and discuss the reasons for the multiple echoes produced there.

c. What should be the dimensions and the shape of classrooms so that no echo can be produced there?

Answer 1

a. The repetition of sound caused by its reflection off a hard surface is known as echo. Factors important to get a distinct echo are:

• The minimum distance between the source and reflector of sound should be 17 m.
• The size of reflector must be large enough as compared to the wavelength of the sound wave.

b. Golghumbat has a central dome which stands without any support. The sound produced here gets reflected throughout the dome producing the echo at least three to four times in a second. If the surroundings inside the architecture are very quiet, then we would be able to hear echo at least seven to ten times. So, this central dome is the main reason for the production of multiple echoes in Golghumat.

c. For no echo to be produced in a classroom, the classroom should be square shaped with distance between the walls to be less than 17.2 m. Also, the ceiling should be curved shaped so that the reflection of sound wave is uniform throughout the room.