Question

Does sound follow the same laws of reflection as light does? Give some real life examples of reflection of sound.

Answer 1

Yes. Sound follows the same laws of reflection as light.

The reflected sound wave and the incident sound wave make an equal angle with the normal to the surface at the point of incidence. Also, the reflected sound wave, the normal to the point of incidence, and the incident sound wave all lie in the same plane.

Reflection of sound examples

(i) Reflection of sound is used to measure the speed and distance of underwater objects. This method is called SONAR.

(ii) Working of a stethoscope – the sound of a patient’s heartbeat reaches the doctor’s ear through multiple reflections of sound.