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Question 13

An athletics coach is trying to measure the speed of sound in air using an echo method.

She has a starting pistol (which produces both a bright flash and a loud report), a digital stopwatch, and a long tape measure.

a.

Suggest one suitable large object that she could use as a sound reflector.

[1]
b.

She stands a measured distance of 255textm255\\text{ m}255textm from her chosen reflector and fires the pistol safely.

Identify what she should see or hear to start the stopwatch.

[1]
c.

Identify what she should hear to stop the stopwatch.

[1]
d.

The stopwatch registers a time of 1.50texts1.50\\text{ s}1.50texts.

Using this time and the distance from (b), calculate the speed of sound in air.

[2]
e.

Suggest one reason why the calculated speed of sound might not be highly accurate, assuming that the stopwatch and tape measure function correctly.

[1]
Markscheme

Sound Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Sound

295 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics Sound, covering Sound. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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