Start learning →

A bat produces a sound with a frequency of 17,250 Hz and a wavelength of 0.019 m. What is the speed of this sound?

A1.7 x 10^6 m/s
B8.6 x 10^5 m/s
C3.28 x 10^2 m/s
D1.15 x 10^-6 m/s
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 3.28 x 10^2 m/s
1. Identify the knowns: f = 17,250 Hz and lambda = 0.019 m. 2. Use v = f x lambda to find the speed of sound. 3. Substitute the SI values: v = 17,250 Hz x 0.019 m = 327.75 m/s, which rounds to 3.28 x 10^2 m/s. 4. This matches option C. 5. Option A, 1.7 x 10^6 m/s, results from dividing frequency by wavelength instead of multiplying them. 6. Option B, 8.6 x 10^5 m/s, is roughly double the correct product, consistent with an arithmetic slip in the multiplication. 7. Option D, 1.15 x 10^-6 m/s, results from dividing wavelength by frequency, the inverse of the correct operation. _Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 14 "Sound", section 14.1 Speed of Sound, Frequency, and Wavelength_
Practise this question with Quill — SACE (South Australia) →

Keep practising Sound

Browse all Sound questions for SACE (South Australia), or explore more Physics topics.

Start a Sound lesson →
Related questions