A bat emits ultrasonic sound of frequency 1000 kHz in air. If the sound gets reflected from a water surface, the wavelength of the reflected sound will be _______. (Speed of sound in air is 340 ms-1)

Key Points

• The frequency of the ultrasonic sound emitted by the bat is 1000 kHz.
• The speed of sound in air is given as 340 m/s.
• Using the formula for wavelength, λ = v / f, where v is the speed of sound and f is the frequency, the wavelength can be calculated.
• Substituting the given values: λ = 340 m/s / 1000 x 10³ Hz = 0.34 x 10⁻³ m.

Additional Information

• Ultrasonic Sound
  • Ultrasonic sound refers to sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing, which is about 20 kHz.
  • Ultrasonics are used in various applications, including medical imaging (ultrasound), industrial nondestructive testing, and cleaning.
• Speed of Sound
  • The speed of sound is the distance that sound waves travel through an elastic medium per unit of time.
  • It depends on the medium through which it is traveling. In air at room temperature, the speed of sound is approximately 340 m/s.
• Wavelength
  • The wavelength of a sound wave is the distance between successive crests (or troughs) of the wave.
  • It is inversely proportional to the frequency of the wave, given by the formula λ = v / f, where λ is the wavelength, v is the speed of sound, and f is the frequency.