Question

Your boss asks you to design a room that can be as soundproof as possible and provides you with three samples of material. The only information on each sample's label is the material's coefficient of absorption. The coefficient of absorption listed on Sample A is 30%, on Sample B is 47%, and on Sample C is 62%. When your boss asks for your choice and the reasoning behind it, what would you tell him? A. Sample C would be best, because the percentage of the energy in an incident wave that remains in a reflected wave from this material is the largest. B. Sample C would be best, because the percentage of the energy in an incident wave that remains in a reflected wave from this material is the smallest. C. Sample A would be best, because the percentage of the energy in an incident wave that remains in a reflected wave from this material is the largest. D. Sample A would be best, because the percentage of the energy in an incident wave that remains in a reflected wave from this material is the smallest. need asp

Answer 1

The "coefficient of absorption" of a soundproofing material is

the fraction of sound energy that goes into the material, gets

absorbed, doesn't come out, and is never heard again.

So, sample C would be the best choice, because the percentage

of the energy in an incident wave that gets absorbed in this material

is the greatest, and the percentage of the energy that remains in a

reflected wave from this material is the smallest. (Choice-B)