Question

Sam is conducting an experiment in a closed room. He places two sound-generating instruments, A and B, in different places in the room. Both instruments generate sound waves of the same amplitude and at the same time. Sam is holding a recording device that records a louder sound from instrument A than from instrument B. What could have caused this mismatch in loudness?
Instrument A is placed closer to Sam than instrument B.
Instrument B is placed closer to Sam than instrument A.
The sound wave generated by instrument A has a higher pitch.
The sound wave generated by instrument B has a higher pitch.
The sound wave generated by instrument B has a higher wavelength.

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is "Instrument A is placed closer to Sam than instrument B".

Explanation:

The sound can be soft or loud. Loudness depends on the amplitude of the sound wave. Higher the amplitude, more will be loudness. Lower the amplitude, lesser will be loudness.

Pitch depends on the frequency.

In the given problem, the instruments A and B generate sound waves of the same amplitude and at the same time.

Loudness depends on the sound energy produced as the energy of the sound is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude. It also depends on the distance between the source and the receiver.

Sam records a louder sound from instrument A than from instrument B. It means that there is mismatch in loudness. It can happen due to the placement of the instrument A closer to Sam than instrument B.

Therefore, the correct option is "Instrument A is placed closer to Sam than instrument B".