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P4 General Studies: Sound, Vibration and Hearing (Paper 3 (challenge))
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P4 General Studies: Sound, Vibration and Hearing (Paper 3 (challenge))
Paper three works on speed-of-sound and echo sums, then noise and ear protection.
Direct answers Write the formula before the numbers, and always ask how many trips an echo makes.
01 Paper details (check answers afterwards)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 10 |
| Suggested time | 20 |
| Difficulty mix | Foundation 3 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 3 · Error redo 1 |
| Chapter | Chapter: P4 General Studies: Sound, Vibration and Hearing |
| Level | parts of a closed circuit, conductors against insulators, series against parallel, adding up battery voltage, and electrical safety |
02 Questions (10 items)
- FoundationWith sound at 340 m/s, how far does it travel in 2.5 seconds?
- FoundationA shout returns from a cliff after 1.5 seconds. How far is the cliff?
- FoundationWhich has the higher pitch: 256 Hz or 512 Hz?
- IntermediateSound travels about 5000 m/s in steel and 340 m/s in air. How many times faster is steel?
- IntermediateThree hundred and sixty of 480 concert goers hear the high notes. What proportion is that, in percentage points?
- IntermediateA fork is struck harder so its amplitude grows but the frequency stays the same. What changes?
- ChallengeWhy does a damaged eardrum stop a person hearing?
- ChallengeWhat can long exposure to sound above 85 decibels do?
- ChallengeA classroom faces a busy road. Name two ways to cut the noise.
- Error redoError clinic: a higher frequency always means a louder sound. Right?
03 Answers and one-line notes
| # | Answer | One-line note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 850.0 m. | 340 multiplied by 2.5 gives 850.0 metres. |
| 2 | 255.0 m. | The sound goes there and back, so 340 times 1.5 divided by 2 gives 255.0 metres. |
| 3 | The 512 Hz one. | Its frequency is twice as high (2.0 times), which is one octave up. |
| 4 | 14.7 times. | 5000 divided by 340 gives 14.7, so steel carries sound far faster. |
| 5 | 75.0 percentage points. | 360 divided by 480 then multiplied by 100 gives 75.0 percentage points. |
| 6 | It sounds louder, with the same pitch. | Amplitude controls loudness and frequency controls pitch, so they change separately. |
| 7 | Sound waves can no longer set the eardrum vibrating, so no signal reaches the inner ear or brain. | The eardrum turns sound into vibration; once damaged, that link is broken. |
| 8 | It can damage hearing and cause permanent hearing loss. | Damage to hair cells in the ear is permanent, so avoid such noise or wear ear protection. |
| 9 | Fit double glazing and add sound-absorbing material such as heavy curtains or panels. | Blocking the path and absorbing the energy together make the biggest difference. |
| 10 | No. | Frequency sets pitch; loudness comes from amplitude. |
04 What to do after marking
- After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
- Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
- Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.
Paper four clears the conductor, insulator and battery direction misconceptions.Tutor Registration →
Questions and answers are written originally by the TutorZone team and are not taken from any school, publisher or examination authority paper. Every value is checked by computer.