The Speed of Sound — Questions and answers

Read the full story

What did Omar's dad explain about sound and light?

Choices

  1. A. Sound travels faster than light.
  2. B. Light has no speed, but sound does.
  3. C. Sound has a speed and is slower than light. ✓
  4. D. It's impossible to measure the speed of sound.

Answer: C. Sound has a speed and is slower than light.

From page 2

What was William Derham's main interest, besides being a church rector?

Choices

  1. A. Collecting rare books.
  2. B. Playing musical instruments.
  3. C. Observing weather, studying insects, and measuring things. ✓
  4. D. Building new church towers.

Answer: C. Observing weather, studying insects, and measuring things.

From page 4

What question was William Derham trying to answer with his measurement?

Choices

  1. A. How far away was the cannon?
  2. B. How long did it take for the cannon's sound to arrive after the flash? ✓
  3. C. Why did cannons make such a loud boom?
  4. D. How many times could his clock's pendulum swing in a minute?

Answer: B. How long did it take for the cannon's sound to arrive after the flash?

From page 5

How did William Derham measure the time it took for the cannon's sound to reach him?

Choices

  1. A. He used a stopwatch.
  2. B. He counted the swings of a half-second pendulum. ✓
  3. C. He guessed the time.
  4. D. He asked his friend to shout the time.

Answer: B. He counted the swings of a half-second pendulum.

From page 6

Which of these is NOT a way understanding the speed of sound has changed things?

Choices

  1. A. Designing jets that fly faster than sound.
  2. B. Using sonar to map the ocean floor.
  3. C. Using ultrasound to see inside the human body.
  4. D. Building faster cars for racing. ✓

Answer: D. Building faster cars for racing.

From page 7

What did Omar realize about the lighthouse flash and sound?

Choices

  1. A. The lighthouse was much closer than she thought.
  2. B. The lighthouse horn was broken.
  3. C. The lighthouse flash was like Derham's cannon flash, and the sound had to travel. ✓
  4. D. Leo already knew about the speed of sound.

Answer: C. The lighthouse flash was like Derham's cannon flash, and the sound had to travel.

From page 8