Questions from Modern Physics


Q: A small fraction of the energy in a sound wave is absorbed

A small fraction of the energy in a sound wave is absorbed by the air through which the sound passes. How does this modify the inverse-square relationship between intensity and distance from the sourc...

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Q: A small metal band is slipped onto one of the tines of

A small metal band is slipped onto one of the tines of a tuning fork. As this band is moved closer and closer to the end of the tine, what effect does this have on the wavelength and frequency of the...

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Q: An organist in a cathedral plays a loud chord and then releases

An organist in a cathedral plays a loud chord and then releases the keys. The sound persists for a few seconds and gradually dies away. Why does it persist? What happens to the sound energy when the s...

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Q: Two loudspeakers, A and B, are driven by the same

Two loudspeakers, A and B, are driven by the same amplifier and emit sinusoidal waves in phase. The frequency of the waves emitted by each speaker is 860 Hz. Point P is 12.0 m from A and 13.4 m from B...

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Q: The climate of regions adjacent to large bodies of water (like

The climate of regions adjacent to large bodies of water (like the Pacific and Atlantic coasts) usually features a narrower range of temperature than the climate of regions far from large bodies of wa...

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Q: A large church has part of the organ in the front of

A large church has part of the organ in the front of the church and part in the back. A person walking rapidly down the aisle while both segments are playing at once reports that the two segments soun...

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Q: A steel tank is completely filled with 1.90 m3 of

A steel tank is completely filled with 1.90 m3 of ethanol when both the tank and the ethanol are at 32.0°C. When the tank and its contents have cooled to 18.0°C, what additional volume of ethanol ca...

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Q: Before giving you an injection, a physician swabs your arm with

Before giving you an injection, a physician swabs your arm with isopropyl alcohol at room temperature. Why does this make your arm feel cold? (Hint: The reason is not the fear of the injection! The bo...

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Q: Why is a hot, humid day in the tropics generally more

Why is a hot, humid day in the tropics generally more uncomfortable for human beings than a hot, dry day in the desert?

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Q: Desert travelers sometimes keep water in a canvas bag. Some water

Desert travelers sometimes keep water in a canvas bag. Some water seeps through the bag and evaporates. How does this cool the water inside the bag?

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