Reflection of Sound — Echo and Reverberation
Reflection of sound is the bouncing back of sound from a surface; echo is a distinct reflected sound, while reverberation is repeated reflection that prolongs sound.
Practice This ConceptMain explanation
Teacher explanation
An echo is heard separately only if the reflected sound reaches the ear after at least about 0.1 s. Since sound must travel to the reflecting surface and back, the minimum distance of a reflecting surface in air is about 17 m when speed is taken as 340 m/s. Reverberation occurs in halls when many reflections overlap and make sound persist.
Example
A shout near a distant wall may return as an echo, but in a large empty hall repeated reflections may cause reverberation.
Simple analogy
Echo goes and comes back, so divide by two.
Common confusion
Students often use one-way distance instead of round-trip distance in echo numericals.
Exam tip
For echo numericals, always use total distance travelled by sound = 2 × distance from wall.
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What this diagram makes clear
This diagram keeps the labels and direction of reflection of sound — echo and reverberation in the right order.
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Revision cue
Revise reflection of sound — echo and reverberation through the labels before writing the answer.
Answer writing and exam use
1-mark use
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2-mark use
Define reflection of sound — echo and reverberation and add one example or condition.
3-mark use
Explain reflection of sound — echo and reverberation, show the method or example, and mention the common mistake.
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