Indicate true or false in each of the following statements:

1. a tube open at one end resonates with only odd harmonics
2. The frequency of a sound emitted by a vehicle as it moves toward you rises as you listen
3. a tube open at both ends resonates with all harmonics
4. an increase in sound level by 3dB is equivalent to increasing the sound intensity by a factor of 10
5. speed of sound in a medium depends on the inertial properties of the medium

And your thinking is...

To determine whether each statement is true or false, we can rely on our knowledge of physics principles. Here's an analysis of each statement:

1. A tube open at one end resonates with only odd harmonics: True. This is because when a tube is open at one end, sound waves reflect back from the open end, creating a node at that end. This node results in only odd harmonics being present in the resonating sound.

2. The frequency of a sound emitted by a vehicle as it moves toward you rises as you listen: True. This is known as the Doppler effect. As a moving vehicle approaches you, the sound waves it generates become compressed, causing the perceived frequency to increase.

3. A tube open at both ends resonates with all harmonics: False. A tube open at both ends (such as a pipe or flute) produces only odd harmonics. This is because there are two open ends, resulting in two nodes where the pressure is zero. As a result, only odd harmonic frequencies can resonate in this type of tube.

4. An increase in sound level by 3dB is equivalent to increasing the sound intensity by a factor of 10: False. The relationship between decibels (dB) and sound intensity is logarithmic. A 3dB increase actually corresponds to doubling the sound intensity, not increasing it by a factor of 10. To increase sound intensity by a factor of 10, you would need to have a 10dB increase.

5. The speed of sound in a medium depends on the inertial properties of the medium: False. The speed of sound actually depends primarily on the elastic properties of the medium, such as its density and stiffness. These properties determine how fast sound waves can propagate through the medium.

By analyzing the physics concepts underlying each statement, we can determine whether they are true or false.