Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.
🔑Concepts
Sonority is the physical property of a substance by which it produces a ringing sound when struck with a hard object.
Metals are generally sonorous. When a metal surface is hit, the atoms vibrate and produce a resonant, clear sound.
Non-metals are non-sonorous. When struck, they produce a dull 'thud' sound rather than a ringing sound.
Common examples of sonorous metals include Copper (), Iron (), Silver (), and Gold ().
Non-metals like Carbon (), Phosphorus (), and Sulfur () lack this property and are categorized as non-sonorous.
The property of sonority is why metals are used to make bells, cymbals, and strings for musical instruments like the sitar or violin.
📐Formulae
💡Examples
Problem 1:
Why is a school bell made of metal and not of wood?
Solution:
Metals are sonorous, whereas wood is non-sonorous.
Explanation:
Because metals possess the property of sonority, they produce a loud, ringing sound that can be heard over long distances when struck. Wood, being a non-metal, would only produce a dull sound that does not resonate.
Problem 2:
A student has two samples: Sample A is a piece of Sulfur () and Sample B is a piece of Aluminium (). Which one will produce a ringing sound when struck?
Solution:
Sample B (Aluminium) will produce a ringing sound.
Explanation:
Aluminium is a metal and is therefore sonorous. Sulfur is a non-metal and is non-sonorous; it will likely crumble or produce a muffled sound instead of a ringing one.