Q1.
Take a few objects, such as a metal spoon, a coin, a piece of coal, and a block of wood. Drop them one by one from a certain height. Do you notice any difference in the sound produced by these objects?
Answer
Yes, a clear difference. Drop each object from the same small height on to the same hard floor, and listen carefully.
| Object | Material | Sound produced | Sonorous? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal spoon | Steel | Ringing | Yes |
| Coin | Metal alloy | Ringing | Yes |
| Piece of coal | Carbon (non-metal) | Dull thud | No |
| Block of wood | Wood | Dull thud | No |
Conclusion: metals are sonorous; coal and wood are not.
Did you know? A person who cannot see uses exactly this difference. As the white cane taps the ground, a ringing tap means metal — a manhole cover or a grill — and a dull tap means wood or stone. The sound draws the map of the path.
Caution: be careful while dropping the objects, and make sure no one's feet are below.