The boys are communicating with each other by stretching a string passing through a hole punched in the bottom of each of two tin cans. The physical principle employed is that sound travels

  • A mainly through air
  • B fainter in stretched string
  • C faster through gases than in solids and liquids
  • D with greater ease through a string than in air
  • E none of the above is correct
jamb 1978physics

The correct answer is D. with greater ease through a string than in air

When the boys speak into one tin can, the vibrations of their voices cause the bottom of the can to vibrate.

These vibrations are then transferred along the string to the other tin can, where they cause the bottom of that can to vibrate as well. This allows the sound to be transmitted effectively through the string.

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