Question

Microphone is used to convert
$(a)$ Electrical energy into sound energy
$(b)$ Sound energy into electrical energy
$(c)$ Sound energy into mechanical energy
$(d)$ Sound energy into chemical energy

Answer 1

Hint: In this question use the concept that once sound waves are inputted to a mic, its main function is to amplify that sound, but however this amplification part can’t be done directly to the sound waves, these waves need to be converted first into electrical energy so that it can be processed. Thus a device is required to do the needful. This will help approaching the problem.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Microphone is a type of transducer that converts sound energy into electrical signals.
Consider a case when we speak on mic in front of a large audience, when we speak, so we release sound signals these signals behave as input signals for the mic which is a transducer that converts these sound signals into electrical signals and the output of this mic is connected to external speakers which again converted these electrical signals into sound signals which is what we heard.
There are several types of microphone available in the market which all possess different methods to convert the air pressure variations of a sound wave into electrical signals.
The most common type of microphone available is a dynamic microphone which uses a coil of wire suspended in a magnetic field.
The first microphone which was invented by David Edward Hughes is a carbon microphone in the 1870s.
But Edison was awarded by the first patent after a long legal dispute in mid-1877.
But most of the historians give credit to Hughes instead of Edison.
Thomas Elva Edison redefined the carbon microphone into his carbon button transmitter of 1886.
The first ever microphone was used in concert at the New York metropolitan opera house in 1910.
So this is the required answer.
Hence option (B) is the correct answer.

Note – In general there are 4 types of microphones namely dynamic microphone, large diaphragm condenser microphone, small diaphragm condenser microphone and ribbon microphone. The sound waves if thus converted into voltage pulses then it can be successfully converted into electric energy.