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Wave Motion Sound Wave

This document discusses wave motion and properties of waves. It defines waves as a disturbance that transmits energy through a medium without bulk motion of the medium. There are two main types of waves: mechanical waves that require a material medium, like sound waves, and electromagnetic waves that do not require a medium, like light waves. The document provides the general equation that describes wave motion and defines key wave properties like amplitude, wavelength, frequency, wave number, and speed. It also gives the specific equation for a simple harmonic plane wave and shows how to relate wavelength, frequency and wave speed.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

733 views69 pages

Wave Motion Sound Wave

Uploaded by

Rizwanbhat

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FIITJEE

PHYSICS
FIITJEE
PINNACLE
For – JEE (Main/Advanced)
FIITJEE Ltd. Material Provided by - Material Point Available on - Learnaf.com

Syllabus:
Longitudinal and transverse waves, wave motion, speed of wave motion,
Displacement relation for a progressive wave; Principle of superposition of
waves, Reflections of waves, Refraction of waves, standing waves in strings and
pipes, Resonance, fundamental mode and harmonics, Beats, speed of sound,
Doppler effect.

Wave Motion

The vehicle, which is responsible for the transmission of energy from one place to another
through a medium without any bulk motion of the medium in the direction of energy flow, is called
a wave.

Types of waves:

(a) Mechanical waves: The wave, produced due to the vibration of material particles of an
elastic medium e.g. sound wave, vibrating string.

(b) Electro magnetic waves: Waves which are produced due to the periodic vibration of two
mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields are Electro magnetic waves. It propagates
in a direction perpendicular to both electric and magnetic field. e.g. light waves, X-ray, -ray
etc.

Equation of wave motion

The common feature of all waves is the transmission of some sort of disturbance with a certain
velocity. This disturbance may be the displacement or velocity of the particle of the medium or the
magnitude of the fluctuating electric and magnetic field.
Suppose the disturbance is propagating along positive x-axis with a velocity v. The disturbance
which is a function of x and t can be represented as :
y = f(x, t)
The function is called wave function. t=0
A
t=t
A
Let us choose an origin
O such that at the instant t = 0, y = f(x) y
i.e. y is a function of x-only.
At t = 0, the wave form is represented by OA
x
O
vt O
x

If this wave form advances unchanged, it is called plane wave of constant type. After time t the
waveform takes the position OA such that OO = vt. Now the distance x measured from O,
x = x - vt.
The wave form at that instant
y = f(x) = f(x – vt) . . . (i)

FIITJEE Ltd., ICES House, Sarvapriya Vihar (Near Hauz Khas Bus Terminal), New Delhi - 16, Ph : 6515949 , 6865182, 6854102, Fax : 6513942
FIITJEE Ltd. Material Provided by - Material Point Available on - Learnaf.com

P-68-P-4-KN-PH-WS-2 Pinnacle Study Package

This is the equation for any disturbance which travels with a constant velocity v towards the
positive direction of x. The function f determines the shape and size of the wave.
For the wave propagating along negative x-axis
y = f (x + vt) . . . (ii)

Wave function condition

Differentiating equation (i) twice with respect to time.
We obtain
d2 y d2 y
2
 v2 2 . . . . (iii)
dt dx
Any finite function which satisfy (iii) is called a wave.

Exercise 1.
Which of the following functions represent wave?
(a) sin kx cos t (b) k2x2 – 2t2,
(c) cos2(kx -  t) (d) cos(kx2 - 2x2)

Equation of a simple harmonic plane wave

In case of harmonic wave the displacement of successive particles of the medium is given by a
sine function or cosine function of position.
The displacement y at t = 0 is given by
y = A sinkx . . . (iv)
Where A and k are constants.
Suppose this disturbance is propagating along positive x - direction then
y = A sink(x – vt) . . . (v)

Since the waveform represented by equation (iv) is based on sine function, it would repeat itself
at regular distances. The first repetition would take place when
kx = 2 or x = 2/k
This distance after which the repetition takes place is called the wavelength and denoted by .
Hence
 = 2/k or k = 2/
y y = A sin 2 x
This constant k is called propagation constant or x

wave number. Now equation (v) turns into
y = A sin (x – vt) . . . (vi) O x
B D
2
At t=0 y = A sin x . . (vii) /2 
 C

Relation between wavelength and velocity of propagation

Time taken for one complete cycle of wave to pass any point is the time period (T).
This is also the time taken by the disturbance in propagating a distance .

v = = f where f = frequency ( Hz)

2
= = 2f = circular frequency (rad/s)
T

Different forms of simple harmonic wave equation:

The wave equation of a wave traveling in x-direction
y = A sin (t – x/v)
 t x
 y = A sin (t – kx) = A sin 2   
T 
 A sink  vt  x 

Also, it is to be noted that we have made our particular choice of t=0 in writing equation y=A sin
t. The origin of time is chosen at an instant when the left end x=0 is crossing its mean position
y=0 and is going up. For a general choice of the origin of time, we have to add a phase constant
so that equation will be

y  A sin   t  x / v    
The constant  will be /2 if we choose t=0 at an instant when the left end reaches its extreme
position y=A. The equation will then be
y  A cos   t  x / v 

If t=0 is taken at the instant when the left end is crossing the mean position from upward to
downward direction,  will be  and the equation will be
y  A sin   x / v  t 
y  A sin  kx  t 

Illustration 1. Consider the wave y  5 sin  2x  60t  mm . X is in centimetres and t is in second.

Find (a) The Amplitude (b) The wave number (c) The wavelength (d) The
frequency (e) The time period and (f) The wave velocity

Solution: Comparing the given equation with y  A sin  kx  t 

(a) Amplitude A= 5mm
(b) Wave number K=2 /cm
(c) Wave length  = 2/2 =  cm
 60 30
(d) Frequency     Hz
2 2 
1 
(e) Time period T   sec
 30
(f) Wave velocity v =  = 30 cm.

Exercise 2. What is the nature of a wave on the surface of water?

Illustration 2. Equation of a transverse wave travelling in a rope is given by

y = 5 sin ( 4.0t – 0.02 x)
Where y and x are expressed in cm and time in seconds. Calculate
(a) The amplitude, frequency, velocity and wavelength of the wave.
(b) The maximum transverse speed and acceleration of a particle in the
rope.

P-68-P-4-KN-PH-WS-4 Pinnacle Study Package

Solution: (a) Comparing this with the standard equation of wave motion
 2 
y = A sin  2ft  x
  
Where A, f and  are amplitude, frequency and wavelength respectively.
Thus amplitude A = 5cm
2f = 4
4
 Frequency f =  0.673 cycle / s
2
2 2
Again  0.02 or Wavelength   = 100  cm
 0.02
4 2
Velocity of the wave v = f  = 200 cm/s
2 0.02

dy
(b) Transverse velocity of the particle u = = 5 x 4 cos(4.0 t – 0.02x)
dt
= 20 cos(4.0 t – 0.02x)
Maximum velocity of the particle = 20 cm/s
d2 y
Particle acceleration a = 2  20 x 4 sin
dt
 4.0 t  0.02 t 

Maximum particle acceleration = 80 cm/s2

Illustration 3. An observer standing at a sea-cost observes 54 waves reaching the coast per
minute. If the wavelength of the wave is 10m, find the velocities of the waves.

54 -1
Solution: f= s
60
 = 10 m
54
v = f =  10  9 m / s .
60

Illustration 4. A progressive wave of frequency 550 Hz is travelling with a velocity of 360 m/s.
How far apart are the two points 600 out of phase?

Solution: f = 550 Hz, v = 360 Hz

v 360 36
=   m
f 550 55
2
 = x

 2  55x
 
3 36
 x = 0.109 m.

 x 
Illustration 5. Given: y = 0.8 sin16  t  meter. Calculate the wavelength and the velocity
 40 
of the wave represented by this equation.

 8x 
Solution: y = 0.8 sin 2  8t 
 40 

 t x
Comparing with y = a sin 2   
T 
1
 8 ,  = 5m
T

Thus, v = = 5  8 = 40 m/s.
T
Longitudinal and transverse wave:
In a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium carrying the mechanical wave move back and
forth along the direction of propagation. Sound in air is a longitudinal wave.

In a transverse wave, the particles of the medium oscillate in the direction perpendicular to the
direction of propagation of wave, for example the waves in a taut string.

Sine wave travelling on a string

When one end of tight string is fixed and other end is displaced
slightly up and down continuously, then it keeps on doing work on the
string and the energy is continues to vibrate up and down from the left
once the first disturbance has reached it. It receives the energy from
left, transmits it to the right and process continues. The nature of
vibration of any particle similar to that of the left end, the only
difference being that the motion is repeated after a time delay of x/v.
When the left end vibrates i.e. x=0 in an SHM, The equation of motion of this end may then be
f(t) = A sint
Where A= amplitude
 = the angular frequency.
The wave produced by such a vibrating source is called a sine wave or sinusoidal wave.
Since the displacement of the particle at x = 0 is
Given by y= A sin t, the displacement of the particle at x at time t will be
y  f t  x / v 
y  A sin   t  x / v 
The reason is that the wave moves along the string with a constant speed v and the displacement
of the particle at x at time t was original as at x=0 at time(t-x/).
Next, velocity
dy
 A cos   t  x / v 
dt
Here variable x is taken constant .It is the velocity of the same particle whose displacement
should be considered as a function of time.

Illustration 6. A transverse sinusoidal wave is generated at one end of a long horizontal string
by a bar that moves the end up and down through a distance of 1.50 cm. The
motion is continuous and is repeated regularly 100 times per sec.
(a) If the distance between the adjacent wave crests is observed to be15.0 cm, find
the amplitude, frequency, speed and the wavelength of the wave motion.
(b) Assuming the wave moves in the +x direction and that at t = 0, the element of the
string at x = 0 is at its equilibrium position y = 0 and moving downward, find the
equation of the wave.

Solution: (a) As the bar moves a total of 1.50 cm, the end of the string moves
1
(1.50 cm) = 0.75 cm. away from the equilibrium position, therefore the
2

P-68-P-4-KN-PH-WS-6 Pinnacle Study Package

amplitude A is 0.75 cm. The entire movement is repeated 100 times per second,
thus frequency f = 100 Hz.
The distance between adjacent crest i.e. wavelength,  = 0.15 m
wave speed v = f
= 100  0.15 = 15 m/s.

(b) The general expression for a transverse sinusoidal wave moving in the +x
direction is
y = (x, t) = A sin (kx - t - )
dy
At y = 0  0 for x = 0 and t = 0 yields
dt
A sin (-) = 0
and  A cos (-) < 0,
Which means that the phase constant  may be taken to be zero (or any integer
multiple of 2). Hence
y (x, t) = A sin (kx - t)
2 2
k= = rad/m.
 0.15
2
 = vk = 15  = 200  = 628 rad/s.
0.15
 2 
Thus, y (x, t) = 0.75  102 sin  x  628t  m
 0.15 
Where x in meter and t in seconds.

Illustration 7. As the wave passes along the string, each particle of the string moves up and
down at right angles to the direction of the wave motion. Find the expression for
the velocity and acceleration of a particle P located at xP = 0.30 m, with reference
to illustration 6.

Solution: For a particle at xp = 0.30 m in the above wave

2
vy(xp, t) = - 0.75  102  628  cos [  0.30  628t] m/s
0.15
= - 4.71 cos (4 - 628 t) m/s.
Similarly acceleration,
ay(xp, t) = - (0.75)  102  (628)2  sin (4 - 628 t) m/s2
 2.96  103 sin (4 - 628t) m/s2

Energy and power of a traveling string wave:

When a wave is set up on stretched string, the energy is provided for the motion of the string. As
the wave moves away, it transports that energy as both kinetic energy and elastic potential
energy

Kinetic Energy
An element of the string of mass dm, oscillating transversely is SHM as the wave pass through it,
y
has kinetic energy associated with its transverse velocity  . When the element is passing
t
through its y=0 position, its transverse velocity and thus kinetic energy is maximum. At the
extreme position y=A, It transverse velocity and thus its kinetic energy is zero.

Elastic potential energy  d

To send a sinusoidal wave along the string, the wave must v (b) (a)
ym
stretch the string. As a string element of length dx oscillates
transversely, its length must increase and decrease in
periodic way if the string element is to fit the sinusoidal wave x
form. dx dx
When the string element is at y=A position, its length has its
normal undisturbed value dx, so its elastic potential energy
is zero. At y=0 position, elastic potential energy is maximum.

Energy of a plane progressive wave:

The kinetic energy dE associated with a string element of mass dm is given by

1
dE  mv 2
2
Where v is the transverse speed of the oscillating string element.
y
v  A cos(t  kx)
t
1
Thus dE   dm 2 A 2 cos2  t  kx 
2
1

2
 dx  2 A 2 cos2  t  kx 

Rate of energy transmitted

dE 1  dx  2 2
   A cos2  t  kx 
dt 2  dt 

1
 v2 A 2 cos2  t  kx 
2
The averages rate at which K.E is transmitted is

 dE  1 2 2
 dt   4 v A
 avg

( Average of cos2 (t – kx) over integer multiples of wavelengths crossed is ½)

Elastic potential energy is also carried along with the wave, and at the same average rate.
The average power, which is the average rate at which energy of both kinds is transmitted by the
wave,
 dE 
Pavg  2  
 dt avg
1
Pavg  v2 A 2
2

Wave Speed

The speed of any mechanical wave, transverse or longitudinal, depends on both an inertial
property of the medium (to store kinetic energy) and an elastic property of the medium (to store
potential energy).

P-68-P-4-KN-PH-WS-8 Pinnacle Study Package

Transverse wave in a stretched string

Consider a transverse pulse produced in a taut 

string of linear mass density . Consider a small 

T T
segment of the pulse, of length l , forming an arc R

of a circle of radius R. A force equal in magnitude O

to the tension T pulls tangentially on this segment
at each end.
Let us set an observer at the centre of the pulse which moves along with the pulse towards right.
For the observer any small length   of the string as shown will appear to move backward with a
velocity v.

Now the small mass of the string is in a circular path of radius R moving with speed v. Therefore
the required centripetal force is provided by the only force acting, (neglecting gravity) is the
component of tension along the radius.

The net restoring force on the element is

l
F = 2Tsin()  T(2) = T
R
The mass of the segment is m

The acceleration of this element toward the centre of the circle is

v2
a= , where v is the velocity of the pulse.
R
Using second law of motion,
l  v2  T
T = (l)   or v=
R R 

Illustration 8. A sonometre wire resonates with a given tuning fork forming standing waves with
5 antinodes between the two bridges when a mass of 9 kg is suspended from the
wire. When this mass is replaced by a mass M, it resonates with the same tuning
fork forming 3 antinodes for the same positions of bridges. The value of M is
(A) 25 kg (B) 5 kg
(C) 12.5 kg (D) 1/25 kg

Solution : (A).
x T 5 9g 3 Mg
f   
2  2  2 
 25  9 = 9  m
 m = 25 kg

Illustration 9. A wire of uniform cross-section is stretched between two points 100 cm apart.
The wire is fixed at one end and a weight is hung over a pulley at the other end.
A weight of 9 kg produces a fundamental frequency of 750Hz.
(a) What is the velocity of the wave in wire ?
(b) If the weight is reduced to 4 kg, what is the velocity of wave ?
What is the wavelength and frequency?

Solution : (a) L = 100 cm, f1 = 750 Hz.

v1 = 2Lf 1 = 2  100  750 = 150000 cms-1 = 1500 ms-1
T1 T2
(b) v1  and v2 
m m
v2 T2 v2 4
  
v1 T1 1500 9
-1
 v2 = 1000 m s
2 = wave length = 2L = 200 cm = 2 m
v 1000
f2 =   500 Hz
2 2

Illustration 10. The fundamental frequency of a sonometer wire increases by 5 hz if its tension
increases by 21 %. How will the frequency be affected if its length is increased
by 10 % ?

1 T
Solution : f=
2 
1 1.21T
f+5=
2 
by solving f = 50 Hz.
1 T
Next, f =
2(1.1) 
f
= = 45.45 Hz.
1.1

Illustration 11. Two perfectly identical wires are in unison. When the tension in one wire is
increased by 1 %, then on sounding together, 3 beats are heard in 2 seconds.
What is the initial frequency of each wire ?

1 T
Solution : =
2 m
3 1 1 T 
+  T
2 2 m  100 
  1.5 101
dividing 
 100
on solving  = 300 Hz.

Longitudinal wave in fluids

Sound wave in air is a longitudinal wave. As a sound wave passes through air, potential energy is
associated with periodic compressions and expansions of small volume elements of the air. The
property that determines the extent to which an element of the medium changes its volume as
the pressure applied to it is increased or decreased is the bulk modulus B.
p
B=
V / V
V
Where is the fractional change in volume produced by a change in pressure p.
V

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Suppose air of density  is filled inside a tube of cross-sectional area A under a pressure p.
Initially the air is at rest.

At t = 0, the piston at the left end of the tube(as

shown in the figure) is set in motion towards right AIR
pA
with a speed u. After a time interval t, all p
portions of the air at the left of section 1 are
vt
moving with speed u whereas all portions at the ut (1)
right of the section are still at rest. The boundary
between the moving and the stationary portions
(p + p)A pA
travels to the right with v, the speed of the elastic
wave (or sound wave). In the time interval t, the
piston has moved ut and the elastic disturbance
has traveled a distance vt.
The mass of air that has attained a velocity u in a time t is (vt)A. Therefore, the momentum
imparted is [vt A]u. And, the net impulse acting is (p A)t
Thus, impulse = change in momentum
(p A)t = [v(t) A]u
or p = vu . . . (1)
p
Since B =
V / V
 V 
 p = B  
 V 
Where V = Av t and V = Au t
V Aut u
  
V Avt v
u
Thus, p = B . . . (2)
v
B
From (1) and (2) v= .


Illustration 12. Determine the speed of sound waves in water, and find the wavelength of a wave
9
having a frequency of 242 Hz. Take Bwater = 2  10 Pa.

Solution: Speed of sound wave, v =

B

 2  10   1414 m / s
9

 103
v 1414
Wavelength  = =  5.84m
f 242

Speed of sound in an ideal gas

Newton assumed that the motion of sound waves in air is isothermal. In the case of ideal gas
relation between pressure and volume during the isothermal process is
PV = constt.
By differentiating,
pdv + vdp = 0
dp p
 … (i)
dv v

dp
Since B = - v … (ii)
dv
From (i) and (ii)
dP P
B = v  v    P … (iii)
dv v
B p
 v=  … (iv)
 

Laplace correction: Since the gaseous medium is a bad conductor of heat, the heat produced at
a compression or rarefaction can not be conducted with surrounding medium therefore, taking
relation in p and v for adiabatic process,
pV = constant.
Where  is the ratio of the heat capacity at constant pressure to that at constant volume.
After differentiating , we get
dp  dP P
V  pV 1  0  
dV dV v

dp
Since B = V  p
dV
p
 v=

p RT
Using the gas equation  where M is the molar mass.
 M
RT
Thus, v= (T = Temperature in kelvin)
M

Illustration 13. The velocity of sound through hydrogen is 1400 m/s. What will be the velocity of
sound through a mixture of parts by two volume of hydrogen and one part of
oxygen?

Solution: If  be the density of the hydrogen, then the density of oxygen is 16 . If x be the
2x
total volume, then volume of hydrogen in mixture= ; volume of oxygen in
3
mixture = x/3.
2x 16
mass of hydrogen in mixture = ; mass of oxygen in mixture = x
3 3
2x 16x
Total mass =   6x
3 3
6x
Density of mixture =  6
x
vM H2
Now, 
vH2 m
H2 
vm = vH2 = 1400
M 6
1400
=  571.4m / s.
2.45

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Sound waves

From practical standpoint it is easier to measure pressure variations in a sound wave than the
displacements, so it is worthwhile to develop a relation between the two. Let p be the
instantaneous pressure fluctuation at any point, that is, the amount by which the pressure differs
from normal atmospheric pressure. If the displacements of two neighbouring points x and x + x
are the same, the gas between these points is neither compressed nor rarefied, there is no
volume change, and consequently p =0. Only when y varies from one point to a neighbouring
point there is a change of volume and therefore of pressure.
 y 
The fractional volume change V/V in an element near point x turns out to be   , which is the
 x 
rate of change of y and x as we go from one point to the neighbouring point. To see why this is
so, we note that V/V is proportional to change in length of an element which has length x when
no wave disturbance is present, divided by x. The change in length is the value of y at the point
x + x, minus the value at the point x. If x is very small, this is approximately multiplied by the
derivative of y with respect to x. thus
y
y(x + x, t) – y (x, t) =  x
x

V y  x  x, t   y  x, t  y
  . . . (i)
V x x
Now from the definition of the bulk modulus B,
V
p=–B , and we find
V
y
p=–B
x
Now y = A sin (t – kx)  p = BkA cos (t – kx)
Maximum amount by which the pressure differs from atmospheric, that is, the maximum value of
p, is called the pressure amplitude, denoted P.
 P = BkA

Intensity in terms of pressure variation

I = 22f 2A2 v
= P2/2v (Using P = Bkv, k = 2/, v = f and v = B/

Illustration 14. The maximum pressure variations pm that the ear can tolerate in loud sounds is
about 28 Pa at 1000 Hz. The faintest sound that can be heard at 1000 Hz has a
pressure amplitude of about 2.8  10-5 Pa. Find the corresponding density and
the displacement amplitudes. The bulk modulus for air under standard condition
is 1.4  105 Pa, and the speed of sound in air is 343 m/s at room temperature.

2 2f
Solution: The wave number is k = =
 v
2  103
=  18.3 rad / m
343
The density of air under these conditions is 1.21 kg/m3. Hence for pm = 28Pa.

0
m = pm .
B
1.21 -4 3
= 28  = 2.4  10 kg/m .
1.4  105
pm 28
and sm =  = 1.1  10-5 m.
kB 18.3  1.4  105
The displacement amplitudes for the loudest sounds are about 10-5 m, a very
small valve indeed. For the faintest sounds,
m = 2.8  10-5  = 2.4  10-10 kg/m2
2.8  105
and m = 5
= 1.1  10-11 m.
18.3  1.4  10

Illustration 15. A stone dropped into a well of depth 300 m splashed into the water. When is the
2
splash heard at the top? Velocity of sound = 340 m/s, g = 10 m/s . (Neglecting
Byoyancy effect)

Solution: Time after which the splash is heard is equal to the time t1 taken by the stone to
fall down and the time t2 taken by the sound to travel from the bottom to the
surface level.
1
Using S = ut + at 2
2
2s 2  300
t1 =   60 = 7.74 sec.
g 10
depthof well 300
Again, t2 =   0.88s
velocity of sound 340
Total time, t = t1 + t2 = 7.74 + 0.88 = 8.62 sec.

Illustration 16. The faintest sound the human ear can detect at frequency 1 kHz corresponds to
an intensity of about 10-12 W /m2. Determine the pressure amplitude and the
maximum displacement associated with this sound assuming the density of the
air = 1.3 kg/m3 and velocity of sound in air = 332 m/s.

P2
Solution : I=
2v
 P I x 2v
= 10 12 x2x1.3x332  2.94x10 5 N/ m2
Again,
P = v A
P 2.94x105
 A= =  1.1x10 11m .
v 1.3x332x2x103

Illustration 17. Measurement of sound waves show that the maximum pressure variations in the
loudest sound that the ear can tolerate without pain are of the order of 30 Pa.
Find the corresponding maximum displacement, if the frequency is 1000 Hz and
3
v = 350 m/s. If the density of air is  = 1.22 kg/m , then find the intensity of a
sound wave of the largest amplitude tolerable to the human ear.

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 2  3.14 1000 
Solution : k=   18m1
v 350
5
B = p = (1.4)(10 )
P 30
A=   1.18  10 5 m
Bk  5
1.4  10 18  
2
P2
Using, I = m 
 30   1.05 W / m2 .
2v 2 1.22  350 

Exercise 3.
(i) Transverse waves are not produced in liquids and gases. Why ?

(ii). What are the conditions for resonance of air column with a tuning fork ?

Loudness

Human ear is sensitive for extremely large range of intensity. So a logarithmic rather than an
arithmetic scale is convenient. Accordingly, intensity level  of a sound wave is defined by the
equation.
 I
Loudness,  = 10 log   decibel
 Io 
Where Io = 10-12 W/m2 is the reference intensity (threshold level for normal human ear) level to
which any intensity I is compared.

Illustration 18.. Spherical sound waves are emitted uniformely in all directions from a point
source, the radiated power P being 25 P being 25 W. What are the intensity and
sound level of sound waves a distance r = 2.5 m from the source ?

Solution: All the radiated power P must pass thourgh a sphere of radius r centred on the
source.
P
Thus, I =
4r 2
25
 I=  0.32W / m2 ,
4(2.5)2
I 0.32
SL = 10 log = 10 log = 115 dB.
I0 1012

Exercise 4. How can your mom distinguish between you and your sisters voice even if
the loudness is same?

Illustration 19. A window whose area is 2m2 opens on a street where the street noise results in
an intensity level at the window of 60 dB. How much acoustic power enters the
window through sound waves? Now, if a sound absorber is fitted at the window,
how much energy from the street will it collect in a day ?

I
Solution: By definition sound level = 10 log = 60
Io
or I/I0 = 106
I = 10-12 x 106 = 1 W/m2
Power entering the room
-6
= 1 x 10 x 2 = 2 W
Energy collected in a day = 2 x 10-6 x 86400

= 0.173 J

Superposition of Waves

Two or more waves can traverse the same space independently of one another. Thus the
displacement of any particle in the medium at any given time is simply the sum of displacements
that the individual waves would give it. This process of the vector addition of the displacement of
a particle is called superposition.

Illustration 20. Standing waves are produced by superposition of two waves

y1 = 0.05 sin (3t - 2x) and y2 = 0.05 sin (3t + 2x) where x and y are measured
in metre and t in second. Find the amplitude of the particle at x = 0.5 m.

Solution: Resultant displacement y = y1 + y2

= 0.05 sin (3t - 2x) + 0.05 sin (3t + 2x)
= 0.1 cos 2x sin 3t
= A sin 3t where A = 0.1 cos 2x
For x = 0.5 m. we have
A = 0.1 cos (1 rad) = 0.1 cos (/3.14)
= 0.054 m.

Illustration 21. Two waves are given as y1 = 3A cos(t  kx) and y2 = A cos(3t  3kx).
Amplitude of resultant wave will be
(A) A (B) 2A
(C) 3A (D) 4A

Solution: (D).
Using trigonometric identity cos 3 = 4 cos3 - 3 cos )
yR = y1 + y2 = 3Acos(t  kx) + A cos(3t  3kx)
 yR = 3A cos (t – kx) + A { 4 cos3 (t – kx)) – 3 cos (t – kx)}
3
= 4A cos (t – kx)
 AResultant = 4 A

Exercise 5. Is superposition principle applicable to electromagnetic waves ?

Interference

When two waves of the same frequency, superimpose each other, there occurs redistribution of
energy in the medium which causes either a minimum intensity or maximum intensity which is

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more than the sum of the intensities of the individual sources. This phenomenon is called
interference of waves. Let the two waves be
y1 = A1 sin (kx – t) , y2 = A2 sin (kx – t+)
According to the principle of superposition
y = y1 + y2
= A1 sin (kx – t) + A2 sin (kx – t+)
= A1 sin (kx – t) + A2 sin (kx – t) cos + A2 cos(kx – t) sin
= sin (kx – t) (A1 +A2 cos) + cos (kx – t) (A2 sin)
= R sin (kx – t+)
where, A1 + A2cos = R cos and A2 sin = R sin
2 2
and R2 =  A 1  A 2 cos     A 2 sin  
= A12  A 22  2A1A 2 cos 

If I1 and I2 are intensities of the interfering waves and  is the phase difference, then the resultant
intensity is given by
I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I2 cos
2
Now, Imax =  I1  I2  for  = 2n
2
Imin =  I1  I2  for  =  2n  1 

Illustration 22. Two coherent sound sources are at distances x1 = 0.2 m and x2 = 0.48m from a
point. Calculate the intensity of the resultant wave at that point if the frequency
of each wave is f = 400 Hz and velocity of wave in the medium is v = 448 m/s.
The intensity of each wave is Io = 60W/m2.

Solution : Path difference, x = x2 - x1 = 0.48 - 0.2 = 0.28 m

2  2f  2  400  0.28  
= p  p 
  v  448 2
I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I2 cos
or I = Io + Io + 2Io cos(/2)
= 2Io = 2(60) = 120 W/m2 .

Illustration 23. A listener is seated at a point a distance of 1.2 m S2

P
directly in front of one speaker. The two
speakers, which are separate by a distance D of
2.3 m, emit pure tones of wavelength . The Source A
waves are in phase when they leave the
speakers. For what wavelengths will the listener S1
hear a minimum in the sound intensity?

Solution : The minimum sound intensity occurs when the waves from the two speakers
interfere destructively. If the listner is seated in front of speaker 2, then r2 =1.2 m
and r1 can be found as
r1 = r22  D2 = (1.2)2  (2.3)2 = 2.6 m
Thus, r1 – r2 = 2.6 – 1.2 = 1.4 m,

and accordingly 1.4 m = /2, 3/2, 5/2 . . . . . . .

corresponding to  = 2.8 m, 0.93 m, 0.56 m, . . . .

Illustration 24. A source ‘S’ of sound emitting waves at S

360 Hz is placed in front of a vertical wall,
at a distance 2m as shown in figure.
Detector D receives waves from two 2m
different paths SD and SOD. Find the x
O
minimum distance between the source and
the detector for which the detector detects
a maximum of sound. Take speed of
sound in air = 360 m/s. D

x2
Solution : SD = x, SOD = 2 4   x 2  16
4
Path difference x = x 2  16 - x
(For constrictive interference at D and minimum value of x)
x = 
v 360
x 2  16  x =   1m.
f 360
x = 7.5 m.

Illustration 25. Two SHM’s with same amplitude and time period, when acting together in
perpendicular direction with a phase difference of /2 gives rise to
(A) elliptical motion (B) circular motion
(C) straight line motion (D) none

Solution : (B).
We have the equation of SHM’s and adding together
x2 y2 2xy cos 
2
 2   sin 2 
A1 A 2 A1 A 2
Given: A1 = A2 = A and  = /2
 x 2 + y 2 = A2
This represents the general equation of a circle with its center at origin

Standing waves
A standing wave is formed when two identical waves travelling in the opposite directions along
the same line, interfere.

On the path of the stationary wave, there are points where the amplitude is zero, they are known
as NODES. On the other hand there are points where the amplitude is maximum, they are known
as ANTINODES.

The distance between two consecutive nodes or two consecutive anitnodes is .
2

The distance between a node and the next antinode is .
4
Consider two waves of the same frequency, speed and amplitude, which are travelling in opposite
directions along a string. Two such waves may be represented by the equations
y1 = a sin (kx - wt ) and

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y2 = a sin (kx + wt)

Hence the resultant may be written as

y = y1 + y2 = a sin (kx - wt) + a sin (kx + wt)
y = 2 a sin kx cos wt
This is the equation of a standing wave.

Note:
(i) In this equation, it is seen that a particle at any particular point ‘x’ executes simple harmonic
motion and all particles vibrate with the same frequency.

(ii) The amplitude is not the same for different particles but varies with the location ‘x’ of the
particle.

(iii) The points having maximum amplitudes are those for which 2asinkx, has a maximum value
of 2a, these are at the positions,
kx = /2, 3/2, 5/2, ..............
or x = /4, 3/4, 5/4, ...............
These points are called antinodes.

(iv) The amplitude has minimumn value of zero at positions where

kx = , 2, 3,...........
or x = /2, , 3/2 ,2............
These points are called nodes.

(v) Energy is not transported along the string to the right or to the left, because energy can not
flow past the nodal points in the string which are permanently at rest.

Reflection of waves

(a) Waves on reflection from a fixed end undergoes a phase change of 180.

Reflected wave
Incident wave

(b) While a wave reflected from a free end is reflected without a change in phase.

incident wave
Reflected wave

Stationary waves in strings

N N N N N
A A A N N A N A A
N

L
L L
(a) (b) (c)

A string of length L is stretched between two points. When the string is set into vibrations, a
transverse progressive wave begins to travel along the string. It is reflected at the other fixed end.
The incident and the reflected waves interfere to produce a stationary transverse wave in which
the ends are always nodes.

(a) In the simplest form, the string vibrates in one loop in which the ends are the nodes and
the centre is the antinode. This mode of vibration is known as the fundamental mode and
the frequency of vibration is known as the fundamental frequency or first harmonic.
Since the distance between consecutive nodes is /2

L= 1  1  2L
2
If f1 is the fundamental frequency of vibration, then the velocity of transverse waves is
given as , v = 1 f1 or f1 = v/2L  v = 2Lf 1 . . . (1)
(b) The same string under the same conditions may also vibrate in two loops, such that the
centre is also the node.

 L 2 2  2  L
2
If f2 is the frequency of vibrations, then the velocity of transverse waves is given as,
v = 2f2  v = L f2 or f2 = v/L . . . (2)
The frequency f 2 is known as second harmonic or first overtone.

(c) The same string under the same conditions may also vibrate in three segments.
 2
 L 3 3  3  L
2 3
If f3 is the frequency in this mode of vibration, then,
2
v = 3f 3  v = Lf3 or f 3 = 3v/2L (3)
3

The frequency f 3 is known as the third harmonic or second overtone. Thus a stretched string in
addition to the fundamental mode, also vibrates with frequencies which are integral multiples of
the fundamental frequencies. These frequencies are known as harmonics.

The velocity of transverse wave in a stretched string is given as

T
v where T = tension in the string.

 = linear density or mass per unit length of string.
If the string fixed at two ends, vibrates in its fundamental mode, then
1 T
v = 2Lf  f =
2L 
 = volume of unit length  density

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D2
= r2  1   =    where D = diameter of the wire,  = density.
4

Note : For a given fundamental frequency f, 2f is called upper octave of f and f/2 is called the
lower octave of f.

Illustration 26. A sound wave of 40 cm wavelength

enters the tube as shown in the
r
figure. What must be the smallest
radius r such that a minimum will be
heard at the deletion?

Solution: Path difference is = r  2r = r( 2)

2
r   2   2n  1

2
r   2   

 40 20
r=   = 17.52 cm
2  2  23.14  2 1.14

Illustration 27. The vibrations of a string of length 60 cm fixed at both ends are represented by
 x 
the equation y = 4 sin   cos  96  t  where x and y are in cm and t in seconds.
 15 
(i) What is the maximum displacement of a point at x = 5 cm?
(ii) Where are the nodes located along the string ?
(iii) What is the velocity of the particle at x = 7.5 cm and at t = 0.25 s ?
(iv) Write down the equations of the component waves whose superposition give
the above wave.

Solution: y = 4 sin ( x/15) cos (96  t ) can be broken up into

   x  1440  t    x  1440  t  
y  2 sin    sin  
  15   15 
Thus the waves are of the same amplitude and frequency but travelling in
opposite directions which thus, superimpose to give a standing wave,
(i) At x = 5 cm the standing wave equation gives
y = 4 sin (5/15) cos (96  t)
= 4 sin /3 cos (96 t) = 4  3/2 cos (96  t)
 Maximum displacement = 23 cm.
(ii) The nodes are the points permanently at rest. Thus they are those points for
which
sin ( x/15) = 0
i.e.  x/15 = n  , n = 0, 1,2,3, 4 ......
x = 15 n i.e. at x = 0,15,30,45 and 60 cm
(iii) The particle velocity is equal to

 y  x 
   4 sin   (96  )(  sin96  t)
 t   15 
 x 
  384  sin   sin(96  t)
 15 
at x  7.5 and t  0.25 we get
 y  x  
    384  sin   sin  96  t   384 sin   sin  24   0
  t   15  2

(iv) The equations of the component waves are

 x 
y1  2 sin   96  t 
 15 
 x 
and y2  2 sin   96  t 
 15 

Stationary waves in air column

Open pipe: If both ends of a pipe are open and a system of air is directed against an edge,
standing longitudinal waves can be set up in the tube. The open end is a displacement antinode
A A 3 A
2
4 N
4
3
N A
N 2 2 N
L 1 A 3
2 2 A
2 N
2 N 3
A 4 A A
4
(a) (b) (c)

(a) For fundamental mode of vibrations,


L = 1  1 = 2L
2
v = 1f 1  v = 2Lf 1 …(1)

(b) For the second harmonic or first overtone,

L = 2 or 2 = L
v = 2f 2  v = Lf 2 …(2)
(c) For the third harmonic or second overtone,
3 2
L=3  3 = L
2 3
2
v = 3f 3  v= L f3
3
From (1) , (2) and (3) we get , f 1 : f 2 : f3 : .........= 1 : 2 : 3 : ...............
i.e. for a cylindrical tube, open at both ends, the harmonics excitable in the tube are all
integral multiples of its fundamental.
2L
 In the general case,  = where n = 1,2 ......
n

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v nv
Frequency   where n  1,2.....
 2 L

Closed pipe: If one end of a pipe is closed the reflected wave is 180 out of phase with the
incoming wave. Thus the displacement of the small volume elements at the closed end must
always be zero. Hence the closed end must be a displacement node.
A A A 3
2
4 N
4 N
3 A
L 1 2 N
4 2
2 A 3 A
N 2 N
N
(a) (b) (c)

(a) This represents the fundamental mode of vibration.


L = 1  1 = 4L
4
If f1 is the fundamental frequency, then the velocity of sound waves is given as,
v = 1f 1 v = 4Lf 1 . . . (1)

(b) This is the third harmonic or first overtone.

 4
L = 3  2  2 = L
4 3
4
v = 2f2  v= L f2 . . . (2)
3
(c) This is the fifth harmonic or second overtone.
 4
L = 5  3  3 = L
4 5
4
v = 3f 3  v = L f3 . . . (3)
5
From (1) , (2) and (3) we get, f 1 : f 2 : f3 : ....... = 1 : 3 : 5 : .......
4l
In the general case,   where n = 0, 1, 2, .......
 2n  1
Velocity of sound = v

Frequency =
 2n  1 v where n  0,1,2....
4L

Note : For more accurate results end correction must be taken in to account at open end of the
pipe, as antinode will form at 0.6r (r = radius of pipe) out side the end of the open pipe.

Exercise 6.
(i) Why a flute produces a melodious sound where as a whistle produces a shrill
noise?
(ii) What are harmonics ?

Illustration 28. For a certain organ pipe, three successive resonance frequencies are observed
at 425, 595 and 765 Hz respectively. Taking the speed of sound in air to be
340 m/s.
(a) explain whether the pipe is closed at one end or open at both ends.
(b) determine the fundamental frequency and length of the pipe.

Solution: (a) The give frequencies are in the ratio 5 : 7 : 9. As the frequencies are i.e. notes
are odd multiple of 85Hz the pipe must be closed at one end.
(b) Now the fundamental frequency is the lowest i.e. one time the found value
85Hz.
v v
 85 =   = =1m
4 4 x 85

Illustration 29. Third overtone of a closed organ pipe is in unison with fourth harmonic of an
open organ pipe. Find the ratio of the lengths of the pipes.

Solution: Third overtone of closed pipe  seventh harmonic

(f 7)closed = (f 4)open
 v   v 
7   4 
 4 c   2 0 
c 7
 .
0 8

Illustration 30. An air column in a pipe which is closed at one end, is in resonance with a
vibrating tuning fork of frequency 264 Hz. in its fundamental mode. Length of the
column in cm is (v = 330 m/s)
(A) 31.25 (B) 62.5
(C) 93.75 (D) 125.75

Solution: (A).

    4,
4
v v 330
n   264 
 4 4
  = 0.3125 m = 31.25 cm

Illustration 31. A small speaker is held

above a cylindrical 6.5 cm
resonance tube partially
filled with water. In the
22.2 cm
experiment, the speaker is 37.7 cm
driven at a fixed frequency
of 1080 Hz. and three
resonances are observed
when the water level is at
distances of x1 = 6.5 cm,
x2 = 22.2 cm and x3 = 37.7
cm below the top of the
tube. Find the speed of the
sound.

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Solution: The air column acts like a tube of variable length closed at one end. The pattern
of standing waves shows a pressure node near the speaker and a pressure
antinode at the surface of the water. Here we donot know the end correction, we
can not use the given data directely to find the speed of sound.

Howerver by the resonance pattern we can judge that

/2 = x2 –x1 = 22.2 cm – 6.5 cm = 15.7 cm.
and similarly, from the second and third resonances.

 x3  x2 = 37.7 cm – 22.2 cm = 15.5 cm
2
15.7  15.5
Now avg. (/2) =  15.6cm
2
  = 31.2 cm
= 0.312 m
v = f = 180  0.312 = 337 m/s.

Illustration 32. An air column with a tuning fork of frequency 256 Hz, gives resonance at column
length 33.4 cm and 101.8 cm. Deduce (i) the end correction. (ii) the speed of
sound in air.

 2  3
Solution: (i) e =
2
101.8  3  33.4
= cm  0.8cm .
2

(ii)   2  1
2
= 101.8 – 33.4 = 68.4 cm = 0.684 m
 = 2  0.684
= 1.368 m
v = f = 256  1.368 = 350.2 m/s.

Illustration 33. A pipe of length 1.5 m closed at one end is filled with a gas and it resonates in its
fundamental mode with a tunning fork. Another pipe of the same length but open
at both ends is filled with air and it resonates in its fundamental mode with the
same tuning fork. Calculate the velocity of sound at 00C in the gas, given that the
velocity of sound in air is 360 m/sec at 300C, where the experiment is performed.

Solution: Fundamental frequency for open pipe;

V 360
f0 = = = 120 Hz.
2L 2(1.5)
0
Let velocity of sound in the gas be v1 at 30 C
Fundamental frequency for closed pipe with gas inside
v1 v1 v
=   1
4 4(1.5 ) 6
v
given 120 = 1  v1 = 720 m/s
6
Now relation between velocity of sound and temperature is v T
720 273  30
   v2 = 683.4 m/s.
v2 273

Beats: When two interfering waves have slightly different frequencies the resultant disturbance at
any point due to the superposition periodically fluctuates causing waxing and waning in the
resultant intensity. The waxing and waning in the resultant intensity of two superposed waves of
slightly different frequency are known as beats.
Let the displacement produced at a point by one wave be
y1 = A sin (2f 1t – 1)
and the displacement produced at the point produced by the other wave of equal amplitude as
y2 = A sin (2f 2t – 2)

By the principle of superposition, the resultant displacement is

y = y1 + y2 = A sin (2f 1t – 1) + A sin (2f 2t – 2)
  f  f      2    f1  f2 
y  2A sin 2  1 2  t   1   cos 2  t
  2   2    2 
  f  f     2  
Y  R sin 2  1 2  t   1 
  2   2  
f f 
Where, R = 2A cos 2  1 2  t
 2 
The time for one beat is the time between consecutive maxima or minima.

First maxima would occur when

f f 
cos 2  1 2  t = +1
 2 
f f 
Then 2  1 2  t = 0  t = 0
 2 
For second maxima would occur when
f f 
cos 2  1 2  t = – 1
 2 
f f 
Then 2  1 2  t = 
 2 
1
or t=
f1  f2
 1  1
The time for one beat =   0 
 f1  f2  f1  f2
1
Similarly it may also be shown that time between two consecutive minima is . Hence
f1  f2
frequency of beat i.e. number of beats in one second
Beat frequency = f 1~ f2

Illustration 34. The first overtone of an open pipe and the fundamental note of a pipe closed at
one end give 5 beats/sec when sounded together. If the length of the pipe closed
at one end of 25cm, what are the possible lengths of the open pipe? (Neglect
end corrections and take the velocity of sound in air to be 340 m/s).

Solution: Let the fundamental frequency of the closed end pipe of length 25 cm be f 0. Then

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V 340 x 100
f0 = = = 340 Hz
4 4 x 25
Possible frequencies of first overtone of the required open pipe are 340  5, i.e.
345 or 335 Hz
For the first overtone of an open pipe, the length of the pipe  equals the
wavelength of the vibration
V
Hence 345 =

34000
or    98.5 cm
345
Other possible length   is given by
335 =
34000
 =  101.5 cm
335
Hence possible lengths of the open pipe are 98.5 and 101.5 cm.

Illustration 35. Two tuning forks P and Q, when set vibrating, give 4 beats per second. If a prong
of the fork P is filed, the beats are reduced to 2 per second. Determine the
frequency of P, if that of Q is 250 Hz.

Solution : There are four beats between P and Q , therefore the possible frequencies of P
are 246 or 254 (that is 250  4) Hz.
When the prong of P is filed, its frequency becomes greater than the original
frequency.

If we assume that the original frequency of P is 254, then on filing its frequency
will be greater than 254. The beats between P and Q will be more than 4. But it is
given that the beats are reduced to 2, therefore, 254 is not possible.
Therefore, the required frequency must be 246 Hz.
(This is true, because on filing the frequency may increase to 248, giving 2 beats
with Q of frequency 250 Hz.)

Illustration 36. Two tuning forks A and B sounded together give 8 beats per second. With an air
resonance tube closed at one end, the two forks give resonances when the two
air columns are 32cm and 33cm respectively. Calculate the frequencies of forks.

Solution: Let the frequency of the first fork be f 1 and that of second be f 2 .
We then have,
v v
f1  and f2 
4  32 4  33
We also see that f 1 > f2
 f 1 - f2 = 8 (1)
f 33
and 1  (2)
f2 32
Solving (1) and (2) , we get
f 1 = 264 Hz
and f 2 = 256 Hz

Illustration 37. In an experiment, it is observed that a tuning fork and a sonometer wire gave 5
beats per second both when the length of wire was 1m and 1.05 m. Calculate
the frequency of the fork.

Solution : Let the frequency of the fork by . At the smaller length of the sonometer wire (1
= 1m), the frequency of the wire must be higher and vice versa.
1 =  + 5
2 =  – 5
1 
 2
2 1
  5 1.05

  5 1.00
on solving,  = 205 Hz.

Exercise 7. Can beats be observed in two light sources of nearly equal frequencies ?

Doppler Effect

The apparent shift in frequency of the wave motion when the source of sound or light moves with
respect to the observer, is called Doppler Effect.

Calculation of apparent frequency

Suppose v is the velocity of sound in air, vs is the velocity of the source of sound(s), v o is the
velocity of the observer (O), and f is the frequency of the source.
(i) Source moves towards stationary observer.
If the source were stationary the f waves v
sent out in one second towards the
observer O would occupy a distance v, and
S O
the wavelength would be v/f. If S moves
with a velocity vs towards O, the f waves
sent out occupy a distance (v - vs) because S
S has moved a distance vs towards O in vs vs
v - vs
1s. So the apparent wavelength would be
v  vs
 =
f
Velocity of sound relative to O
Thus, apparent frequency f  =
Wavelength of wave reaching O
v  v 
f=  f  

'  v  vs 

(ii) Source moves away from stationary observer.

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Now, apparent wavelength v

v  vs
 =
f S O
  Apparent frequency
f  = v/
S
 v  O
or f  = f  

vs
 v  vs  v + vs
(iii) Observer moves towards stationary source.
velocity of sound relative to O
f=
wavelength of wave reaching O
here, velocity of sound relative to O = v + vO
and wavelength of waves reaching O = v/f
v  vo  v  vo 
 f=  f 
v/f  v 
(iv) Observer moves away from the stationary source.
v  vo  v  vo 
f=  f 
v/f  v 
(v) Source and observer both moves toward each other.
v  vo  v  vo 
f=  f  

v  vs  v  vs 
f
(vi) Both moves away from each other.
vv  o 
f  = f  
 v  vs 
(vii) Source moves towards observer but observer moves away from source
 v  vo 
f = f   

 v  vs 
(viii) Source moves away from observer but observer moves towards source
 v  vo 
f = f   

 v  vs 
Note : The velocities are with respect to the medium.

Illustration 38. The siren of a police can emit a pure note at a frequency of 1125 Hz. Find the
frequency that one can perceive in the vehicle under the following circumstances
(a) one’s car is at rest; police car moving towards listener at 29 m/s.
(b) Police car at rest, listener’s car is moving towards police at 29 m/s.
(c) Both police and the listener’s are moving towards each other at 14.5 m/s.
(d) Listener’s car moving at 9 m/s white police car is chasing with a speed of
38 m/s.

Solution: (a) Here, v0 = 0 m/s, vs = 29 m/s

 v   343 
f = f    1125    1229Hz.
 v  v s   343  29 
(b) vs = 0 m/s, v0 = 29 m/s

 v  v0   343  29 
f = f    1125     1220Hz
 v   343 
(c) v0 = 14.5 m/s, vs = 14.5 m/s.
 v  v0   343  14.5 
f = f    1125     1224Hz
 v  vs   343  14.5 
(d) v0 = 9 m/s, vs = 38 m/s
 v  v0   343  9 
f = f    1125     1232 Hz.
 v  vs   343  38 

Illustration 39.
A siren emitting a sound of frequency 1000 Hz moves away from you towards a
cliff at a speed of 10 m/s.
(a) What is the frequency of the sound you hear coming directly from the siren.
(b) What is the frequecny of sound you hear reflected off the cliff. Speed of sound
in air is 330 m/s.

Solution: (a) Sound heard directly.

 v 
f 1 = f 0   ; Vs = 10 m/s.

 v  vs 
 330 
 f1    1000
 330  10 
33
  1000Hz
34
(b) The frequency of the reflected sound is given by
 v 
f 2 = f 0  

 v  vs 
 330  33
 f2     1000   1000 Hz
 330  10  32
Illustration 40. A stationary source emits a sound towards a wall moving towards it with a
velocity u. Speed of sound in air = v. Find the fractional change in wavelength of
the sound sent and the reflected sound.
Solution : Let the frequency of the sound sent by the source be f o.
Frequency of sound as observed by the wall is
 v  u
 f'    fo
 v 
Frequency of the sound reflected by the wall is equal that received by it.
Now, the frequency f received by the source is
 v 
f ''   f '
 v u
 v vu
f ''    fo
 v  u v 
v u
f ''    fo
 vu

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v
Initial wavelength  i 
fo
v v  v  u
Final wavelength  f    
f ' ' fo  v  u 
Δ 2u
Fractional change in wavelength =  .
i v u

Illustration 41. Two cars each moving with a velocity of 216 km/h, cross each other in the
opposite directions. One of the cars gives a whistle whose frequency is 810 Hz.
What will be the apparent frequency for passengers sitting in the other car before
crossing? Given speed of sound = 330 m/s.

5
Solution : vs = 216 km/h = 216  m/s = 60 m/s.
18
Similarly, v0 = 216 km/hr = 60 m/s
 v  v0   330  60  390
Apparent frequency  =   =    810 = 270  810 = 1170 Hz.
 v  v s   330  60 

Illustration 42. A small sources of sound moves in a circle P

of radius r with constant speed vs. Let the vs
frequency of the source is 450 Hz. For the r 450
indicated positions P, O, Q of three different
observers, find the frequency heard by the O S
r
observers. Take the position of source as r
‘S’ and velocity of source is vs = v/42,
where v is the velocity of sound of in air. Q

 v 
Solution : n = n  
 v  v s cos  
 v 
(a) at P,  = /4, np = n  
 v  v s / 2 
450  v
=  450  8/7 = 514.28 Hz.
v  v/8
(b) at 0,  = /2, n0 = n = 450 Hz
 v 
(c) at s,  = 3/4, nQ = n  
 v  (v s / 2) 
 v  8
= 450   = 450 
v  v /8 9
= 400 Hz.

Illustration 43. A train approaching a hill at a speed of 40 km/hr sounds a whistle of frequency
580 Hz. When it is at a distance of 1 km from a hill, a wind with a speed of
40 km/hr is blowing in the direction of motion of the train find
(a) the frequency of the whistle as heard by an observer on the hill.
(b) the distance from the hill at which the echo from the hill is heard by the driver
and its frequency. (Velocity of sound in air = 1200 km/hr.)

 v 
Solution : f =  f
 v    vs
 1200  40 
 580
 1200  40  40 
 599 Hz.
For echo to be heard by the driver, the source is to be considered at the hill
having frequency 599 Hz.
 1200  40  40 
f’ =   599 = 619.65 Hz.
 1200  40 
1 1
t1 (wave to reach the hill) =  hr.s
1200  40 1240
40 1
in the above duration train moves =  km.
1240 31
1 30
Now the distance between train and hill = 1 - = km
31 31
After this instant echo will be heard
40 t + (1200 – 40)t = 30/31
1
t= hrs.
1240
The distance travelled by the train in this time
1 1
= 40   km
1240 31
2
Distance from the hill = 1  = 0.935 km.
31

Illustration 44. A and B source is traveling on a circular path Q
with angular speed  as shown in figure. The P
source has a natural frequency to the maximum r
frequency observed by observer is: [v = speed
of sound in air]
f0 v f0 v
(A) (B)
V  R v  R
f 0  v  R 
(C) (D) None of these
v

Solution : (D)
 v  v0  P
f '  f0   Q
 v  vS 
 v  R
 f '  f0  
 v  R 
Exercise 8.

(i) When a source of sound passes us, wheather it be a car horn or a train whistle, the
pitch we hear goes from high to low. Explain why.

(ii) Is there a Dopplers effect for sound when the observer or the sources move at
right angles to the line joining them.

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SUMMARY

1. Equation of Travelling Wave y = f(x  vt)

2. A harmonic wave can be represented as

2
y = Asin (x  vt) (Sinusoidal wave)

or y = Asin(kx  t)
The negative sign refers to the wave travelling along the positive x - axis, and versa.
2
k= = angular wave number

2
= = 2f = angular frequency
T

v = f = = wave velocity
k

3. In sound waves there is a phase gap of /2 between the displacement and pressure
waves, i.e at displacement minima there is pressure maxima and vice versa.
4. Transverse wave in a taut string
T
v= T = tension ,  = mass per unit length.


Y
5. Longitudinal wave in a solid; v = Y = Young’s Modulus , = density


K
6. Longitudinal wave in a fluid; v = [K = Bulk Modulus]

1 2  2
7. Energy density =  Sdx   A S.dx   A = 2 2 f 2 A 2  J / m3 
2 2
8. Energy per unit length = PS  22 f 2 A 2  

9. Power transmitted = PS  22 f 2 A 2   V (watt = J/s)

Power
10. Intensity = = 2 2 f 2 A 2  V
unit area

11. A standing wave is produced by the superposition of two identical waves travelling in
opposite directions viz., y1 = a sin [kx + t] and y2 = a sin (t  kx), gives the standing
wave, y = 2a sin t cos kx

12. The points having the maximum amplitude are those where 2a cos kx has a maximum
value of 2a, these are at the position,
kx = 0, , 2, . . .
 3 5
i.e. x = 0, , , ...
2 2 2
These points are called antinodes

13. The amplitudes reaches a minimum value of zero at the positions

where kx = /2, 3/2, 5/2, . . . .

 3 5
or x= , , ...
4 4 4
These points are called nodes.

14. Energy is not transported along the string to the right or to the left, because energy
cannot flow through the nodal points in the string which are permanently at rest.

15. If two or more waves of slightly different frequencies are superimposed, the intensity of
the resulting wave has alternate maxima and minima. The number of maximas in one
second is called beat frequency.
Beat frequency = | f1  f2 |

16. Doppler Effect: The apparent shift in frequency of the wave motion when the source of
sound moves with respect to the observer, is called Doppler Effect.
 c  v0 
Apparent frequency, n     n , where symbols represent their usual meaning.
 c  vs 

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MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISE

1. Speed of sound in air is 332 m/s at NTP what will be its value in hydrogen at NTP if
density of hydrogen at NTP if density of hydrogen at NTP is 1/16th that of air ?

2. A progressive wave of frequency 500 Hz is travelling with a velocity of 360 m/s. How far
apart are two points 600 out of phase ?

3. Calculate the speed of propagation of a wave represented by y = 0.5 sin  (0.01 x – 3t),
where y and x are in metre and t in sec.

 t x 
4. The equation for the transverse wave on a string is y = 4 sin 2    with length
 0.05 50 
expressed in cm. and time in second. Calculate the wave velocity and maximum particle
velocity.

5. A guitar string is 90 cm long and has a fundamental frequency of 124 Hz. Where should
it be pressed to produce a fundamental frequency of 186 Hz ?

6. A sound wave in fluid medium is reflected at a barrier so that a standing wave is formed.
the distance between the nodes is 3.84 and the speed of propagation is 1520 m/s. Find
the frequency.

7. A certain violin string is 30 cm long between its fixed ends and has a mass of 2.0 g. The
string sounds an A note (440 Hz) when played without fingering. Where must one put
one’s finger to play a C (528Hz) ?

8. A tunning fork of unknown frequency makes three beats per sec with a standard fork of
frequency 384 Hz. The beat frequency decreases when a small pieces of wax is put on a
prong of the first fork. What is the frequency of this fork ?

9. One is given four tuning forks. The fork with the lowest frequency vibrates at 500 Hz. By
using two tuning fork at a time, the following beat frequencies are heard : 1, 2,3,5, 7 and
8 Hz. What are the possible frequencies of the other three tuning forks ?

10. A whistle of frequency 538 Hz moves in a circle of radius 71.2 cm at an angular speed of
14.7 rad/s. What are (a) the lowest and (b) the highest frequencies heard by a listener a
long distance away at rest with respect to the centre of the circle ?

ANSWERS TO MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISE

1. 1328 m/s.
2. 0.12
3. 300 m/s
4. 10 m/s. 5.03 m/s
5. 60 cm
6. 197.92 Hz
7. 5.0 cm from one end
8. 387 Hz.
9. 505, 507, 508 Hz or 501, 503, 508 Hz.
10. (a) 522 Hz. (b) 554 Hz.

SOLVED PROBLEMS

Subjective:

BOARD TYPE

Prob1. A pipe 20 cm long is closed at one end. Which harmonic mode of the pipe is
resonantly excited by a 1275 Hz source ?

Sol. Here, L= 20 cm = 0.2 m

f n = 430 Hz
v = 340 m/s.
frequency of nth normal mode of vibration of closed pipe is
v
f n = (2n 1)
4L
340
 1275 = (2n – 1)  n = 2.
4  0.2
 third harmonic or first overtone.

Prob 2. A steel rod 100 cm long is clamped at its middle. The

fundamental frequency of longitudinal vibrations of the /4 /4
rod are given to be 2.53 kHz. What is the speed of
sound in steel?

 
Sol. Here,   100 cm  1 m
4 4

  1m
2
 =2m
Here,  = 2.53 kHz = 2530 Hz.
 Speed of sound in steel, v =  = 2530 Hz  2 m
= 5060 m/s

Prob 3. A wire stretched between two rigid supports vibrates in

its fundamental mode with a frequency of 45 Hz. The
2
mass of the wire is 3.5  10 kg and its linear mass /2
density is 4.0  102 kgm1, What is (a) the speed of a
transverse wave on the string, and (b) the tension in the
string?

m 3.5  102 kg 3.5 350

Sol. L  2
= m = cm  87.5 cm
 4.0  10 kg / m 4 4

Here, L    = 2L = 175 cm = 1.75 m
2
(a) Speed of transverse wave on string, v = 
= (45 Hz) (1.75 m) = 78.75 m/s

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F
(b)  Speed of transverse wave on string, v 

 F = v2
= (4.0  102 kg/m) (78.75 m/s)2
= 4  78.75  78.75 N
 2.5  104 N
 25 kN.

Prob 4. A hospital used an ultrasonic scanner to locate tumours in a tissue. What is the
1
wavelength of sound in the tissue in which the speed of sound is 1.7 km s ? The
operating frequency of the scanner is 4.2 MHz.

Sol. Here frequency,  = 4.2 MHz

Speed of sound, v = 1.7 kms1
v
 v =  =    .

1.7  103 ms1
 Wavelength of sound in tumour tissue,  
4.2  106 Hz
1.7
  103 m  0.40 mm
4.2

Prob 5. A sonar system fixed in a submarine operates at a frequency 40.0 kHz. An energy
submarine moves towards the SONAR with a speed of 360 km/h. what is the
frequency of sound reflected by the submarine? Take the speed of sound in water to
be 1450 ms1.

Sol. The frequency of sound reflected by the energy equals to the frequency of sound
received by the same submarine.
The frequency of the sound wave received by the submarine, 
v  u0
 0
v
1450  100
  40 kHz
1450
= 42.75 kHz
 360  1000 
 u0  360 km / h  60  60 m / s  100 m / s 
 

IITJEE TYPE
Prob 6. Show that if the room temperature changes by a small amount from T to T + T, the
fundamental frequency of an organ pipe changes from  to  + , where
 1 T
 .
 2 T

Sol. Frequency of an organ pipe,

 1
n  v
 2
For a closed organ pipe,   ,nI
2L

nv
and for a open organ pipe,   ,nI
2L
  = kv, where k is a constant.
= kv, for the fundamental frequency, where
k is a constant.
P
  k'

 PV = nRT
m
 PV  RT
M
 PM = RT
P RT
 
 M
Using in (ii);
RT
  k'
M
 c T ...(i),
where c is another constant.
     c T  T
1/ 2
 T 
 c(T  T)1/ 2  c T  1  
 T 
 1 T 
 c T 1   …(ii)
 2 T 
subtracting (i) from (ii);
T T
  c T  c …(iii)
2T 2 T
dividing (iii) by (i), we get;
T
c
 2 T

 c T
 1 T
  
 2 T

Prob 7. Three sources of sound S1, S2 and S3 of equal intensity

are placed in a straight line with S1S2 = S2S3. At a point P,
away from the sources, the wave coming from S2 is 120 S1 S2 S3 P
ahead in phase of that from S1. Also, the wave coming
from S3 is 120 ahead of that from S2. What would be the
resultant intensity of sound at P? What is minimum value
of S1 S2 and S2S3 if the wavelength is ?

S1S2 2  120
Sol. 2   S1S2  ,
 3 3
A3 A2
S2 S 3 2  120
2   S2S3  .
 3 3
A1
The amplitude of the resulting sound wave is zero.

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Prob 8. A circular loop of string rotates about its axis on F

a frictionless horizontal plane at a uniform rate,
 v
so that the tangential speed of any particle of the
string is v. If a small transverse disturbance is R
F
produced at a point of the loop, with what speed
(relative to the string) will this disturbance travel
on the string?
   v2
Sol. 2  F sin   (R)
 2  R

 2F    v 2
2
F
 v i.e. wave speed with respect to the string.

 wave speed with respect to string is v.

Prob 9. A source emitting sound of frequency  is placed at a d

large distance from an observer. The source starts moving S S1 O

towards the observer with a uniform acceleration ‘a’. Find a
the frequency heard by the observer corresponding to the
wave emitted, just after the source starts. The speed of
sound in the medium is v.

Sol. Let a compression wave pulse is generated by source S at t = 0.

Now, the next compression wave pulse is generated by source at time t = T.
The distance travelled by the source in this time period
1
SS1  aT 2
2
The time at which the first compression wave reaches to observer O,
d
t1  .
v
The time at which the second compression wave reaches to observer O,
1
d  aT 2
d  SS1 2
t2  T  T
v v
Thus, the apparent time-period to the observer O,
T = t2  t1
 1 
 d  aT 2 
2 d aT 2 2vT  aT 2
 T   = T 
 v  v 2v 2v
 
Hence, the apparent frequency to the observer O,
1 2v 2v  1
'  =    
T' 2vT  aT 2
1 1  T
2v  a 2
 
2v2
=
2v  a

 90   90 
Prob10. Wavelengths of two notes in air are   m and   m . Each note produces
 175   173 
four beats per second with a third note of a fixed frequency. Calculate the velocity of
sound in air.

90 90
Sol. Given 1 = m and 2 = m.
175 173
Let f 1 and f 2 be the corresponding frequencies and v be the velocity of sound in air.
v = 1 f1 and v = 2f 2
v v
 f1 = and f2 =
1 2
Since 2 > 1  f1 > f2
Let f be the frequency of the third note.
 f1 - f = 4 and f - f2 = 4
v v
 f1 - f2 = 8   8
1  2
175 173  2
v  8  v   8
 90 90   90 
 v = 360 ms-1

Prob 11. An Aluminum thin wire of length l1 = 60.0 l1 l2

-2
cm and of cross-sectional area 1.00  10 Steel
Aluminium
cm2 is connected to a steel wire of the
same cross sectional area. The compound
wire , loaded with a block m of mass 10.0
kg, is arranged as shown, so that the m
distance l2 from the joint to the supporting
pulley is 86.6cm
Transverse waves are set up in the wire by using an external source of variable
frequency
(a) Find the lowest frequency of excitation for which standing waves are observed
such that the joint in the wire is a node.
(b) What is total number of nodes observed at this frequency excluding the two at
the ends of the wire ?
Density of aluminum is 2.6 g/cm3 ; Density of steel is 7.8 g/cm3

Sol. The distance between two nodes is equal to /2. The whole wire vibrates with the
frequency of the turning fork. But as the velocity of the wave in each part of the wire
is T/ and the mass per unit length in both the wires are different the velocity of the
wave in the two parts of the string is different. Thus the wavelength is different in both
parts of the string.
Let there be p1 loops in the aluminium part of the wire and p2 loops in the steel part of
the wire, the joint being a node. In such a case the allowed frequencies of the
Aluminium part of the wire is

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p1 T
f (1)
2l1 A
and for steel,
p2 T
f (2)
2l2  steel
l1 = 60.0 cm.
-2 2 3
Area of cross section = 1.00  10 cm . Density of Aluminium=2.6 gm/cm
A1 = (2.6)(1  10-2) = 0.026 g/cm
steel = (7.8)(1  10-2) = 0.078 g/cm.
Equating (1) and (2) we get,

p1 T p2 T l1 l2

260 0.026 286.6 0.078
p1 60 0.026 2
  
p2 86.6 0.078 5

 The lowest frequency of excitation causes p1 = 2, p2 = 5.

 The total number of loops = 5 + 2 = 7
and the frequency
2 981104
323.74Hz
260 0.026
and the wire looks like as shown in the figure.

Prob 12 . Two wires are fixed on a sonometer. Their tensions are in the ratio 8 : 1, their lengths
are in the ratio 36 : 35, the diameters are in the ratio 4 : 1 and densities are in the
ratio 1 : 2. Find the frequencies of the beats produced if the note of the higher pitch
has a frequency of 360 per second.

T1 8 L1 36 D1 4 1 1
Sol. Given:  ,    , 
T2 1 L 2 35 D2 1 2 2
Let 1 and 2 be the linear densities.
D12 D22
 1 =    1 and 2     2
4 4
2 2
1  D1   4 1 8
     1     
 2  D2  2  1  2 1
f1 L 2 T1  2 35 8 1 35
      
f2 L1 T2 1 36 1 8 36
f 2 > f 1 , we have f2 = 360  f 1 = 350
Beats = f 2 - f 1 = 10 per second.

Prob 13 . A column of air and a tuning fork produces 4 beats per second. When sounding
together, the tuning fork gives the lower note. The temperature of air is 15 C. When

the temperature falls to 10C, the two produce 3 beats per second. Find the
frequency of the tuning fork.

Sol. The frequency of the air column is given by

f = v/ Where v is the velocity of sound in air and  is the wavelength.
RT
But v = , thus it is dependent of temperature.
M
Thus f  T.
Let the frequency of the tuning fork be f.
Thus the frequency of the air column at 15 C = f + 4
Thus the frequency of the air column at 10 C = f + 3.
As the frequency decreases with temperature
f 4 288 f 4
   1.00879
f 3 283 f 3
 f  4 1.00879f 3.02638
 8.7910 3 f 0.97362
f  110.76 Hz.

Prob 14. An air column in a pipe closed at one end is made to vibrate in its second overtone
by a tuning fork of frequency 440 Hz. The speed of sound in air 330 m/s. End
corrections may be neglected. Let p0 denote the mean pressure at any point in the
pipe and P0 the maximum amplitudes of pressure variation
(a) Find the length L of the air column
(b) What is the amplitude of pressure variation at the middle of the column?
(c) What are the maximum and minimum pressures at the open end of at the pipe?
(d) What are the maximum and minimum pressures at the closed end of the pipe?

V
Sol. (a) Fundamental frequency of the closed organ pipe =
4
In closed organ pipe only odd harmonics are present
V
 Second over tone = 5
4
V
Given 5
= 440
4
5 x 330 15
 =  m  93.75 cm
4 x 440 16
(b) The equation of variation of pressure amplitude at any distance x from the node
P = P0 coskx
Pressure variation is maximum at a node and minimum (zero) at antinode. Distance
of the center from the close end
  2 5 P0  2 
=   P  P0 cos    k  
2 8  8 2   
(c) At antinode the pressure variation is minimum (zero), therefore antinode pressure
remains equal to Po (always)

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 At antinode Pmax  Pmin  P0

(d) At node, pressure variation is maximum equals to P0.
Pmax  P0  ΔP0 and Pmin  P0  ΔP0

Prob 15 . Two gases of different densities but same atomicity are mixed in proportions V1 and
V2 by volume. If v1 and v2 be the velocity of sound in them, respectively, find the
velocity of sound in the mixture.

p p
Sol. For same atomicity v1 = , v2 = . . . (i)
d1 d2
p
and speed in the mixture v m = . . . (ii)
dm
v1d1  v 2d2
where dm = . . . (iii)
v1  v 2
dm v1  v 2d2 / d1

d1 v1  v 2
v1 d2 d2 v 12
from (i)    . . . (iv)
v2 d1 d1 v 22
from (i) and (ii)
vm d1 vm v1  v 2
  
v1 dm v1 v1  v 2 (v12 / v 22 )
 vm = v1v 2 .

Prob 16 . A metallic rod of length 1m is rigidly clamped at its midpoint. Longitudinal stationary
waves are setup in the rod in such a way that there are two nodes on either side of
the mid point. The amplitude of antinodes is 210-6 m. Write the equation of motion
at a point 2 cm from the mid point and those of constituent waves in the rod.
(y= 2  1011 N/m2), =8000 kg/m3)

Sol. As the rod is clamped at mid point with two nodes on either side
 5
 =2 + =
2 2
2
 = = 0.4 m
5
mid point

y 2  1011
Speed of the wave produced =  = 5000 m/s . . . (i)
d 8000
v 5000
Frequency of the wave = = = 125000 Hz.
 0.4
Assuming left end of rod as origin, the equation of stationary waves

2
y = A cos x sin 2ft

The amplitude at any instant is given by
2 2x
R = 2A cos x  2 A cos . . . (ii)
 0 .4
At one end i.e. at x = 0 and t = 0
We have 2A = 2  10-6 m
 y = 2  10-6 cos 5x sin 2500 t . . . (iii)
At a point 2cm from the mid point
X = 0.5 + 0.02 = 0.52 m
-6
 y = 2  10 cos 5  0.52 sin 25000 t
= 2  10-6 cos 2.6  sin 25000 t
Then constituent waves are
y1 = 1  10-6 sin (25000 t - 5x)
y2 = 1  10-6 sin (25000 t + 5 x)

Prob 17. AB is a cylinder of length 1.0 m filled with a thin A C B

flexible diaphragm C at the middle and two other
thin flexible diaphragm A and B at the ends. The H2 O2
portions AC and BC contain hydrogen and oxygen
gases respectively. The diaphragms A and B are
set into vibrations of same frequency. What is the
minimum frequency of these vibrations for which the
diaphragm C is a node? Under the conditions of the
experiment, the velocity of sound in hydrogen is
1100 m/s and in oxygen is 300m/s.

Sol. Since C is node, the two parts AC and BC behave as closed pipes with the closed
end of each at C, since diaphragms A and B are set into vibrations, the ends A and B
must be antinodes.
The fundamental frequency of each pipe corresponds to just one node and one
antinode. If n1 and n2 are the fundamental frequencies of gases in AC and BC
respectively, we have
v1 1100 v 300
f1 = =  550 Hz and f2 = 2 = = 150 Hz
4L 4 x 0.5 4L 4 x 0.5
Where v1 and v2 are the sound speeds in hydrogen and oxygen respectively.

These frequencies are not same. Hence the two gas columns are not vibrating in
fundamental mode. We know that a closed pipe has only odd harmonics with
frequencies, which are 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, etc times the fundamental frequency. To find out
which harmonics of f 1 and f 2 have the same frequency . We notice that
f1 550
 or 3f 1 = 11n2
f2 150

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 44 Pinnacle Study Package

Thus, the third harmonic of f1 and eleventh harmonic of f2 have equal frequencies,
similarly sixth harmonic of f 1 and 22nd harmonic of f 2 have equal frequencies and so
on.
 Common minimum frequency = 3n1 = 3 x 550 = 1650 Hz.= 11n2

Prob 18. The figure represents two snaps of a travelling wave on a string of mass per unit
length  = 0.25 kg/m. The first snap is taken at t = 0 and the second is taken at
t =0.05 s. Determine the following
(a) the speed of the wave
(b) the wavelength and frequency of the wave
(c) the maximum speed of the particle
(d) the tension in the string
(e)the equation of the wave

t = 0 s
10
t = 0 .0 5 s

5
y
(m m ) O 1 2 3
x (m )
-5

-1 0

Sol. The wave is travelling along the positive x -axis

 y = A sin [kx - t + ]
at x = 0, y = A sin [- t + ]
A 1  5
Also, at t = 0; y = Asin =
, or sin =    , ,.... (1)
2 2 6 6
 
and at t = 0.05 s; y = A sin   = 0
 20 
Since motion of the particle is downward,  = 5/6
 50
- 0  
20 3
 25
 f =  Hz
2 3
 25  50
Velocity of wave is, V = f = 2   m/s
 3  3
Maximum velocity of the particle is
 50  
Vmax = A = 
 3  6

  10  103  m / s 
2
 50  625
Tension in the string is T = V2 = (0.25)    N
 3  9
 50 5 
The equation of the wave is y = 10 sin  x  t  mm
 3 6 

Prob 19. A band playing music at a frequency f is moving towards a wall at a speed vb . A
motorist is following the band with a speed vm. If v is the speed of sound, obtain an
expression for the beat frequency heard by the motorist.

Sol.
Vm Vb

Wall
Required beat frequency = |f1 - f 2|
Where, f 1 = apparent frequency for the motorist corresponding to the signals directly
coming to him from source, and f 2 = apparent frequency for the motorist
corresponding to the signals coming to him after reflection.
 V  Vm  V  Vm
Now, f1 = f   & f2 = f
 V  Vb  V
Where f  is the frequency at which signals from sources are incident on wall.

V 
f  = f 
 V  Vb 
 V   V  Vm   V  Vm 
 f2 = f     f 
 V  Vb   V   V  Vb 
2 Vb V  Vm f
Hence , the beat frequency = |f1 - f 2| = .
V 
 Vb2 

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Objective:

Prob 1 . An accurate and reliable audio oscillator is used to standardize a tuning fork marked
as 512 Hz. When the oscillator reading is 514, two beats are heard per second.
When the oscillator reading is 510, the beat frequency is 6 Hz. The frequency of the
tuning fork is
(A) 506 (B)510
(C) 516 (D) 158

Sol. It should be remembered that the oscillator reading is correct and the tuning fork
frequency marked is wrong. When the oscillator reading is 514, two beats are heard.
Hence the frequency of the tuning fork is 514  2 = 516 or 512. When the oscillator
reading is 510, the frequency of the tuning fork is 510  6 = 516 or 504. The
common value is 516. Hence the frequency is 516 Hz.
 (C)

Prob 2 . A sound wave of wavelength  travels towards the right horizontally with a velocity V.
It strikes and reflects from a vertical plane surface, travelling at a speed v towards the
left. The number of positive crests striking in a time interval of three seconds on the
wall is
(A) 3 (V + v) / (B)3(V – v)/
(C) (V + v)/ 3 (D) (V – v) /3

Sol. The relative velocity of sound waves with respect to the walls is V + v. Hence the
apparent frequency of the waves striking the surface of the wall is (V + v)/ . The
number of positive crests striking per second is the same as frequency. In three
seconds the number is [3 (V + v)]/ .
 (A)

Prob 3 . Two waves represented by y1 = 10 Sin (2000  t) and y2= 10 sin (2000  t + /2)
are superposed at any point at a particular instant. The resultant amplitude is
(A) 10 units (B)20 units
(C) 14.1 units (D) zero

Sol. The resultant amplitude A of two waves of amplitudes a1 and a2 and phase
difference  is ( (a 12  a 22  2a1a 2 cos )1/ 2 . Substituting a1 = 10, a2 = 10 and
 = 900, we get A = 14.1.
 (C)

Prob 4. When two simple harmonic motions of same periods, same amplitude, having phase
of 3/2, and at right angles to each other are super imposed, the resultant wave form is
a
(A) circle (B) parabola
(C) ellipse (D) figure of eight

Sol. When two SHM of different amplitudes and same period are superposed, the
resulting motion is in general elliptical. When the phase difference is 0 or 1800, the
motion will be a straight line. When the phase difference is 90 or 2700, the motion
will be an ellipse whose axes coincide with coordinate axes. If the amplitudes are the
0 0
same and the phase difference is 90 or 270 , the motion will be circular.
 (A)

Prob 5 . When two linear simple harmonic vibrations of the same frequency and amplitude are
combined while acting on a particle at right angles, the resulting motion of the particle
is circular when the phase difference between them is
(A)  (B) /4
(C) 2 (D) /2

Sol.  (D)

Prob 6 . A line source emits a cylindrical wave. If the medium absorbs no energy, the
amplitude will vary with distance r from the source as proportional to
1
(A) r (B) r2
1/2
(C) r (D) r1/2

Sol. The energy is inversely proportional to the square of distance. Hence the amplitude
is inversely proportional to the distance.
 (C)

Prob 7 . A transverse wave is described by the equation y = y0 sin 2 (ft – x/a). The
maximum particle velocity is equal to four times the wave velocity if a is equal to (a
wavelength )
(A) y0 / 4 (B) y0/2
(C) y0 (D) 2y0

Sol. The maximum particle velocity of a SHM of amplitude y0 and frequency f is 2fY0.
The wave velocity is f. For 2 fy0 to be equal to 4f,  has to be y0 / 2
(Here  = a).
 (B)

Prob 8 . Inside a gas, sound transmission is possible for

(A) longitudinal waves only
(B transverse waves only
(C) neither longitudinal waves nor transverse waves
(D) both longitudinal and transverse waves

Sol. Inside a gas, only the longitudinal mode of transmission is possible for sound waves.
 (A)

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 48 Pinnacle Study Package

Prob 9. A flat horizontal platform moves up and down in S.H.M. with an amplitude of 1 cm. A
small object is placed on the platform. What is the maximum frequency the platform
can have, if the object is not to separate from it during any part of the motion ?
980
(A) per second (B) 980 / 2` per second
2
(C) 980 / 2 per second (D) 2   980 per second

Sol. The maximum restoring force of S.H.M. is the weight of the object in the platform.
2
If A is the amplitude, we have m A = mg, where  = 2 f. This solves to
1 g 1
f=  980  (A)
2 a 2

Prob 10. The amplitude of a wave disturbance propagating in the positive x-direction is given
by y =1/ (1 + x2) at time t = 0 and by y = 1/[1 + (x – 1)2 at t = 2 seconds, where x and
y are in meters. The shape of the wave disturbance does not change during the
propagation. The velocity of the wave is
1
(A) 1 ms (B) 0.5 ms1
1
(C) 1.5 ms (D) 2 ms1

Sol. Writing the general expression for y in terms of x as

1 1
y= at t = 0, y = 1/ (1 + x)2. At t = 2 s, y =
1  ( x  vt ) 2
1  [ x  v( 2)] 2
Comparing with the given equation we get 2v = 1 and v = 0.5 m/s.
 (B)

Prob 11. Which of the following is not a wave equation?

(A) y = A sin k(x2  vt2) (B) y = A cos2(x/  t)
x t 
(C) y = A sin 2    (D) y = A sinkx cost
 T
Sol. (A).
For y = A sink(x2  vt2)
d2 y 1 d2 y

dx 2 v 2 dt 2
 It is not the equation of a wave.

Prob 12. Wave traveling in a stretched string is described by the equation y = a sin(kx  t).
The maximum velocity of the particle is
(A) A (B) /k
(C) x (D) x/t
Sol. (A).
dy
  A cos  kx  t   Vparticle
dt
 Vmax = A

Prob 13. A cylindrical tube open at both ends has fundamental frequency f in air. Tube is
dipped vertically in water so that half of it is in water. Fundamental frequency of air
column is
(A) f/2 (B) 3f/4
(C) f (D) 2f
Sol. (C). (a)

Fundamental frequency in air, In air

L = /2
  = 2L
V
 f1
2L
When t is half dipped in water L/2
L 

2 4
 = 2L
v = f 2 In water

 f 2 = v/2L
f1 = f2 = f (b)

Prob 14. A complex wave y = 3 sin2 t cos 500t is formed by superposition of how many waves
(A) 2 (B) 3
(C) 4 (D) 5

Sol. (B).
y = 3 sin2t cos500t
3 3 3
y  1  cos2t  cos500t  cos500t  2 cos2t cos500t 
2 2 4
3 3 3
y  cos500t  cos502t  cos498t
2 4 2
This implies, y = 3sin2t cos500t is the superposition of 3 waves

Prob 15. A whistling train approaches a junction. An observer standing on platform observes
the frequency to be 2.2 kHz and 1.8 KHz. When the train is approaching and
receding him, respectively. The speed of the train is (speed of sound = 300 m/s)
(A) 20 m/s (B) 30 m/s
(C) 40 m/s (D) 50 m/s

Sol. (B).
 V 
While approaching the junction, f '  f0  
 V  VS 
 300 
 2200  f0   … (i)
 300  VS 
 V 
While receding the junction, f "  f0  
 V  VS 

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 50 Pinnacle Study Package

 300 
 1800  f0   …(ii)
 300  VS 
Solving (i) and (ii) gives vs = 30 m/s.

Prob 16. An air column in a pipe, which is closed at one end will be in resonance with a
vibrating tuning fork of frequency 264 Hz, if the length of the pipe in cm is
(A) 31.25 (B) 62.5
(C) 93.75 (D) 125
Speed of sound in air = 330 m/s

Sol. (A), (C).

v
 2n  1   264
4
 2n  1  330

264  4
 ℓ = 31.25 if n = 1
ℓ = 93.75 if n = 2
ℓ = 156.25 if n = 3

Prob 17. The phase difference between waves y1 = asin t and y2 = a cos (t) is
(A)  (B) /2
(C) zero (D) none of these

Sol. (B).
y1 = asint = a cos (/2 - t) = a cos (t - /2)
Y2 = a cos t
  = /2

Prob 18. The vibration of four air columns are shown in the figure. The ratio of frequencies
fa:fb:fc:fd is

b
a
L

C d

L L

(A) 6:8:3:1 (B) 12:16:8:3

Sol. (C).
3 4 v 3v
 a  L   a  L  fa  
4 3 4 4L
3
v
b  L  fb 
L
1
 c  L   c  2L
2
v 1v
 fc  
2L 2 L
1
d  L  d  4L
4
v 1v
 fd    
4L 4  L 
3 1 1
 fa : f b : f c : f d  : 1 : :  3 : 4 : 2 : 1
4 2 4

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 52 Pinnacle Study Package

ASSIGNMENT PROBLEMS

Subjective:

Level - O

1. Why the speed of sound in moist air is greater than in dry air?

2. An observer at a sea-cost observes waves reaching the coast. What type of waves does
he observe? Justify your answer.

3. An organ pipe is in resonance with a tuning fork. If the length of the wire between the
bridges is made twice even than it can resonate with the same fork. Why?

4. A tuning fork produces resonances with a pipe. If the temperature is increased, then how
should the length of the pipe be changed for resonance?

5. Why two organ pipes of same length open at both ends produces sounds of different
frequencies if their radii are different?

6. An observer is moving towards a wall at 2 m/s. He hears a sound from a source at some
distance behind him directly as well as after reflection from the wall. Determine the beat
frequency between these two sounds if the actual frequency of the source is 680 Hz.
Given velocity of sound = 340 m/s.

7. Consider the wave y = 100 (cm) sin [(1 cm-1)x - (50s-1)t]. Find
(a) the amplitude
(b) the wave number
(c) the wavelength
(d) the wave velocity.

8. A wave has a wave speed of 243 m/s and a wavelength of 3.27 cm. Calculate (a) the
frequency (b) the period of the wave.

9. The speed of a wave on a string is 172 m/s when the tension is 123 N. Find tension in
the string if the wave speed is 180 m/s.
2
10. An observer measures an intensity of 1.13 W/m at an unknown distance from a source
of spherical waves whose power output is unknown. The observer walks 5.30 m closer
2
to the source and measures an intensity of 2.41 W/m at this new location. Calculate the
power output of the source.

11. Two pulses are travelling along a string in opposite 6.0 cm

directions. If the wave speed is 2.0 m/s and the v
pulses are 6.0 cm apart, sketch the pattern after 5.0,
10, 20 and 25 ms.

-v
12. A string fixed at both ends is 2m long and has a mass of 122 gm. it is subjected to a
tension of 61gm and set vibrating.
(a) what is the speed of the waves in the string ?
(b) What is the wavelength of the longest possible standing wave?

13. What are the three lowest frequencies for standing waves on a wire 9.88 m long having a
mass of 0.107 kg, which is stretched under a tension of 236 N ?

14. Show that the sound wave intensity I can be written in terms of the frequency and
displacement amplitude A in the form I = 22 vf 2 A2

15. A sound wave of 42.0 cm wavelength enters the tube

as shown. What must be the smallest radius r such
that minimum will be heard at the detector ?
Source Detector

16. A sound wave of intensity 1.60 W/cm2 passes through a surface of area 4.70 cm2. How
much energy passes through the surface in 1h?

17. A source emits spherical waves with equal intensities in all directions. The intensity of
2
the wave 42.5 m from the source is 197 W/m . Find the power output of the source.

18. A spherical sound source is placed at P1 near a A

reflecting wall AB and microphone is located at
point P2. The frequency of the sound source is 3.05m
24.4 m
variable. Find the two lowest frequencies for
which the sound intensities, as observed at P2, P1
will be maximum. There is no phase change on 15.2 m
reflection; the angle of incidence equals the
B
angle of reflection.
P2

19. A continuous sinsusoidal longitudinal wave is sent along a coiled spring from a vibrating
source attached to it. The frequency of the source is 25 Hz, and the distance between
the two successive rarefactions in the spring is 24 cm. (a) Find the wave speed. (b) If
the maximum longitudinal displacement of a particle in the spring is 0.30 cm and wave
moves in the -x direction. Write the equation for the wave. Let the source be at x = 0 and
the displacement s = 0 at the time when t = 0.

20. Two submarines are on a head-on collision course during manoeuvres. The first sub is
moving at 20.2 km/h and the second sub at 94.6 km/h. The first submarine sends out a
sonar signal at 1030 Hz. Sonar waves travel at 5470 km/hr.
(a) The second sub picks up the signal. What frequency does the second sonar detector
hears?
(b) The first sub picks up the reflected signals. What frequency does the first sonar
detector hear? Consider the ocean is calm; assume no currents at all.

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 54 Pinnacle Study Package

Level - I

1. Given the equation for a wave in a string

y = 0.03 sin(3x - 2t)
Where y and x are in metre and t is in second, answer the following:
(a) At t = 0, what is the displacement at x = 0 ?
(b) At x = 0.1 m, what is the displacement at t = 0.2 s ?
(c) What is the equation for the velocity of oscillation of the particles of the string ? What
is the maximum velocity of oscillation?
(d) What is the velocity of propagation of the wave?

2. A source of sound of frequency 550 Hz emits waves of wavelength 600 mm in air at

o
20 C. What is the velocity of sound in air at this temperature ? What would be the
wavelength at 0oC ?

3. A sound wave of 40 cm wavelength enters

the tube as shown in the figure. What must be r
the smallest radius r such that a minimum will
be heard at the detector ? Soruce Detector

4. Two sources S1 and S2 , separated by 2.0 m, 1m 1m

vibrate according to equation y1 = 0.03 sint and P2 S1 P3 S2 P1
y2 = 0.02 sint where y1 , y2 and t are in S.I.
units. They send out waves of velocity 1.5 m/s.
Calculate the amplitude of the resultant motion of
the particle co-linear with S1 and S2 and located
at a point
(a) P1 to the right of S2
(b) P2 to the left of S2 and
(c) P3 in the middle of S1 and S2 .

5. At a certain point in space, two waves produce pressure variations given by

p1 = pm sint
p2 = pm sin(t - )
What is the pressure amplitude of the resultant wave at this point when  = 0 and  = /2

6. To determine the velocity of sound propagation in air by acoustic resonance technique

one can use a pipe with a piston and a sonic membrane closing one of its ends. Find the
velocity of sound if the distance between the adjacent positions of the piston at which
resonance is observed at a frequency f = 2000 Hz is equal to  = 8.5cm ?

7. The water level in a vertical glass tube 1 m long can be adjusted to any position in the
tube. A tuning fork vibrating at 686 Hz is held just over the open top end of the tube. At
what positions of the water level will there be resonance? ( velocity of sound = 330 m/s)

8. The first overtone of an open organ pipe beats with the first overtone of a closed organ
pipe with a beat frequency of 2.2Hz. The fundamental frequency of the closed organ pipe
is 110Hz. Find the lengths of the pipes. Speed of sound in air is 330 m/s.

9. A simple harmonic wave has the equation y = 0.5 sin(314t – 1.57x), where y, x are in
metres and t in seconds. Find
(a) the frequency and the wavelength of this wave.
(b) another wave has the equation y = 0.1 sin(314t – 1.57x + 1.57). Deduce the phase
difference and the ratio of their intensities.

10. A stationary source of sound emits sound of frequency f0. A screen mounted on a
vehicle moving with velocity v0 towards the source. An observer detects beat frequency
f 1. If vehicle move away from the source with same speed v 0, observe beat frequency f 2.
Assuming observers remains between the source and vehicle all the time and if the ratio
f1
of beat frequency = 2, find the velocity v0. Assume the velocity of sound is c.
f2

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 56 Pinnacle Study Package

Level - II

1. A receiver and a source of sonic oscillations of frequency 2000 Hz are located on the
x - axis. The source swings harmonically along x - axis with circular frequency  and
amplitude 50 cm. At what value of  will the frequency band width registered by
stationary receiver be equal to 200 Hz ? The velocity of sound in air is equal to 340 m/s.
(Assume that the velocity of source is small compared to the velocity of sound)

o
2. A column of air at 51 C and a tuning fork produce 4 beats per second when sounded
together. As the temperature of the air column is decreased, the number of beats per
second tends to decrease and when the temperature is 16oC, the two produce one beat
per second. Find the frequency of the tuning fork.

y
3. A transverse wave is travelling along a string
from left to right. Adjoining figure represents the
B C
snap shot at a given instant. At this instant D x
A E I
(a) which points have an upward velocity? F G
H

(b) which points will have downward velocity?

(d) which have maximum magnitude of velocity ?

4. A sound of intensity 27 I0 is produced at the end A. It II

travels down to the point B along three different paths I,

II and III as shown in the figure. Path II is semi-circular.
At B, no sound is heard.
A I B
(a) Find the maximum possible wavelength of sound
(b) Find the value of x. l = 1.0m
x
(c) Find the equations of the three waves arriving at B.
Assume that sound energy is equally distributed among III
the three paths. The path length III is more than that of II.

2
5. Find the harmonic components in the complex wave y = 3 sin t cos (500t). What are their
circular frequencies?

6. Two wires of radii r and 2r respectively are welded together end to end. This combination
is used as a sonometer wire kept under tension T. The welded point is midway between
the two bridges. What would be the ratio of the number of loops formed in the wires such
that the joint is a node when stationary vibrations are set up in the wires.

7. A uniform horizontal rod of length 0.40 m and mass 1.2

kg is supported by two identical wires as shown in the
figure. Where should a mass of 4.8 kg be placed on the
rod so that the same tuning fork may excite the wire on
the left to its fundamental vibration and that on the right to
its first overtone. (take g = 10m/s2)

8. A certain loudspeaker (assumed to be a point source) emits 30 W of sound power. A

small microphone of effective cross-sectional area 0.75 cm2 is located 200 m from the
loudspeaker. Calculate
(a) the sound intensity at the microphone and
(b) the power received by the microphone.

9. A standing wave setup in a medium is given by

x
y = 4cos sin40t
3
Where x and y are in cm and t in seconds,
(a) What are the amplitude and velocity of the two component waves which produce this
standing wave?
(b) What is the distance between the adjacent nodes?
1
(c) What is the velocity of the particle of the medium at x = 3cm at time t = sec?
8

10. A copper rod of length  is clamped at its mid point. Find the expression for the nth natural
frequency of longitudinal oscillations in the rod. Young’s modulus and density of the rod
are Y and  respectively.

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 58 Pinnacle Study Package

Objective:

Level – I

1. A sine wave is travelling in a medium. The minimum distance between the two particles,
always having same speed is
(A) /4 (B) /3
(C) /2 (D) 

2. A transverse wave travels along the z-axis. The particles of the medium must move
(A) Along the Z-axis (B) Along the X-axis
(C) Along the y-axis (D) in the X-Y plane.

3. A wire having a linear density 0.10 kg/m is kept under a tension 490 N it is observed that
it resonates at a frequency of 400 Hz and the next frequency 450 Hz. The length of the
wire is
(A) 14 m (B) 0.7 m
(C) 1. 6 m (D) 0.49 m

4. Two particles in a medium are vibrating in same phase with a path difference of 10 m and
corresponding time difference is 0.1 s. The speed of wave in the medium is
(A) 100 m/s (B) 300 m/s
(C) 50 m/s (D) 200 m/s

5. A wire of length  having tension T and radius r vibrates with a natural frequency f.
Another wire of same metal with length 2 having tension 2T and radius 2r will vibrate
with natural frequency
(A) f (B) 2f
f
(C) 2 2 f (D)
2 2

6. In a resonance column experiment the first resonance is obtained when the level of the
water in tube is 20 cm from the open end. Resonance will also be obtained when the
water level is at a distance of
(A) 40 cm from the open end (B) 50 cm from the open end
(C) 80 cm from the open end (D) 100 cm from the open end

7. A policeman on duty detects a drop of 10% in the pitch of the horn of a motor car as it
crosses him. If the velocity of sound is 330 m/s the speed of the car will be
(A) 20 m/sec (B) 36.3 m/sec
(C) 25 m/s (D) 27 m/sec

8. Two waves travelling in a medium in the x-direction are represented by

y1 = A sin(t - x) and y2 = A cos(t - x - /4), where y1 and y2 are the displacements of
the particles of the medium, t is time and  and  are constants. The two waves have
different
(A) Speeds (B) Direction of propagation
(C) Wavelengths (D) Frequencies

9. A wave travelling in a stretched string is described is described by the equation

y = A sin(kx - t). The maximum particle velocity is
(A) A (B) /k
(C) x (D) x/t

10. Two sounds waves of equal intensity I generates beats. The maximum intensity of sound
produced in beats will be
(A) I (B) 4I
(C) 2I (D) I/2

11. Two trains, one coming towards and another going away from an observer both at 4 m/s
whistle simultaneously, with a frequency of 300 Hz. Velocity of sound is 340 m/s. The
number of beats produced are
(A) 7 (B) 6
(C) 5 (D) 12

12. Standing waves are produced in 10 m long stretched string. If the string vibrates in 5
segments and wave velocity is 20 m/s. Its frequency in Hz is
(A) 5 (B) 4
(C) 2 (D) 10

13. When the length of vibrating segment of a sonometer wire is increased by 1%, the
percentage change in its frequency is
99 100
(A) (B)
100 101
(C) 2 (D) 1

14. Doppler effect is valid for

(A) space waves (B) sound waves
(C) light waves (D) both B and C

t x
15. Equation of progressive wave is given by Y  a sin     , where t is in second and x
2 4
is in meter. Then the distance through which the wave moves in 8 seconds is
(A) 16 (B) 2
(C) 4 (D) 8

16. Two strings of the same material and same length have their tensions in the ratio of 4:1
and radii in the ratio 2:1. The ratio of their fundamental frequencies is
(A) 1:1 (B) 10:20
(C) 3:4 (D) 2:1

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 60 Pinnacle Study Package

17. A resonance air column of length 20 cm resonates in fundamental mode with a tuning
fork of frequency 450 Hz. Velocity of sound in air will be
(A) 920 m/s (B) 720 m/s
(C) 820 m/s (D) 360 m/s

18. A tuning fork produces 4 beats/sec, with another tuning fork B of frequency 320 cps. On
filling fork A , 4 beats/second are again heard. Then the frequency of fork A before filling
(in cps) is
(A) 316 (B) 328
(C) 320 (D) 324

19. What is the path difference for destructive interference?

n  1 
(A) n (B)
2
 2n  1 
(C) n    1 (D)
2

20. Resonance air column of length 20 cm resonates with a tuning fork of frequency 250 Hz.
Speed of air in m/s is
(A) 250 (B) 200
(C) 150 (D) 300

Level – II

1. An organ pipe P1 closed at one end vibrating in first harmonic and another pipe P2 open
at both ends vibrating in the third harmonic are in resonance with given turning fork. The
ratio of length of P1 to that of P2 is
(A) 8/3 (B) 3/8
(C) 1/ 6 (D) 1/3

0
2. The temperature at which the speed of sound in air beocmes double of its value at 27 C
is
0 0
(A) 54 C (B) 327 C
0
(C) 927 C (D) –123 0C

3. A cylindrical tube, open at both ends, has a fundamental frequency f in air. The tube is
dipped vertically in water so that half of it is in water. The fundamental frequency of air
column is now
(A) f/2 (B) 3f/4
(C) f (D) 2f

4. A wave is represented by the equation y = A sin (10x + 15  t+ /3) where x is in meter’s

and t is in seconds. The expressions represents
(A) A wave travelling in positive x direction with a velocity 1.5 m/s
(B) A wave travelling in negative x-direction with a velocity 1.5 m/s
(C) A wave travelling in the negative x-direction having a wave length 0.02 m.
(D) A wave travelling in positive x-direction having a wave length 0.02 m.

5. In the interference of waves from two sources of intensities Io and 4I0.. The intensity at a
point where the phase difference is  is
(A) I0 (B) 2I0
(C) 3I0 (D) 4I0

x
6. A string vibrates according to equation y = 5 sin cos 40t. The potential energy of
3
the string will be zero at times
1 1 1 1
(A) s and s (B) s and s
20 40 40 80
1 3 1 3
(C) s and s (D) s and s
80 80 40 40

7. Which of the following is not a wave equation ?

(A) y = A sin k (x2 – vt2) (B) y = A cos 2 (x/ - t)
x t 
(C) y = A sin 2    (D) y = A sin kx cos t
 T

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 62 Pinnacle Study Package

8. A source of sound of frequency 256 Hz is moving towards a wall with a velocity of 5 m/s.
The number of beats per second heard by a stationary observer between the source and
the wall is (velocity of sound = 330 m/s)
(A) 0 (B) 3
(C) 5 (D) 2

9. An open pipe has a fundamental frequency of 300 Hz. The first overtone of this pipe is
the same as the first overtone of a closed pipe. The length of the closed pipe is (velocity
of sound = 330 m/s)
(A) 82 cm (B) 90 cm
(C) 41 cm (D) 78 cm

10. An open pipe is suddenly closed at one end with the result that the frequency of the third
harmonic of the closed pipe is found to be higher than its fundamentals frequency by 100
Hz. The fundamental frequency of the open pipe is
(A) 200 Hz. (B) 300 Hz.
(C) 100 Hz. (D) 50 Hz.
11. A wave pulse on a string has the
1 cm v = 1 cm/s
dimension as shown is figure. The wave
speed is v = 1 cm/s. If point O is a free
end. The shape of wave at time t = 3s is
1 cm 2 cm

(A) (B)
O

O
1 cm

1 cm

2 cm
1 cm

O 1 cm

12. In the above problem, shape of the wave at time t = 3s, if O is the fixed end, will be
(A) (B)
O

O
1 cm

1 cm

2 cm
1 cm

O 1 cm

13. In a sine wave position of different particles at time t = 0 is y

shown in figure, the equation of this wave if it is traveling along
+ve x-axis can be X
(A) y = A sin(t  kx) (B) y = A
sin(kx  t)
(C) y = A cos(t  kx) (D) y = A
cos(kx  t)

14. In a stationary wave that form as a result of reflection of waves from an obstacle, the ratio
of the amplitude at an antinode to amplitude at node is n. The fraction of energy reflected
is
2 2
 n 1   n 1 
(A)   (B)  
 n   n 1
2 2
1   n 
(C)   (D)  
n  n 1
15. In a certain organ pipe three successive resonance frequencies are observed to be 88,
104 and 120 we say that the pipe is
(A) definitely open (B) definitely closed
(C) may be open or closed (D) none of these

16. Which of the following is not the standard form of a sine wave
 t x
(A) y  A sin 2    (B) y  A sin  vt  kx 
T 
 x
(C) y  A sin   t   (D) y  A sin  k  vt  x 
 v

17. In the given figure the intensity of waves arriving at D S1

4m
from two coherent sources S1 and S2 is D
I0.Wavelength of wave is  = 4 m. Resultant intensity 3m
at D will be
(A) 4I0 (B) I0
S2
(C) 2I0 (D) none of these

18. Two waves of intensities I and 2I and with opposite phase superpose. Intensity of
superposed wave will be
(A) I (B) 3 I
(C) I( 2 - 1)2 (D) I( 2 + 1)2

19. If 1, 2 and 3 are the wavelength of the waves giving resonances with the fundamental,
first and second overtones respectively in a closed organ pipe, then the ratio of 1:2:3 is
(A) 1:2:3 (B) 1:1/3:1/5
(C) 1:3:5 (D) 5:3:1

20. A stationary source emitting sound of frequency is kept v

as shown in figure. An observer is running on the circular P
S
track with constant speed v. What will be the minimum
r
frequency recorded by observer. (c = speed of sound in 2r
air)
 v  v
(A) f0 1   (B) f0 1  
 c  C
(C) f 0 (D) zero

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 64 Pinnacle Study Package

ANSWERS

Subjective:

LEVEL - O

6. 8 Hz

7. (a) 100 cm (b) 1 rad/cm (c) 2 cm (d) 50 cm/s

8. (a) 7.43 kHz. (b) 135 S

9. 135 N 10. 1420 W

12. (a) 3.13 m/s. (b) 4 m

13. 7.47 Hz, 14.9 Hz, 22.4 Hz.

15. 18.4 cm. 16. 0.0271 J

17. 4.47 W 18. 42.86 Hz. 85.73 Hz.

19. (a) 600 cm/s (b) y= 0.30 cm sin [(0.26 rad/cm)x + (157 rad/s)t]

20. (a) 1050 Hz (b) 1070 Hz.

LEVEL - I

1. 0 ; -3 mm; v = -0.06 cos(3x - 2t), 0.06 m/s; 0.667 m/s

2. 330 m/s, 579 mm 3. 17.52 cm

4. 2. 65 cm ; 2.65 cm, 5 cm 5. 2Pm when  = 0, 2 Pm, when  = /2

6. 340 m/s 7. 12 cm, 36 cm, 60 cm, 84 cm

8. open pipe : 0.99 m ; closed pipe : 0.75 m

9. (a) 50 Hz, 4 m (b) /2 ; 25 10. c/3

LEVEL - II

1. 34 rad/s 2. 50 Hz.

3. (a) D, E, F (b) A, B, H, I (c) C, G (d) A, E, I

4. (a) 3 ( - 1)m (b) ( - 1)m

2 4
(c) y1 = 3 I0 sin (t – kx), y2 = 3 I0 sin (t – kx + ), y3 = 3 I0 sin (t – kx + )
3 3

3 3 3
5. y1 = cos 500 t, y2 = - cos502 t, y3 = - cos 498 t, 500 rad/s , 502 rad/s, 498 rad/s
2 4 4

6. nr : n2r = 1 : 2 7. 0.05 m from left end.

8. (a) 5.96  10-5 W/m2 (b) 4.47  10-9 W

9. (a) 2 cm, 120 m/s (b) 3 cm (c) 160  cm/s

1 y
10. (2n+1) (n = 0, 1, 2, 3 ,…..)
2 

P - 6 8 - P - 4 - K N - P H - W S - 66 Pinnacle Study Package

Objective:

LEVEL - I

1. C 2. D

3. B 4. A

5. D 6. D

7. B 8. B

9. A 10. B

11. A 12. A

13. B 14. D

15. A 16. A

17. D 18. A

19. D 20. B

LEVEL - II

1. C 2. C

3. C 4. B

5. A 6. C

7. A 8. A

9. C 10. D

11. D 12. A

13. B 14. B

15. B 16. B

17. C 18. C

19. B 20. B

FIITJEE Ltd., ICES House, Sarvapriya Vihar (Near Hauz Khas Bus Terminal), New Delhi - 16, Ph : 6515949 , 6865182, 6854102, Fax : 6513942
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