WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-1

LESSON 15
WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE

Most elastic objects vibrate when an impulse is applied to them. That is, once they
are distored, their shape tends to be restored to some equilibrium configuration. Wave
motion is closely related to the phenomenon of vibration. Sound waves, waves on
stretched strings and water waves are all produced by some source of vibration. They are
called mechanical waves and can be generated in a medium having elastic properties. In
contrast, electromagnetic waves, such as light and TV signals, can propagate through
vacuum.

In this lesson we will study about mechanical waves only. We will also study about
the various effects when more than one such wave superimpose. We will also study the
effect of relative motion between the listener and the source of sound.

IITJEE Syllabus: Wave motion (plane waves only), longitudinal

and transverse waves, superposition of waves; progressive and
stationary waves; vibration of strings and air columns.
Resonance; Beats; Speed of sound; Doppler effect (in sound ).

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SECTION  I

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1. WAVE MOTION

1.1 WAVES

A wave may be defined as a periodic disturbance travelling with a finite velocity through a medium.
Such a wave-motion remains unchanged in shape, as it progresses.

The important characteristics of a wave are:

(i) The particles of the medium traversed by a wave execute relatively small vibrations about
their mean positions but the particles are not permanently displaced in the direction of propagation of the
wave.

(ii) Each successive particle of the medium executes a motion quite similar to its predecessors
along/ perpendicular to the line of travel of the wave.

(iii) During wave-motion only transfer of energy takes place but not a portion of the medium.

A vibration in its simplest form is called a simple harmonic motion and a particle executing such a
motion may be considered as a source, which radiates waves in all directions. Usually the amplitude of
vibration of the individual particles decreases as the distance of them from the source increases. But we
will consider only the propagation of waves in which there is no change in amplitude as the wave
progresses.

1.2 TRANSVERSE WAVES

A transverse wave is one in which particles of the medium vibrate in a direction at right angles to
the line of propagation of the wave.

C1 C2

a a
A1 A3
B B4
A B1 B2 A2 B3
a a

T1 T2

At any instant each particle of the medium is at its own displacement position in the process of
executing a S.H.M. identical with others. The maximum displacement that every particle can have is called
the amplitude of the wave.

The particles at A, A1, A2, ... are at their maximum displacement positions. The positions C1, C2 ... of
the wave are called crests while the positions T1, T2, ... are called troughs.

Other particles of the medium are having their own individual displacements from the mean position
which, sometime later would reach the maximum displacement position. Due to this it would appear as if
crests and troughs travel forward in a wave-motion. As in S.H.M. the particle velocity is greatest where the
displacement is least (zero) and the particles velocity is minimum where the displacement is maximum.
Successive pairs of particles such as B and B2, A and A2, B1 and B3 are in the same phase and distance
between such successive pairs in the same phase is called the wavelength of the wave (written as ).

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1.3 LONGITUDINAL WAVES

If the individual particles of the medium vibrate in the direction of propagation of the wave itself
the wave is called a longitudinal wave.

In the transverse wave-motion the displacement curve is a ‘sine curve’ of displacements with
alternate crests and troughs. In the longitudinal wave the disturbance is passing along a succession of
compressions and rarefactions. Compressions are points of maximum density and correspond to the crests of
transverse wave while the rarefactions are points of minimum density corresponding to the troughs of a
transverse wave. Yet the graphical representation of a longitudinal wave-motion will be quite identical with
that of the transverse wave. As in the transverse wave the distance between successive pairs of particles in
the same phase is called the wavelength ().

1.4 WAVE FREQUENCY

If the particles of the medium make n (also written as ) vibrations per second, n is called the
1
frequency of the wave. The time taken for one vibration is the wave period T and T = or

 = 1/T; unit  hertz (Hz).

1.5 WAVELENGTH

We have already defined a wavelength  is the

distance travelled by the wave in one period T unit  metre.



1.6 WAVE VELOCITY

Wave velocity is the distance travelled by the wave in one second. Symbol v or c;
unit  metre/second.

If the frequency of the wave is “f ” hertz and wavelength is “” metres, then the wave velocity v is

v = f  m/s … (1)

Wave velocity = Frequency  Wavelength

2. GENERAL EQUATION OF PROGRESSIVE WAVES

Let us consider a series of particles forming a long string y

stretched along the x-axis as shown.
y
Suppose the particle at the origin O acts as the source of a
disturbance, which travels as a transverse wave in the positive P
direction of the x-axis with a velocity v. As the wave proceeds, y
O
each successive particle is set in motion. x

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Let the time be measured from the instant when the particle at the origin O is passing
through its equilibrium position. Then the displacement y of this particle at any instant t can be
represented by
y = f (t )
where f (t) is any function of time. The wave will reach a point P, distant x from O, in x/v
second. Thus the particle at P will start moving x/v second later than the particle at O. Therefore,
the displacement y of the particle at P at any instant t will be the same as the displacement of the
particle at the origin x/v second earlier i.e., at (t – x/v). Hence the displacement at P is given by
y = f (t – x/v)
Since v is a constant, we may write it as
y = f (vt – x) … (i)
This is the equation of a wave of any shape travelling along the positive direction of x-axis
with a constant velocity v. The function f determines the exact shape of the wave.
Similarly, the equation for a wave travelling along the negative direction of x-axis would be
y = f (vt + x) … (ii)
Thus the functions f (vt  x) represent travelling waves. We can also write these functions as
f (x  vt ).
From equation (i) and (ii) the generation equation for the wave can be written as
y = f1 (vt – x) + f2 (vt + x) … (iii)
To get the general differential equation, let us differentiate equation (iii) twice partially with
respect to ‘t’. We get
2 y 2
 v 2 f1'' (vt  x) + v f 2'' (vt + x) … (a)
t 2
where f1' ' and f 2'' are the second differentials of f1 & f2 respectively.
Again differentiating equation (iii) twice partially with respect to x, we get
2 y
= f1'' (vt – x) + f2'' (vt + x) … (b)
x 2

Comparing (a) & (b)

2 y 2  y
2
 v … (2)
t 2 x 2
This is general differential equation for a one dimensional wave.

6
If at t = 0 a travelling wave pulse on a string is described by the function: y 
x2  3
What will be the amplitude and wave function representing the pulse at time t, if the
pulse is propagating along positive x-axis with speed 4 m/s.

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2.1 EQUATION OF A SINUSOIDAL PROGRESSIVE WAVE

Particle displacement (y)

The displacement of a particle y from its mean position, taking y = 0 when t = 0 is given by the
displacement-time equation for simple harmonic motion

y = A sin t … (3)

where a is the amplitude of the oscillation and  = 2n, where n is the wave frequency. Hence

y = A sin 2nt … (4)

This equation is applicable to all

individual particles affected by the wave.
Suppose the wave is progressing forward with x
O P
velocity v m/s. Suppose we start timing the t=0
operation when the wave reaches a certain
particle O. Let us consider O as origin for the
purpose of measuring distances. Then a particle
P at a distance x from O will receive the wave
x
s later than O did.
v

Hence its displacement will have to be considered according to

 x
y = A sin 2f  t   … (5)
 v

1
Since v = f , f = , the displacement equation can also take the form
T

2
y = A sin (vt  x) … (6)


t x
y = A sin 2    … (7)
T 

The displacement of particles in a string stretched in the x-direction is represented by

y. Among the following expressions for y, those describing wave motion are
(a) cos kx sin t (b) k2 x2 – 2t2 (c) cos2 (kx + t) (d) cos (kx2 – 2t2)

Illustration 1

Question: The equation of a progressive wave is represented as

y = 8 sin 2 (5 t  0.01 x)

where x is in metres and t in seconds. Find (i) the frequency in Hz, (ii) the wavelength in metre and
(iii) the velocity of the wave in m/s.

Solution: Comparing the given equation with the standard equation of progressive wave

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y = 8 sin 2 (5 t  0.01 x)  given equation

 t x
y = A sin 2     standard equation
T  

t
(i) =5t
T
1
(or) = 5 hertz
T
 frequency of the wave = 5 Hz
x
(ii)  =  0.01 x

1
(or) = 0.01

1
 wavelength  = = 100 m
0.01
(iii) Wave velocity = f  = (5 Hz) (100 m) = 500 m/s

Illustration 2

Question: A wave travelling in the positive x-direction has an amplitude 0.01 m, frequency
125 Hz and velocity of propagation 375 m/s. Find the displacement and acceleration of a particle
in the medium situated 1.5 m from the origin at t = 5 sec.

Solution: Let the wave be represented as

t x
y = A sin 2   
T 

Here amplitude A = 0.01 m

Velocity = 375 m/s

1
Frequency = f = 125 Hz
T

x = 1.5 m

v 375
Wavelength =  =3m
f 125

t = 5 sec

Particle displacement is given by

 1.5 
y = 0.01 sin 2 125  5 
 3 

= 0.01 sin 2 (625  0.5)

= 0.01 sin 2 (624.5)

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= 0.01 sin (1249)

= 0.01 sin  = 0

Particle acceleration

d 2y 42  t x
 A sin2    = 0
T  
2 2
dt T

3. ENERGY OF A PLANE PROGRESSIVE WAVE

Consider a plane wave propagating with a velocity v in Volume = Sdx

x-direction across an area S. An element of material medium
(density =  kg/m3) will have a mass (Sdx).

The displacement of a particle from its equilibrium

Area (C.S.)=S dx
position is given by the wave equation.

y = A sin (t – kx)

1 2
Total energy, dE = dm Vmax
2
1
dE = (Sdx) (A)2
2
= Sdx (22 f 2A2)
dE
 energy density = = 22 f2A2 (J/m3)
(Sdx )

energy per unit length = S (22f 2A2) … (8)

 power transmitted = 22 f 2A2 Sv (J/s) … (9)

3.1 INTENSITY OF THE WAVE (I)

Intensity of the wave is defined as the power crossing per unit area
 I = 22 f2 A2v (Watt/m2) … (10)
for wave propagation through a taut string,
S = , the linear density in kg/m
 Energy per unit length = 22f2 A2 … (11)

Illustration 3

 64 t  x 
Question: The equation of a progressive wave is given as y = 0.05 sin 2   where the amplitude and
 3.2 
wavelength are in metres. (i) Calculate the phase velocity of the wave, (ii) also calculate x, if the phase
difference between two points at a distance 0.32 m apart, along the line of propagation is /x (iii) if the
wave propagates through air (density = 1.3 kg/m ) find the intensity of wave. (Assuming  = 10)
3 2

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Solution: (i) The progressive wave is represented by

2
y = 0.05 sin (64t  x)
3 .2

Comparing this with the standard equation

2
y = A sin (vt  x)


the phase velocity (wave velocity) = 64 m/s

(ii) The phase difference of the particles separated by a distance of  is equal to 2.

2
 phase difference of particles separated by a distance 0.32 m =  0.32
3 .2

= radians
5

 x=5

(iii) The intensity of the sound wave is given by

I=
1
2
1
2
kg   m 
m  s
 
v2 A 2 = 1.3 3   64  42n 2 0.05 m 
2

64
Here n is the frequency of the wave and is equal to = 20 Hz
3 .2

1
  1.3  64  4  400  0.0025 W/m
2 2
I=
2
2
= 1664 W/m

4. WAVE SPEED

The speed of any mechanical wave, transverse or longitudinal, depends on both an inertial
property of the medium and an elastic property of the medium.

4.1 TRANSVERSE WAVE IN A STRETCHED STRING

Consider a transverse pulse produced in a taut string of linear mass density . Consider a
small segment of the pulse, of length l, forming an arc of a circle of radius R. A force equal in
magnitude 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 dl 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
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Tl
F = 2T sin ()  2T () =
R
The mass of the segment is m = l

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The acceleration of this element towards the centre of the

v2
circle is a = , where v is the velocity of the pulse. l
R
 
Using second law of motion T 2 T

Tl v2
 (l )
R R

T
or, v … (12)


5. SUPERPOSITION OF WAVES

Two or more waves can traverse the same space independent of one another. 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
the particle is called superposition.

5.1 INTERFERENCE
When two waves of the same frequency, superimpose each other, there occurs redistribution
of energy in the medium, which causes the variation of intensity between the two limits a minimum
intensity and maximum intensity. This phenomenon is called interference of waves.
Let the two of waves be
y1 = A1 sin (t – kx) ; y2 = A2 sin (t – kx + )
According to the principle of superposition
y = y1 + y2
= A1 sin (t – kx) + A2 sin (t – kx + )
= A1 sin (t – kx) (A1 + A2 cos ) + A2 sin  cos (t – kx)
y = A sin (t – kx + ) … (13)
where, A1 + A2 cos  = A cos 
A2 sin  = A sin 
and A2 = (A1 + A2 cos)2 + (A2 sin )2
 A2 = A12  A22 + 2A1A2 cos  … (14)
If I1 & I2 are intensities of the interfering waves and  is the phase difference, then the
resultant intensity is given by,
I = I1 + I2 + 2 I1 I 2 cos … (15)

Now Imax = ( I1  I 2 ) 2 for  = 2n

Imin = ( I1  I 2 )2 for  = (2n + 1)  ( where n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ……..)

5.2 REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF WAVES

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The nature of the reflected and transmitted wave depends on the nature of end point. There
are three possibilities.
(a) End point is fixed: Waves on reflection from a fixed end undergoes a phase change of
180°.
Reflected
wave
incident
wave

(b) End point is free: There is no phase change in waves on reflection.

incident Reflected
wave wave
(c) End point is neither completely fixed nor completely free
For example, consider a light string attached to a heavier string as shown in figure. If a
wave pulse is produced on the light string moving towards the junction, a part of the wave is
reflected and a part is transmitted on the heavier string. The reflected wave is inverted with respect
to the original one (figure (a).
Incident wave

reflected wave Transmitted wave

(a) (b)

On the other hand, if the wave is produced on the heavier string, which moves towards the
junction, a part will be reflected and a part transmitted, no inversion of wave shape will take place
(as shown in figure (b).
So the rule is: if a wave enters a region where the wave velocity is smaller, the reflected
wave is inverted. If it enters a region where the wave velocity is larger, the reflected wave is not
inverted. The transmitted wave is never inverted.

5.3 STANDING WAVES

A standing wave is formed when two identical waves travelling in the opposite directions
along the same line interfere.
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 (t – kx)

y2 = A sin (kx + t)

Hence the resultant may be written as

y = y1 + y2 = A sin (t – kx) + A sin (t + kx)

y = 2A sin kx cos t … (16)

This is the equation of a standing wave.

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Note:
(i) From the above equation it is seen that a particle at any particular point ‘x’ executes
simple harmonic motion and all the particles vibrate with the same frequency.
(ii) The amplitude is not the same for different particle but varies with the location ‘x’ of
the particle.
(iii) The points having maximum amplitudes are those for which 2A sin kx, has a
maximum value of 2A, these are at the positions.

Kx = /2, 3 /2, 5 /2, …

or x = /4, 3/4, 5/4 …. .

i.e., x = (n + 1/2) /2 = (2n + 1) /2 ; where n = 0, 1, 2 …

There points are called antinodes.
(iv) The amplitude has minimum value of zero at positions

where kx = , 2, 3, ….

 3 n
or x= , , , 2 …. i.e., x =
2 2 2

These points are called nodes.

(v) It is clear that the separation between consecutive nodes or consecutive antinodes is /2.
(vi) As the particles at the nodes do not move at all, energy cannot be transmitted across
them.

Illustration 4

Question: A progressive and a stationary wave have same frequency 300 Hz and the same wave velocity 360
m/s.

(i) the phase difference between two points on the progressive wave which are
0.4 m apart is 2/x, find x.

(ii) the distance between consecutive nodes (in cm) in the stationary wave.

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Solution: Wave velocity v = 360 m/s

Frequency n = 300 Hz

v 360
 wavelength  = = = 1.2 m
f 300

(i) The phase difference between two points at a distance one wavelength apart is 2.

Phase difference between points 0.4 m apart is given by

2 2 2
 0.4 =  0.4 = radians.
 1.2 3

 x=3

(ii) The distance between the two consecutive nodes in the stationary wave is given by

 1 .2
 = 0.6 m = 60 cm
2 2

5.4 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A TRAVELLING WAVE AND A STANDING WAVE

(1) In a travelling wave, the disturbance produced in a region propagates with a definite
velocity but in a standing wave, it is confined to the region where it is produced.
(2) In a travelling wave, the motion of all the particles is similar in nature. In a standing
wave, different particles move with different amplitudes.
(3) In a standing wave, the particles at nodes always remain in rest. In travelling waves,
there is no particle, which always remains in rest.
(4) In a standing wave, all the particles cross their mean positions together. In a travelling
wave, there is no instant when all the particles are at the mean positions together.
(5) In a standing wave, all the particles between two successive nodes reach their extreme
positions together, thus moving in phase. In a travelling wave, the phases of nearby particles are
always different.
(6) In a travelling wave, energy is transmitted from one region of space to other but in a
standing wave, the energy of one region is always confined in that region.

5.5 STATIONARY WAVES IN STRINGS.

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, if both ends of string are fixed.
Fundamental Mode
(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 frequency of vibration is known
as the fundamental frequency or first harmonic.

Since the distance between consecutive nodes is

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1
L=  1 = 2L
2
If f1 is the fundamental frequency of vibration, then the velocity of transverse waves is
given as,
v = 1 f1
v
or f1 = … (i)
2L
First Overtone
(b) The same string under the same conditions
may also vibrate in two loops, such that the centre is also
the node  
2 2
 L = 22/2  2 = L
If f2 is frequency of vibrations
v v
 f2 = 
2 L
v
 f2 = … (ii)
L
The frequency f2 is known as second harmonic or first overtone.
Second Overtone
(c) The same string under the same
conditions may also vibrate in three segments.
3 3
 L=
2
2
 3 = L
3
If f3 is the frequency in this mode of vibration, then,
3v
f3 = … (iii)
2L
The frequency f3 is known as third harmonic or second overtone.
Thus a stretched string vibrates with frequencies, which are integral multiples of the
fundamental frequencies. These frequencies are known as harmonics.
T
The velocity of transverse wave in stretched string is given as 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
f= … (17)
2L 

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5.6 FREQUENCY OF THE STRETCHED STRING

In general, if the string vibrates in p loops, the frequency of the string under that mode is given by

p T
f= … (18)
2L 

Based on this relation three laws of transverse vibrations of stretched strings arise. They are law of
length, law of tension and law of mass.

5.7 LAW OF LENGTH

The fundamental frequency f is inversely proportional to the length L of the stretched string.

1
f … (19)
L

(or) f L = a constant (T being constant)

5.8 LAW OF TENSION

The fundamental frequency is directly proportional to the square root of the tension in the string.

f T

f
(or) = a constant (L, m being constants) … (20)
T

5.9 LAW OF MASS

The fundamental frequency is inversely proportional to the square root of mass per unit length of
the given string when L and T are kept constants.

1
f


(or) f  = a constant (L, T being constants) … (21)

5.10 FREQUENCY AND DENSITY OF WIRE

1 T
In the formula f = for the fundamental frequency of a stretched string, if the tension T is
2L 
due to a weight of M kg suspended from the free end of a wire as in a sonometer then T = Mg newtons.

If the density of the material of the wire is  kg/m3, and the radius of cross-section is r metre then the
mass/unit length of the wire
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m = volume  density = (r2  1) () kg

The fundamental frequency equation now becomes

1 Mg
f= … (22)
2L r 2 

Note that in this relation

M is in kg; r is in m; g is in m/s2;  is in kg/m3 L is in m

Will it be possible to monitor the temperature of a wire by measuring its vibrational

frequency ?

Illustration 5

Question: A wire of length 1.5 m under tension emits a fundamental note of frequency 120 Hz.

(a) What would be its fundamental frequency (in Hz) if the length is increased by half under
the same tension?

(b) By how much the length (in metre) should be shortened so that it can increase its
frequency three fold?

Solution: The variations in length take place under constant tension.

(a) Applying the relation for the stretched string

f1L1 = f2L2 (T being constant)

3L 2  120
120  L = f 2  (or) f1 = = 80 Hz
2 3

(b) Again applying the relation

f1L1 = f2L2

f1  L1 = (3f1)L2

L1 1.5
L2 =  = 0.5 m
3 3

 the length of the wire should be shortened by (1.5  0.5) m = 1 m

Illustration 6

Question: Two strings A (length L1) and B (length L2) are made of steel and are kept under the same tension.
If A has a radius twice that of B, what should be value of L2/L1 for them to have the same
fundamental frequencies? What should be the value of L2/L1 if the first overtone of the former
should equal the third harmonic of the latter?

Solution:

String A String B

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Tension T T (same tension)

2
r 
Linear mass density r 
2
    = density of steel
2

Fundamental frequency f f (same)

Lengths L1 L2

1 T
For the string A, f=
2L1 r 2

1 T 1 4T
For the string B, f = 
2L2 r 
2
2L2 r 2 
  
2

1 T 1 4T
Since both have the same fundamental frequency 
2L1 r  2L2
2
r 2 

L2
2
L1

If f be the fundamental frequency of string A with length L1

1 T
f=
2L1 r 2

The first overtone of A = second harmonic = 2n

1 T
 2f =
L1 r 2

Let n be the fundamental frequency of the string B with vibrating length L2

1 4T
f=
2L2 r 2

The third harmonic of this is 3n

3 4T
3f  =
2L2 r 2

Since 2f = 3f

1 T 3 4T 3 T L2
  ; 3
L1 r  2L2
2
r  L2
2
r 2 L1

Illustration 7

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Question: A thin steel wire has been stretched so that its length increases by 1%. The fundamental
frequency of one metre length of the wire is x. Find [x], where [ ] denotes greatest integer.
10 2 3
Young’s modulus for steel = 20 x 10 N/m and density of steel = 7800 kg/m .

Solution: Let the original length of the wire be L and L be the increase in length under the stretching force T.
T is the tension in the wire. Let A be the area of cross-section of the wire. Then

YAL  L 
= 20  10 A 
10
T= 
L  L 

1
= 20  10   A = 2  10 A newton
10 9
100

The frequency of vibration of 1 m length of the wire is given by

1 T 1 210 9  A
f= =
2L m 2(1) ( r 2 )

1 2  10 9  A 1 210 9
= = = 253.2 Hz.
2 A 2 7800

 [x] = 253

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5.11 AMPLITUDE OF REFLECTED & TRANSMITTED WAVES

A long wire PQR is made by joining two wires PQ and QR of equal radii. PQ has a length
l1 and mass m1, QR has length l2 and mass m2. The wire PQR is under a tension T. A sinusoidal
wave pulse of amplitude Ai is sent along the wire PQ from the end P. No power is dissipated during
the propagation of the wave pulse.
Let us take the direction along wire as x-axis.
Ai x=0
P Q R x
Let us take the direction along wire as x-axis
T T l1
Velocity of wave in wire PQ = = v1 and velocity of wave in wire
m1 /l1 m1
Tl 2
QR = v2 =
m2
Then for incident wave we can write
yi = Ai sin  [ t – x/v1] … (i)
In reflected and transmitted wave, ‘’ will not change, therefore we can write
yr = Ar sin  [t + x/v1] … (ii)
yt = At sin  [ t – x/v2] … (iii)
Now as wave is continuous, so at the boundary (x = 0)
Continuity of displacement requires
yi + yr = yt for x = 0
Substituting from (i), (ii) and (iii) in the above,
Ai + Ar = At … (iv)
y i y r y t
Also, at the boundary, slope of wave will be continuous, i.e.,   for x = 0
x x x
 v1 
Which gives, Ai – Ar =   At … (v)
v2 
Solving (iv) and (v) for Ar and At we get the required equations, i.e.,
v 2  v1
Ar = Ai … (23)
v 2  v1
2v 2
and At = Ai … (24)
v 2  v1

A string 120 cm in length sustains a standing wave, with the points of string at which
the displacement amplitude is equal to 2 mm being separated by 15.0 cm. Find the
maximum displacement amplitude. Also find the harmonic corresponding to this
wave.

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PROFICIENCY TEST I

The following questions deal with the basic concepts of this section. Answer the following
briefly. Go to the next section only if your score is at least 80%. Do not consult the Study
Material while attempting these questions.

1. Find the amplitude (in cm), frequency (in Hz) and wavelength (in cm) of the wave represented by
equation

2x
y = 2 cos2(100t – ), where x and y are in cm and t is in second.
4

2. Two identical strings are stretched at tensions TA and TB. A tuning fork is used to set them in
vibration. A vibrates in its fundamental mode and B in its second harmonic mode. Find the ratio
TA
.
TB

3. A uniform rope of mass 1 kg hangs vertically from the ceiling, with its lower end free. A disturbance
on the rope travels upward from the lower end. Find the time taken in second by the disturbance
to reach the top of the rope if the length of the rope is L = 10 m.
(g = 10m/s2).

4. A string A has double the length, double the tension, double the diameter and double the density
as another string B. If their fundamental frequencies of vibration are nA & nB respectively then find
nB/nA.

0.8
5. y (x, t) = represents a moving pulse, where x, y are in metre and t in seconds. Then
[ 4( x  5 t )2  5]
find the distance moved by it in 2 seconds.

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ANSWERS TO PROFICIENCY TEST I

1. Amplitude = 1 cm, frequency =100 Hz, wavelength = 2 cm

2. 4

3. t=2s

4. 4

5. 10 m

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SECTION  II

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6. SOUND

Sound is produced in a material medium by a vibrating source. Sound waves constitute

alternate compression and rarefaction pulses travelling in the medium. The compression travels in
the medium at a speed, which depends on the elastic and inertial properties of the medium.
The description in terms of pressure wave is more appropriate than the description in terms
of the displacement wave as far as sound properties are concerned.

6.1 SOUND AS PRESSURE WAVE

A longitudinal wave in a fluid is described either in terms of the longitudinal displacements suffered
by the particles of the medium or in terms of the excess pressure generated due to the compression or
rarefaction.

Consider a wave going in the x-direction in a fluid. y y + y

Suppose that at a time t, the particle at the undisturbed position x
suffers a displacement y in the x-direction. A

 x x x+x
y  y o sin t   … (i)
 v

A is cross-sectional area.

Increase in volume of this element at time t is

V = A dy

    x
= Ay o  cos   t   x
 v   v

where y has been obtained by differentiating equation (i) with respect to t.

 x
A y o  cos   t  x
V  v y   x  y
 volume strain is  =  o cos t   =
V vAx v  v  x

y
 volume strain = … (25)
x

The corresponding stress i.e., the excess pressure developed in the element at x, at time t
is

  V 
p= B   where B is the bulk modulus of the material.
 V 

By o   x
 p= cos   t   … (ii)
v  v

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By
 P – … (26)
x

Comparing equations (i) and (ii), the relation between the pressure amplitude p0 and the displacement
amplitude s0 is

B p
po  y o  Bkyo  y o  o where k is a wave number. … (27)
v 2B

As observed from equations (i) and (ii), pressure wave is ‘cos ’ type, if displacement is described as
‘sin ’ type.

Thus, the pressure-maxima occur where the displacement is zero and displacement-maxima occur
where the pressure is at its normal level.

6.2 SPEED OF SOUND WAVE IN A MATERIAL MEDIUM

The resultant force on element of fluid (which is contained

(P + P)A
between the positions x and x +  x where A is the area of cross
PA x
section) is

F = Ap – A(p + p) = – Ap x x+x

F
Acceleration, a = (using Newton’s law)
Ax

2y
Also, a =
t 2

By o  2
  2 y o
v 2

B
 v= … (28)


6.3 POWER (W ) TRANSMITTED BY WAVE:

y FS F A 2 y o2 B  x
W = pA (Since power = and pressure = ) = cos 2  t  
t t A v  v

1
The average of cos2  over a complete cycle or over a long time is .
2

Intensity I is the average power transmitted across unit cross-sectional area.

1 2 y o2B
I=
2 v

po2v
 I= … (29)
2B

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By o
(Since  = 2 f and p0 = )
v

 I  po2

This is similar or analogous to

I  y o2

In other words, intensity is proportional to the square of the amplitude (whether displacement or
pressure).

Loudness is measured in terms of sound level (in decibels i.e., dB) denoted by .

 I 
 = 10 log 10   where I0 is the reference intensity equal to 10-12 W/m2.
 … (30)
 Io 

6.4 AUDIBLE RANGE AND ULTRASONICS

The audible range of sound waves in air in terms of frequency f is “20 Hz to 20 kHz”.

Since velocity of sound in air at STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure) is v = 332 m/s, the
wavelengths () for audibility lie in the range 1.66 cm to 16.6 m (using v = n).

Longitudinal mechanical waves having frequency greater than 20 kHz are called ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic sound waves also travel with same velocity 332 m/s at S.T.P.

Hence, the wavelength of ultrasonics  < 1.66 cm. Though human ear cannot detect these
ultrasonic waves, certain creatures such as mosquito and bat show response to these. These waves can be
produced by the frequency of a quartz crystal under an alternating electric field (piezo-electric effect) or by
the vibrations of a ferromagnetic rod under an alternating magnetic field (magnetostriction effect). For
infrasonic waves  > 16.6 m.

6.5 LONGITUDINAL VIBRATIONS IN SOLIDS AND FLUIDS

The velocity of longitudinal waves in a solid or fluid is given by

E
v= … (31)


where E is the elasticity of the medium.

Solids: In the case of solids the stress is tensile or unidirectional. The strain is linear and the
modulus of elasticity involved is Young’s modulus.

Hence E = Y (Young’s modulus)

Y
 v= … (32)


The velocity of longitudinal wave in a solid is given by

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E Y
v=  where Y is Young’s modulus and  is its density.
 

It is possible to establish a stationary

wave in a rod like AB, which is clamped in the
middle and striked at one of its ends. Stationary A B
waves are set up with the clamped point
N
remaining as a node and the free ends as
antinodes. If L is the length of the rod,  the A A
wavelength of the wave then

we have


L
2

v v 1 Y
The fundamental frequency, f   =
 2L 2L 

Gases: In the case of gases the elasticity is bulk modulus as it brings about volume strain. Newton
first assumed that the changes in gases are isothermal and the isothermal bulk modulus was taken by him
as p. But later Laplace modified the formula and got the adiabatic bulk modulus which is p, where  is the
ratio of specific heats of the gas. The velocity of sound in a gas is therefore
p
v= . … (33)


6.6 VELOCITY OF SOUND IN AN IDEAL GAS

The motion of sound wave in air is adiabatic. In the case of an ideal gas, the relation
between pressure P and volume V during an adiabatic process is given by
PV  = constant
Where  is the ratio of the heat capacity at constant pressure to that at constant volume.
After differentiating, we get
dP
V   PV  1  0
dV
vdP
Since B = – = P
dV

P
(Laplace correction is constant to newtons’ formula v = ) using the gas equation

P RT
= where M is the molar mass.
 M

 RT
Thus v= (T = temperature is Kelvin) … (34)
M

6.7 EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE AND HUMIDITY ON VELOCITY OF SOUND IN GASES

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(i) Effect of temperature: If the specific volume of gas is v. The velocity of sound

P  RT
= 
 M

If c1 and c2 be the velocities of sound in a gas at temperatures t 1C and t 2 C and P1 and P2 the
respective pressures and V1 and V2 the specific volumes at these temperatures, ratio of the two velocities
of sound is

v1 P1V1 RT1
  where T and T2 are the absolute temperatures.
v2 P2V2 RT 2

v1 T 273  t 1
  1 … (35)
v2 T2 273  t 2

If c and c0 are the velocities at tC and 0C, then

v 273  t

v0 273
1
 t 2  t 
v  v 0 1    v 0 1  
 273   546 

Calculations would show that the velocity of sound in air increases approximately at the rate of 0.6
metre/sec per degree rise of temperature.

P  RT 
(i) Effect of pressure: At constant temperature the ratio   is constant (Boyle’s law).
  M 
Hence the velocity of sound in gases at constant temperature is independent of pressure.

(ii) Effect of humidity: The presence of moisture in air decrease the density of air. Hence if the
humidity is high the density decreases and the velocity of sound increases. Thus the velocity of sound in
moist air is greater than the velocity of sound in dry air.

6.8 WAVE VELOCITY AND MOLECULAR VELOCITY IN A GAS

The velocity of propagation of sound waves through a gas is

P
v


According to this relation the velocity of sound will depend on the pressure of the gas. Also
according to the kinetic theory of gases the pressure of gas is

1
P v rms
2

where  is the density of gas and vrms is the root mean square velocity of the molecules at a
particular temperature.

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2
P v rms

 3

P
Substituting this value of in the above equation for velocity of sound in a gas


v rms
2

v  v rms
3 3

3
v rms  v … (36)


From the above equation if velocity of sound and  of gas are known the r.m.s velocity can be
calculated.

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Illustration 8

Question: (a) What is the ratio of velocities of sound in hydrogen and oxygen at the same temperature? (b)
Find the temperature at which the speed of sound in oxygen is the same as that in hydrogen at
27C.

Solution: (a) The temperature of the two gases H2 and O2 are given to be the same. Now

RT
v=
M

RT RT
v0 = and vH =
MO MH

 is same for both the gases.

vH MO 32
    16  4
vO MH 2

 vH : v0 = 4 : 1

(b) Velocity of sound in hydrogen at 27C is given by

.R.300
vH =
MH

The velocity of sound in oxygen at a temperature tC is

.R(273 t )
V0 =
MO

If vH = v ,
0

R(300 ) R(273 t ) 300 273 t

 or, 
MH MO MH MO

300
or 273 + t =  32 = 16  300
2

t = 4800 – 273 = 4527C

Illustration 9

Question: A gas is a mixture of two parts by volume of hydrogen and one part by volume of nitrogen. If the
velocity of sound in hydrogen at 0°C is 1300 m/s find the velocity of sound in the gaseous mixture at
27C.

Solution: Hydrogen and nitrogen are both diatomic and hence their ratio of specific heats  is the same.
Hence we can take the  of the mixture also to be that of diatomic gas.

Velocity of sound in hydrogen gas at 0C

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P
vH = H = Density of hydrogen.
H

Since molecular weights of hydrogen and nitrogen are 2 and 28 respectively, nitrogen is 14 times
heavier than hydrogen at the same pressure and temperature.

Considering the gaseous mixture, the density of mixture

2V H  V (14 H )
m =  = 14H
3V nitrogen

16H
m =
3

Velocity of sound in the mixture at 0C

P P.3
v0 =  m = Density of mixture =
m 16 H

v0 P 3 P 3
Now   
vH  H 16 H 16

1300  3
v0 = = 325 3 m/s
4

Velocity of sound in the mixture at a temperature 27C is given by

 t   27 
vt = v0 1   (approx) = 325 3 1   = 591 m/s
 546   546 

Illustration 10

Question: Calculate the R.M.S. velocity in m/s of gas molecules at NTP if the velocity of sound in that gas is
300 m/s. Ratio of the specific heats of the gas is 1.5. (given 2 = 1.4)

3RT
Solution: R.M.S. velocity of gas molecules vrms =
M

RT v RT M 
Velocity of sound in the gas v = ;    
M v rms M 3RT 3

3 3
vrms = v  300  300 2 = 420 m/s
 1.5

7. VIBRATIONS OF AIR COLUMNS

An air column is one, which is enclosed in a pipe. When an air column is excited the column is set
into vibration and longitudinal waves are set up. The waves are reflected back at the boundaries of air
columns. The incident and reflected waves produce longitudinal stationary waves.

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Suppose we consider a closed tube, which is closed at one end and open at the other. At the closed
end a compression is reflected as compression and a rarefaction as a rarefaction. At the open end a
compression is reflected as a rarefaction while a rarefaction is reflected as a compression. Hence the closed
end must be a displacement node while the open end must be a displacement antinode.

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7.1 VIBRATION IN CLOSED PIPES – OVERTONES AND HARMONICS

A stationary wave pattern can be maintained in a closed tube containing a gas only for a frequency,
which has one of the values making the length of the column a whole number of quarter wavelengths. It
should be noted that the open end is always an antinode and the closed end a node. According to this
condition there arises a number of standing waves as shown in Figure. The wave pattern, which has the
lowest frequency, is called fundamental and the others are called overtones.

A A A

N
N

A N

N N N
Fundamental First overtone Second overtone

First Mode of vibration (Fundamental mode)


The length of air column L is equal to .
4

  = 4L

v=f

v v
f =  … (37)
 4L

where f is the frequency of fundamental mode.

Second Mode of Vibration (First overtone)

3 1
L=
4

4L
1 =
3

v 3v
 frequency f1 =  = 3f. … (i)
 1 4L

The frequency of first overtone is 3 times the value of fundamental.

Third Mode of Vibration (Second overtone)

5 2
Here L =
4

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4L
=
5

v 5v
 frequency f2    5f . … (ii)
 2 4L

When an air column is excited the fundamental and a number of possible overtones are present in
the vibration. Of these the loudest is the fundamental and overtones progressively become weaker in
intensity. The overtones whose frequencies are integral multiples of fundamental are called harmonics. The
fundamental with frequency f itself is taken as first harmonic. The overtone with frequency 2f is called
second harmonic and the overtone with frequency 3f is called third harmonic and so on.

In the case of closed type indicated above all odd harmonics are present and even harmonics are
absent.

End correction: In the above discussion it is assumed that the position of antinode coincides with
the open end of pipe exactly. This is not however true and it is found that antinode is a little bit displaced
above the open end. If e is the end correction, then for fundamental mode.

1
 (L  e )
4

For the first overtone

3 2
 (L  e) and so on.
4

The end correction depends upon the diameter of the pipe. If d is the diameter, the end correction
e = 0.3 d.

7.2 VIBRATION IN OPEN PIPES

A pipe with both ends open is called open pipe. The first three modes of vibrations, starting from
fundamental in open pipes are shown in figures below.

Fundamental First overtone Second overtone

First mode of vibration (Fundamental mode): In the fundamental mode there is a node between
antinodes at each end.

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
 L or   2L
2

v v
f   (38)
 2L

Second mode of vibration (First overtone): If 1 and f1 are the wavelength and frequency of the
first overtone in open pipe.

1  L

v v 2v
f1     2f … (i)
 1 L 2L

The frequency of first overtone is twice that of fundamental. It corresponds to second harmonic.

Second overtone: If 2 and f2 be the wavelength and frequency of second overtone in the open
pipe,

3 2
L=
2

2L
2 =
3

v 3v
f2 = = = 3f … (ii)
2 2L

This corresponds to third harmonic of the vibrating system.

In an open pipe all the harmonics, both odd and even are present.

7.3 FREE, DAMPED AND FORCED VIBRATIONS

A body capable of vibration, if excited, and set free, vibrates freely in its own natural way. The
frequency of such free vibration depends on the mass, elastic property and dimensions of the body. The
frequency is called free frequency or natural frequency of the body.

7.4 DAMPED VIBRATIONS

The amplitude of free vibrations of a body gradually diminishes and finally the vibrations die away
after sometime. This is due to the vibratory motion being damped by forces internal and external to the
body.

7.5 FORCED VIBRATIONS

If an external periodic force is applied to a body which is capable of vibration and if the frequency
of the applied periodic force is not the same as the free frequency of the body, the body begins to vibrate

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initially with its own natural frequency but these vibrations die down quickly and the body ultimately
vibrates with the frequency of the external periodic force. Such vibrations are called forced vibrations

8. RESONANCE

Resonance is a special case of forced vibration. If the frequency of the external periodic force is the
same as the natural frequency of the body, the body responds to the forced vibrations more willingly and
there is a gain in the amplitude of its vibrations. This is called resonance.

Resonance has vast applications in acoustics, electrical circuits and electronics.

8.1 RESONANCE IN AIR COLUMNS-RESONANCE TUBES

Suppose the length of air column in a long tube can be adjusted either by dipping the tube in a
reservoir of water or by allowing the water level to occupy a desired position in the tube by pressure flow,
the column can be made to vibrate in resonance with an excited tuning fork kept over the mouth of the
tube.

For two lengths of air column L1 and L2  3L1, the

resonance would occur and the positions correspond to the A
L1
fundamental mode and the first overtone respectively. N
L2
If  be the wavelength of sound in air and v the A
velocity of sound in air, then
N

L1 + e =
4

3
L2 + e =
4

where e is the end correction.

From the above equations we get


= L2 – L1 or,  = 2(L2 – L1)
2

v = f  = 2f (L2 – L1) … (39)

where f is the frequency of vibration of the air column which is in resonance with the tuning fork
of same frequency.

Where will a person hear maximum sound at (displacement) node or antinode?

Illustration 11

Question: A rod of length 1 m clamped at its midpoint is set up with a Kundt’s tube containing air. When the
rod is set vibrating in its longitudinal mode of vibrations it is found that the internodal distance in the

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tube is 0.063 m. The temperature of air inside the tube is 10C and the velocity of sound in air at 0C
is 330.95 m/s. Calculate the frequency of the note emitted by the rod and the value of x if Young’s
8 2 3
modulus of the rod is x × 10 N/m . Given the density of the rod = 7600 kg/m .

Solution: Velocity of sound at 0C = 330.95 m/s

Velocity of sound at 10C = 330.95 + (10  0.61) = 337.05 m/s

(Velocity of sound increases at the rate of 0.61 m/s per C rise in temperature approximately).

 air
Internodal distance = = 0.063 m or air = 0.126 m
2

337 .05
Frequency of vibrations in air = = 2675 Hz
0.126

This is equal to the frequency of vibrations of the rod.

 frequency of the note emitted by the rod = 2675 Hz

1 y
f=
2l p

y = 4l f  = 4  1  2675  7600 = 2.175  10 N/m .

2 2 2 2 11 2

 x = 2175

Illustration 12

Question: A tube of a certain diameter and length 48 cm is open at both ends. Its fundamental frequency is
found to be 320 Hz. The velocity of sound in air is 320 m/s. Estimate the value of end correction in
cm.

Solution: Let the length of the open tube be L. The end correction on both sides is e. The tube vibrates in its
fundamental. Then


= L + 2e or  = 2(L + 2e)
2

If v be the velocity of sound in air the fundamental frequency is given by

v v
f= 
 2(L2e )

320
f = 320 Hz; v = 320 m/s or, 320 =
2(L 2e )

or L + 2e = 0.5 m

2e = 0.5 m – 0.48 m = 0.02 m

e = 0.01 m = 1 cm

Illustration 13

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Question: The length of an organ pipe is 33 cm. What is the change in its length required to maintain its
frequency unchanged if the temperature falls from 90C to 27C?

Solution: Let L1 and L2 be the lengths of the pipe at t1 = 27C and t2 = 7C respectively.

Now the frequency is maintained constant, irrespective of the organ pipe being a closed one or an
open one, then,

v
= a constant v = velocity of sound in air
L

L1 v1 
or  v1 = velocity at temperature t C
L2 v 2 1

v2 = velocity at temperature t 2C

v1 T1
But 
v2 T2

L1 273  90
   = 1.1
L2 273  27

L1 L2 1.1  1 1
Now  
L1 1.1 11

1
L1 – L2 = 30 × = 3 cm
1 .1

The change in length is a decrease by 3 cm

9. BEATS

When two interacting 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 waving 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f1t - 1)
and the displacement produced at the point produced by the other wave of equal amplitude
as
y2 = A sin (2f2t – 2)
By the principle of superposition, the resultant displacement is
y = y1 + y2 = A sin (2 f1t – 1) + A sin (2 f2t –2)
  f1  f 2   1   2   f f   1 
y = 2A sin 2  t   cos 2  1 2 t  2 
  2   2   2 2 

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  f1  f 2   1   2 
y = R sin 2  t   … (40)
  2   2 

 f1  f2   1 
where R = 2A cos 2  t 2 
 2 2 

 f f 
for 1   2 , 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
 f1  f 2 
cos 2   t = + 1
 2 

 f1  f 2 
Then 2   t = 0
 2 
 t=0
 f1  f 2 
Second maxima would occur when cos 2   t = –1
 2 
 f1  f 2 
Then 2   t  
 2 
1
or t=
(f1  f 2 )
 1  1
The time for one beat =  0  =
 (f1  f 2 )  f1  f 2
1
Similarly it can also be shown time between two consecutive minima is
(f1  f 2 )
Hence frequency of beat i.e., number of beats in one second = f1  f2 … (41)

Illustration 14

Question: A column of air and a tuning fork produce 4 beats per second when sounded 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. The frequency of fork is f, then find the value of 5f.

Solution: Let  be the wavelength and n be the frequency of fork.

v 15 v
At 15C, – f = 4 or 15 = f + 4
 

v 10 v
At 10C, – f = 3 or 10 = f + 3
 

v 15 f  4
 
v 10 f  3

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v 15 273 15 288

But  
v 10 273 10 283

288 f  4
 
283 f  3

1/ 2
 5  f 4
1   
 283  f 3

5 f 4
1 
566 f 3

5 f  4f 3 1
 
566 f 3 f 3

5f + 15 = 566

5f = 551

Illustration 15

Question: Two tuning forks A and B when sounded together give 4 beats/sec. A is in unison with the note emitted
by a length 0.96 m of a sonometer wire under a certain tension while B is in unison with 0.97 m of the
same wire under the same tension. Find the frequencies of the forks.

Solution: Let the frequency of the fork A be f. Since A is in unison with a smaller length of the sonometer wire
than B which is in unison with a larger length of the wire, the frequency of fork A should be larger
than that of B.

 frequency of fork B = (f – 4) Hz

Now f  0.96 = (f – 4) (0.97)

f 4 96

f 97

4 1
1  1
f 97

4 1

f 97

or, f = 4  97 = 388 Hz

 the frequency of fork A = 388 Hz

and that of B = 384 Hz.

10. DOPPLER EFFECT

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When a sound source and an observer are in relative motion with respect to the medium in which
the waves propagate, the frequency of waves observed is different from the frequency of sound emitted by
the source. This phenomenon is called Doppler effect. This is due to the wave-nature of sound propagation
and is therefore applicable to light waves also. The apparent change of colour of a star can be explained by
this principle.

10.1 CALCULATION OF APPARENT FREQUENCY

Suppose v is the velocity of sound in air, v0 is the velocity of the observer (O) and f is the
frequency of the source.
(i) Source moves towards stationary observer: If the source S were stationary the f waves
sent out in one second towards the observer O would occupy a distance v, and 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 has moved a distance vs towards O in 1 s. So the apparent wavelength would be

v  vs  v
   
 f 
 
Thus, apparent frequency S O
velocity of sound relative to O
f= S
wavelength of wave reaching O v-vs
vs
v  v 
f    f  
  v  v s  v-vs

(ii) Source moves away from stationary v

observer: Now, apparent wavelength
v vs  
 = S O
f

 Apparent frequency
f  = v/  
vs S O
 v 
or f  = f   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 + v0

and wavelength of waves reaching O = v/f
v v0 v v0 
f=  f  
v /f  v 

(iv) Observer moves away from the stationary source

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v v0 v v0 
f=  f  
v /f  v 
(v) Source and observer both moves towards each other
(v  v 0 ) v  v0 
f=  f  

v  vs 
   v vs 
 f 
(vi) Both moves away from each other
v  v 0 
f=f  
v  v s 

(vii) Source moves towards observer but observer moves away from source
v v 
f  = f  0


 v  v s 

(viii) Source moves away from observer but observer moves towards source

v  v 0 
f=f  
v  v s 

Effect of wind on Doppler Effect in sound: The formulae derived in the previous sections
are valid only where there is no wind. If there is a wind velocity vw, the effective velocity of sound
would become (v + vw) or (v – vw) according as vw is in the direction of v or opposite to it.
Observed frequency using Doppler’s effect is given by

[(v  v W )  v 0 )]
f= f … (42)
[(v  v W )  v s ]

10.2 DOPPLER EFFECT WHEN THE SOURCE IS MOVING AT AN ANGLE TO THE OBSERVER
Let O be a stationary observer and let a source of sound of frequency f be moving along the line PQ
with constant speed vs.

When the source is at P, the line PO makes angle  with O

PQ, which is the direction of vs.

The component of velocity vs along PO is vs cos  and it is

towards the observer.

The apparent frequency in this case P


vs
M Q 
v
fa  f … (43)
v  v s cos

As the source moves along PQ,  increases cos  decreases and the apparent frequency
continuously diminishes. At M,  = 90 and hence

fa = f

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When the source is at Q, the component of velocity vs is vs cos  which is directed away from the
observer. Hence the apparent frequency

v
fa  f … (44)
v  v s cos

10.3 REFLECTION OF SOUND AND ECHO

Like light, sound waves can also be reflected and refracted. But the sound requires an extended
reflector like a wall as its wavelength is very large compared to that of light.

The phenomenon of echo is due to reflection of sound. When a sound wave is reflected by a
distant reflector like a wall or mountain cliff an observer hears two sounds, one from the source directly
and the other as reflected from the reflector which is the echo.

In order to hear a clear and distinct echo a minimum distance must be maintained between the
reflector and the observer. This is necessary because when a sound is heard the impression persists
for a fraction of a second in the ear due to the persistence of hearing. Until this impression is
removed the echo cannot be heard as a distinct sound. The persistence of hearing usually lasts for
1
th of a second. If the time interval between the emission of the sound and the return of the
10
1
reflected wave is more than th of a second the reflected sound is heard after a silent ‘interval’
10
and is called an echo.

Will there be Doppler effect in following cases:

(i) If source and detector both move in same direction with same speed
(ii) If one is at the centre of a circle while the other is moving on it with uniform
speed.
(iii) If both are at rest and wind blows at speed .

11. LOUDNESS, PITCH AND QUALITY OF SOUND

GENERALLY
Loudness of a sound depends on its intensity

Pitch on the frequency and

Quality of sound depends on the combination of frequencies, overtones and their relative
intensities. Together these three quantities determine the characteristics of sound - musical or otherwise.

LOUDNESS
Loudness is a physiological sensation in the human ear, which is intimately connected with the
intensity of the wave incident.
The ear is sensitive to sound of frequencies anywhere from 20 Hz to 20000 Hz and is most sensitive to
frequencies between 2000 and 3000 Hz.
The ear can detect sounds varying from the hardly audible low intensity of 10–12 (W/m2) to very
high intensities of 1 W/m2.

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Because of this enormous range of intensity to which the ear responds, a logarithmic scale is used
to measure loudness levels instead of a linear scale.
I
If we take I0 as the standard intensity level we can define another intensity level I as a ratio , which is
Io
dimensionless. The difference L in intensity levels of two sound waves of intensity I and I0 is defined in units
of bel as

I  I 
L = log   bel = 10 log   decibels (dB)
I  … (45)
 Io   o
The standard threshold of audibility I0 is taken to be intensity of 10-12 W/m2.
According to this the intensity level of an average sound which may have a loudness of
10 W/m2 will be
–6

10 6
I = 10 log 12
dB = 10 log 106 = 60 dB
10

It is found that the intensity of the sound level must be doubled before an observer can respond to
the change in intensity and say that the sound is definitely louder.

PITCH

The pitch refers to that characteristic of sound sensation that enables one to classify a note as a
high note or a low note.

Pitch depends on the frequency. The higher the frequency the higher the pitch.

If we go up the scale by one octave we double the frequency.

QUALITY OR TIMBRE

The tone quality of any musical sound is determined by the presence of the number of
overtones and their relative intensities

Illustration 16

Question: A boy sitting on a swing which is moving to an angle of

30 from the vertical is blowing a whistle which has a 30º
L=2m
frequency of 1000 Hz. The whistle is 2.0 m from the
point of support of the swing. A girl stands infront of
the swing. Calculate the maximum and minimum h
frequencies, she will hear (Velocity of sound G
2
= 330 m/s; g = 9.8 m/s ).

Solution: The maximum speed of the swing is when it crosses the lowest point. If h is the height of the swing
above the lowest point at its maximum displacement position, then

the potential energy = mgh

= mgL(1 – cos ) = 2mg(1 – cos 30)

This is equal to the K.E. at the lowest position of the swing, where v is the maximum

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1
K.E. = mv 2 = mgh = 2mg(1 – cos 30)
2

v = 4  9.8(1 – 0.866) = 5.25

2

 v = 2.3 m/s

The maximum frequency is heard when the swing comes towards the girl.

v vo 330  0
fmax  f =  1000 = 1007 Hz
v vs 330  2.3

The minimum frequency is heard when the swing goes away from the observer.

330
fmin   1000 = 993 Hz
330 2.3

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PROFICIENCY TEST II

The following questions deal with the basic concepts of this section. Answer the following
briefly. Go to the next section only if your score is at least 80%. Do not consult the Study
Material while attempting these questions.

1. A tuning fork of frequency 500 Hz is sounded on a resonance tube; the first and second resonance
is obtained at 17 cm and 52 cm. Find the velocity of the sound in m/s.

2. Two vibrating turning forks producing progressive waves given by y1 = 4sin(500t),

y2 = 2sin (506t) are held near the ear of a person. Find how many beats the person will hear and
also the intensity ratio between maxima and minima.

3. A train moves towards a stationary observer with speed 34 m/s. The train sounds a whistle and its
frequency registered by the observer is 95 Hz. If the train’s speed is reduced to 17m/s, the
frequency registered is f2. Find the value of f2 in Hz if the speed of sound is 340m/s.

4. If the velocity of sound in air is 320 m/s then find the frequency of the fundamental note emitted
by a tube of length 1 m. closed at one end.

5. A stationary sound wave y = 2 sin 3t sin 4x is produced in a medium (where x and y are in cm) of
bulk modulus B = 5N/m2. Find the pressure amplitude in that medium (in SI unit).

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-47

ANSWERS TO PROFICIENCY TEST II

1. 350 m/s

I max
2. 3 beats/s, =9
I min

3. 90 Hz

4. 80 Hz

5. 40

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-48

SOLVED OBJECTIVE EXAMPLES

Example 1:

A wave equation which gives the displacement along the y-direction is given by
–4
y = 10 sin(60 t + 2x)

where x and y are in metres and t is time in seconds. This represents a wave

(a) travelling with a velocity of 30 m/s in the negative x-direction

(b) of wavelength  m

30
(c) of frequency Hz

–4
(d) of amplitude 10 m travelling along the negative x-direction

Solution:
–4
The wave equation is given by y = 10 sin (60t + 2x)

 x
Comparing this with the standard equation y = A sin 2 ft  
 
–4
Here amplitude A = 10

2f = 60

60 30 2 x
Frequency f =  Hz  = 2x
2  

2
 wavelength  = = –  (in magnitude)
2

60
Velocity v = f    = 30 m/s
2

Hence (a), (b), (c) and (d) are correct.

 (a), (b), (c) and (d)

Example 2:

A wave is represented by the equation

 
y = A sin  10 x  15 t  
 3

where x is in metres and t in seconds. The expression represents,

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(a) a wave travelling in the positive x-direction with a velocity 1.5 m/s

(b) a wave travelling in the negative x-direction with a velocity 1.5 m/s

(c) a wave travelling in the negative x-direction having a wavelength 0.2 m

(d) a wave travelling in the positive x-direction having a wavelength 0.2 m

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Solution:

t x
Comparing the given equation with y = Asin2   
T 

we have

2 1
= 10 giving   = 0.2 m
 5

 15 
and v = = 0.2  = 1.5 m/s
T 2

Also the positive term in x indicates wave that travels in the negative direction.

 (b) and (c)

Example 3:

Two small loud speakers A, B, 1.00 m apart are

A
connected to the same oscillator so that both
emit sound waves of a definite frequency in
phase. A sensitive detector, moving parallel to
AB along PQ, 2.40 m away (see Figure) detects a
P
1m M
maximum wave at P on the perpendicular
bisector MP of AB and another maximum wave
when it first reaches a point Q directly opposite
to B. The velocity of the sound waves is B 2.40 m Q
–1
340 ms . The frequency of the oscillator is

(a) 1500 Hz (b) 1700 Hz

(c) 3400 Hz (d) 800 Hz

Solution:

Since Q is the first maximum after P, AQ – BQ = 

BQ = 2.4 m, AB = 1.0 m, ABQ = 90°

Hence AQ = BQ 2  AB 2  (2.4) 2 (1.0) 2 2.6m

Also  = 2.60 – 2.40 = 0.20 m

Hence wave speed, C = 340 = f  = f (0.20 )

340
Hence frequency, f =
0.20

= 1,700 Hz

 (b)

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Example 4:

The engine of a train has just completed a long U-bend of a track. The guard-van is just
entering the bend, which is an exact semi-circle (see figure). The driver blows the whistle of
the train located in front of the engine to warn a workman on the track ahead. The whistle has
a frequency of 400 Hz and the speed of the train is 17 m/s with velocity of sound being
340 m/s. The apparent frequency of the sound as heard by the workman A on the track
ahead, the driver B on the engine, the guard G in the guard-van and a passenger P in the
centre of the train are respectively  A, B, C and D. The values of these apparent frequencies
a respectively (in Hz)

(a) A = 421, B = 400, C = 381, D = 362 (b) A = 421, B = 400, C = 400, D = 400

(c) A = 421, B = 381, C = 400, D = 442 (d) A = 421, B = 362, C = 442, D = 400

Solution:

v 400
(1) Frequency heard by the worker (A) on the track = v A  v0  = 421 Hz
(v  v s ) (117 / 340 )

(2) Frequency heard by the driver (B) on the train: (The driver travels towards the source with
the same speed as the source recedes from him.)

 v  v0 
 B    0 = 400 Hz

 v  vs 

(3) Frequency heard by the guard on the train. The motion of both the source and the observer
and perpendicular to the direction in which sound propagates. Thus the motions have no
effect. Hence frequency heard by the guard = 400 Hz

(4) Frequency heard by the passenger (P) on the train: Here the source recedes at an angle
' = 45° and the observer approaches the source at an angle  = 45°. Hence
v cos   v 0   
P  , (v  v  17 m/s , since  = 45° being the angles of tangents and
v cos 'v s  0 0 s
a chord of a semi-circle. Hence observed frequency = 400 Hz

 (b)

Example 5:

A longitudinal wave sent by a ship to the bottom of the sea returns after a lapse of 2.64 s.
2
Elasticity of water is 220 kg/mm and density of sea water is 1.1 gm/cc. The depth of the sea
is (in metres)

(a) 1400 (b) 1848 (c) 924 (d) 700

Solution:

E
The velocity of sound in seawater is v =


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E 220  10 6  9.8
  196  10 4 m/s = 14  10 m/s.
2
v=
 1.1 10 3

 2.64 
  14  10 m = 1848 m
2
The depth of the well is therefore = 
 2 

 (b)

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-53

Example 6:

The difference between the apparent frequency of a source of sound as perceived by an

observer during its approach and its recession is 2% of the natural frequency of the source.
If the velocity of sound in air is 300 m/s the velocity of the source is

(a) 6 m/s (b) 3 m/s (c) 1.5 m/s (d) 12 m/s

Solution:

The apparent frequency during approach is

 v   300 
fa  f0   f0 
  300v 

 v v s   a 

The apparent frequency during recession is

 v   300 
fr  f0    f0 
 
 v  vs   300  v r 

 2   300 300 
Hence (fa  fr ) f0  f0   ,
 100   300 v 300 v 

 v a v r = v = velocity of source

2[(300) – v ] = 3[2v]  10
2 2 4
or

v + 3  10 v – (300) = 0
2 4 2
or
2
Omitting v , as small quantity,

(300 )2
v = 3 m/s
3  10 4

 (b)

Example 7:

A man on the platform is watching two trains, one leaving and the other entering the station
with equal speed of 4 m/s. If they sound their whistles each of natural frequency 240 Hz, the
number of beats heard by the man (velocity of sound in air = 320 m/s) will be

(a) 6 (b) 3 (c) 0 (d) 12

Solution:

Apparent frequency of the approaching train is

 320   240  320 

fa  (240 )     
 320 4   316 

Apparent frequency of the leaving train is

 320   240  320 

fl  (240 )     
 320 4   324 

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-54

Hence the number of beats heard by the man per second

 1 1  240  320  8
(fa fl )  240 320     316  324 – 6
 316 324 

 (a)

Example 8:

An open pipe is suddenly closed at one end with the result that the frequency of third
harmonic of the closed pipe is found to be higher by 100 Hz than the fundamental frequency
of the open pipe. The fundamental frequency of the open pipe is

(a) 200 Hz (b) 300 Hz (c) 240 Hz (d) 480 Hz

Solution:

v
Fundamental frequency of open pipe f0 
2l

v
Fundamental frequency of closed pipe f0' 
4l

where v = velocity of sound in air,

l = length of pipe.

f0
  2  f0  2f0'
f0'

f0
By data, 3f0'  f0  100  3  f0  100
2

 3f0 2f0 200  f0  200 Hz

 (a)

Example 9:

When the speed of sound in air is 330 m/s, the shortest air column, closed at one end that
will respond to a tuning fork with a frequency of 440 vibs/sec has a length of (approximately).

(a) 19 cm (b) 33 cm (c) 38 cm (d) 67 cm

Solution:

v
Frequency f =
4l

330
 440  , where l is in metres
4l

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-55

3
 l  m
16

3
 l   100  19cm.
16

 (a)

Example 10:

A vibrating diaphragm sets up strong vibrations at the mouth of a horizontal tube containing
air and a small amount of fine powder. If the powder becomes arranged in piles 1 cm apart, the
wavelength of this sound in air is

1 1
(a) cm (b) cm (c) 1 cm (d) 2 cm
4 2

Solution:

In figure, A,B are antinodes and N is node. A B

Distance between piles A and B is

N

 1 cm
2

  2 cm

 (d)

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-56

SOLVED SUBJECTIVE EXAMPLES

Example 1:
A metallic rod of length 1 m is rigidly clamped at its midpoint. Longitudinal stationary waves
are set up in the rod in such a way that there are two nodes on either side of the midpoint.
–6 11 –2
The amplitude of an antinode is 2 × 10 m. (Young’s modulus = 2 × 10 Nm and density =
–3
8000 kg m )

(a) Find the value of wavelength in cm.

3
(b) Velocity of wave in 10 m/s.

(c) Amplitude in cm of particle at a distance 30 cm formed.

Solution:

(a) In the present problem the length L of the rod = 1 metre.

5 2
i.e., L = or   metre = 40 cm
2 5

Y
(b) v  5 × 103 m/s


 5

(c) At a distance 30 cm node is formed so amplitude is zero.

Example 2:

The length of a sonometer wire between its fixed ends is 110 cm. Where should two bridges
be placed in between the ends so as to divide the wire into 3 segments whose fundamental
frequencies are in the ratio 1 : 2 : 3?

Solution:

If L1, L2, L3 be the lengths of the three segments then

L1 + L2 + L3 = 100

If n1, n2 and n3 be the fundamental frequencies of the three segments then

f1 = f

f2 = 2f

f3 = 3f,

since f1 : f2 : f3 = 1 : 2 : 3

The tension remains the same throughout the wire. Hence

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-57

f1L1 = f1L2 = f3L3

or, fL1 = 2fL2= 3fL3

or, L1 = 2L2 = 3L3

3
If L3 = x, L2 = x , L1 = 3x
2

3
 L1 + L2 + L3 = 3x + x + x = 110 cm
2

or, 11x = 220 cm

L3 = x = 20 cm

3
L2 = x  30 cm
2

L1 = 3x = 60 cm

The bridges should be placed in the positions of 54.54 cm from the zero end and 18.18 cm from the
other end.

Example 3:

Calculate the velocity of sound in a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and argon at 0C. The
mixture consists of the gases oxygen, nitrogen and argon in the mass ratio 2 : 7 : 1. (Given
–1 –1
R = 8.323 J mol K . Ratio of specific heats of the gases are argon 1.67, oxygen 1.4, nitrogen
1.4. The molecular weights of the respective gases are 40, 32 and 28.

Solution:

RT
The relation for the velocity of sound in a gas v =
M

Considering the mixture of gas while all the constituents of the mixture occupy the same volume
their masses vary. Let m0, mN, mA be the fractions of masses of the respective gases and M0,MN,MA
be their respective molecular weights. Now the velocity of sound in the mixture can be given by the
relation,

1/ 2
 m  m  m 
v = RT  O O  N N  A A 
 MO MN MA 

12
  2 7 1 
  1.4 1.4 1.67 
= 8.323  273  10  10  10 
  32 10 3 28 10 3 40 10 3 
  
 

–3 –3 –3 1/2
= [8.323  273  1000(8.75  10 + 35  10 + 4.175  10 )]

= [8.323  273  47.925]

1/2

= 330 m/s

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-58

Example 4:

The second overtone of an open pipe has the same frequency as the first overtone of a
closed pipe 2 m long. What is the length of the open pipe in metre?

Solution:

Let L0 be the length of the open pipe. The fundamental frequency of the pipe is given by

v v
fo   , v = velocity of sound in air
 f 2Lo

3v
The second overtone of the open pipe has a frequency 3fo  Hz
2Lo

The length of the closed pipe LC = 2 m

The frequency of the fundamental emitted by the closed pipe

v v
fc  
 4Lc

The first overtone of the closed pipe has a frequency

3v 3v 3v
3fc    Hz
4Lc 4  2 8

3v 3v
Now 3f0 = 3fc or, 
4Lo 8

or 2L0 = 8 or L0 = 4m

Example 5:

Two identical steel wires are under tension and are in unison. When the tension in one of the
wires is increased by 1 percent 4 beats per second is heard. Find the original frequency in Hz
of the wires.

Solution:

By unison of the wires, we mean that they have the same frequency of vibration. Since they are
identical in linear density and length they must be under the same tension to be in unison.

101T
Let the tension in one wire be increased to T1 
100

where T is the original tension. Let f1 be the new fundamental frequency in H2.

f1 T 101
Now  1 
f T 100

But f1 > f and f1 – f = 4

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-59

1/ 2
f 4 101 4  1  1
  1  1    1
f 100 n  100  200

4 1
  ; f = 800 Hz.
f 200

Example 6:

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 16C, the two produce one beat per second. Find the possible
frequency (in Hz) of the tuning fork.

Solution:

Let the velocity of sound in air at 51C be v1.

Let the corresponding wavelength and frequency be 1 and f1 in the air column.

When the temperature decreases to 16C, the corresponding quantities be v2, 2 and f2 respectively.

But the length of the tube remains the same and hence  of stationary waves in both the cases will
be the same. Hence

v1 = f1 and v2 = f2

v1 f
or  1
v2 f2

t1
Since vt = v 0 1 
273

273  t1 273  51 324

v1 = v 0  v0 = v0
273 273 273

273 16 289 v1 324 18

v2 = v 0  v0 or,  
273 273 v2 289 17

f1 18
or 
f 2 17

If n be the frequency of the tuning fork n1 = n  4

f2 = f  1
Since f1 > f2, f1 = f + 4
f2 = f + 1
18(f + 1) = 17(f + 4)
18f + 18 = 17f + 68
f = 68 – 18 = 50 Hz
It is also possible f2 = f – 1
 18(f – 1) = 17(f + 4)

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18 f – 18 = 17 f + 68
f = 68 + 18 = 86 Hz
 frequency of the fork = 50 Hz or 86 Hz

Example 7:

A wire of length 2 m is kept just taut horizontally A C B

between two walls. A mass hanging from its midpoint T
T
depresses it by 10 mm. The frequency of transverse
vibrations of each segment of the wire is found to be D
the same as the fundamental frequency of air column
in a closed tube of length 5 m. (Velocity of sound in air
= 360 m/s). If Young’s modulus of the material of the Mg
8 2
wire is x × 10 N/m , find the value of x. (density of the
3
material of the wire is 10000 kg/m ).

Solution:

AB = 2 m; AC = CB = 1 m = 100 cm; CD = 10 mm = 1 cm

The extension produced in the segment AC of the wire due to the load Mg is given by

L = AD – AC = 100 2 12 100

 1 
1/ 2
 1 
= 100 1  100  100 1  100 = 0.005 cm.
4
 2  10 
2
 100 

YaL
The tension T in the wire is therefore given by T = .
L

1 T
Frequency of the fundamental, f =
2L m

1 T 1 YaL 1
f 2   2  ( = density)
4L2 m
4L L a

4L3 f 2  4(1) 3 (f 2 ) (10000 )

or, Y= 
L 5  10 5

The frequency of the wire is the same as the fundamental of a closed tube of 5 m length.

v 360
f=  = 18 Hz
4L 45

 the Young’s modulus of the material of the wire

4 (1) 3  (18 ) 2  (10000 )

= 2592  10 N/m
8 2
Y= 5
5  10

 X = 2592

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-61

Example 8:

A pilot of an aeroplane travelling horizontally at 198 km/hr fires a gun and hears the echo from
the ground after an interval of 3 seconds. If the velocity of sound is 330 m/s, find the height of
the aeroplane from the ground.

Solution:

When the plane is in position A, the gun is fired. vt

When it reaches position B, it hears the echo. A M B
This echo is due to sound travelling along the
path AGB. GM gives the altitude of the plane. h
Let GM = h; AG = GB = x
G
The total distance travelled by the sound = 2x Ground

2x 2x
Now, =t =3
v 330

3  330
 x= = 495 m
2

Now, AB = velocity of plane  time of travel

5
= 198  m/s  3s = 55  3 = 165 m
18

165
 AM = = 82.5 m
2

Now h= 495 2  82 .52 = 488 m

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-62

MIND MAP

1. Wave function: 2. Energy of a plane 3. Stationary waves in

progressive wave: strings:
2
=v (1) String fixed at both the
P = 2 f A Sv (J/s)
2 2 2

ends
Sinusoidal wave: Intensity of the wave
y = – 2asin kx cost
I = 2 f A v
2 2 2
y = Asin (t – kx)
2
(watts /m )
(2) f = ;
 = 2 =

 = mass / length
k=

WAVE MOTION &

SOUND

4. Amplitude of reflected 5. Sound Wave: 6. Organ Pipe:

& transmitted wave:
yP = Asin (t – kx) (1) Closed pipe:

Ar = P = P0 cos (t – kx)

f=

Volume strain: =
At = (2) Open pipe:

Phase change on Pressure: – f=

reflection from:
Velocity of 7. Beat frequency
longitudinal wave:
f = f1 – f2

(i) Solid: v = 8. Doppler Effect:

(ii) Liquid: v =

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EXERCISE – I

AIEEE-SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

1. 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) 2 f

2. If the speed of sound is 336 m/s in air, the shortest closed tube that will resonate with a
fork of frequency 210 Hz is

(a) 4 m (b) 0.2 m (c) 1 m (d) 0.4 m

3. A travelling wave in a stretched string is described by the equation, y = A sin (kx  t). The
maximum particle velocity is

d x
(a) A (b) /k (c) (d)
dk t

4. The displacement of a particle executing periodic motion is given by

y  4 cos t / 2sin1000t  . This expression may be considered to be a result of supper
2

position of
(a) two waves (b) three waves (c) four waves (d) five waves

5. With what velocity should be an observer approach stationary sound source so that the
apparent frequency of sound appear to be double of the initial frequency? (Given velocity
sound = v)
(a) v/2 (b) 3v (c) 2v (d) v

6. A tuning fork produces waves in a medium. If the temperature of the medium changes,
then which of the following will change
(a) amplitude (b) frequency (c) wavelength (d) time-period

7. A wave is reflected from a rigid support. The change in phase on reflection will be
 
(a) (b) (c)  (d) 2 
4 2

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8. Beats are produced by two waves y 1  a sin 1000 t , y 2  a sin 998 t . The number of beats
heard/sec is
(a) 0 (b) 2 (c) 1 (d) 4

9. 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 column in cm is (velocity of sound in air
= 330 m/s).

(a) 31.25 (b) 72 (c) 90.75 (d) 125

10. Two wires of same material and same radius have the same fundamental frequency. If the
ratio of their lengths is 1: 2 the ratio of tension in the two wires is

(a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 1 (c) 1 : 4 (d) 4 : 1

11. An organ pipe P1 closed at one end vibrating in its first overtone and another pipe P2 open
at both ends vibrating in its third overtone are in resonance with a given tuning fork. The
ratio of the length of P1 to that of P2 is

8 3 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 8 2 3

12. Two harmonic waves are described by y1 = 3 sin  (x + 0.6 t) cm, Y2 = 3 sin  (x  0.6 t) cm

The three smallest values of x corresponding to antinodes are

1 1 1 1 3 5 1 1 1 1
(a) , , (b) , , (c) , , (d) 0, ,1
4 3 2 2 2 2 3 6 9 2
13. A standard tuning fork of frequency n is used to find velocity of sound in air by resonance
air column apparatus. The difference between two resonating lengths is 0.5 m. Then the
velocity of sound in air is (in m/s)

n
(a) n (b) 2 n (c) (d) 3 n
2
14. A light pointer fixed to one prong of a tuning fork touches a vertical plate. The fork is set
vibrating and the plate is allowed to fall freely. Eight complete oscillations are counted
when the plate falls through 10 cm. What is the frequency of the tuning fork?
8 7
(a) 112 Hz (b) 56 Hz (c) Hz (d) Hz
7 8
15. Three waves of equal frequency having amplitudes 10 mm, 4 mm and 7 mm arrive at a
given point with successive phase difference of /2; the amplitude of the resulting wave in
mm is given by
(a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 5 (d) 4

16. An open pipe of length L vibrates in fundamental made. The pressure variation is maximum
at

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(a) L/4 from ends (b) the middle of pipe

(c) the ends of pipe (d) L/8 from ends

17. The ratio of the speed of sound in nitrogen gas to that in helium gas, at 300 K is

(a) 2/7 (b) 1/ 7 (c) 3 /5 (d) 6 /5

18. In a sinusoidal wave, the time required for a particular point to move from maximum
displacement to zero displacement is 0.170 second. The frequency of the wave is
(a) 1.47 Hz (b) 0.36 Hz (c) 0.73 Hz (d) 2.94 Hz

19. A stone is dropped in a well which is 19.6 m deep. Echo sound is heard after 2.06 sec
(after dropping) then the velocity of sound is
(a) 332.6 m/sec (b) 326.7 m/sec (c) 300.4 m/sec (d) 290.5 m/sec

20. The fundamental frequency of a string stretched with a mass of 4 kg is 256 Hz. The mass
required to produce its octave is
(a) 4 kg (b) 8 kg (c) 12 kg (d) 16 kg

21. When stationary waves are set up, pick out the correct statement from the following
(a) all the particles in the medium are in the same phase of vibration at all times and
distance

(b) the particles with an interval between two consecutive nodes are in phase, but the
particles in two such consecutive intervals are of opposite phase

(c) the phase lag along the path of the wave increases as the distance from the source
increases

(d) only antinodes are in same phase

22. The fundamental frequency of a sonometer wire carrying a block of mass 1 kg and density
1.8 is 260 Hz. When the block is completely immersed in a liquid of density 1.2 then what
will be its new frequency?
(a) 300 Hz (b) 150 Hz (c) 450 Hz (d) none of these

23. In a resonance column experiment, the first resonance is obtained when the level of the
water in the tube is at 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) 60 cm from the open end

(c) 80 cm from the open end (d) 90 cm from the open end

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24. In the experiment for the determination of the speed of sound in air using the resonance
column method, the length of the air column that resonates in the fundamental mode, with
a tuning fork is 0.1m. When this length is changed to 0.35 m, the same tuning fork
resonates with the first overtone. Calculate the end correction.
(a) 0.012 m (b) 0.025 m (c) 0.05 m (d) 0.024 m

25. Two sinusoidal waves with same wavelengths and amplitudes travel in opposite directions
along a string with a speed 10 ms–1. If the minimum time interval between two instants
when the string is flat is 0.5s, the wavelength of the waves is
(a) 25 m (b) 20 m (c) 15 m (d) 10 m

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EXERCISE – II

IIT-JEE- SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

 x
1. A transverse wave is described by the equation y = y0 sin 2  ft   . The maximum particle
 
velocity is equal to four times the wave velocity if

y 0 y 0
(a)  (b)   (c)  = y0 (d)  = 2y0
4 2

2. For which one of the following examples will the observed frequency of sound be greater
than the true frequency?

(a) When the source of sound moves away from a stationary observer.

(b) When the source of sound moves in a circle with the observer at the centre.

(c) When the source of sound and the observer both move with the same speed in the
same direction.

(d) When the observer moves towards a stationary source of sound.

3. The first overtone of an open pipe has the same frequency as the first overtone of a closed
pipe of 30 cm long. The length of the open pipe is

(a) 0.3 m (b) 0.4 m (c) 0.5 m (d) 0.6 m

4. The displacement of particles in a string stretched in the x-direction is represented by

y. Among the following, expressions for y, which of these describe the wave motion?

(a) cos kx sin t (b) k2 x2  2t2 (c) cos2 (kx + t) (d) cos (k2 x2  2t2)

5. A wave equation which gives the displacement along y-direction is given:

y  10 sin60t  2x  where x and y are in metre and t in sec. Among the following choose
4

the correct statement

(a) It represents a wave propagating along positive x-axis with a velocity of 30 m/s.

(b) It represents a wave propagating along negative x-axis with a velocity of 120 m/s.

(c) It represents a wave propagating along negative x-axis with a velocity of 30 m/s.

(d) It represents a wave propagating along negative x-axis with a velocity of 104 m/s.

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6. For the wave shown in figure, the frequency and y

wavelength, if its speed is 320 m/sec, are
(a) 8 cm, 400 Hz (b) 80 cm, 40 Hz O t
x = 20cm
(c) 8 cm, 4000 Hz (d) 40 cm, 8000 Hz

7. The distance between two consecutive crests in a wave train produced in a string is 5 cm.
If two complete waves pass through a point per sec, the velocity of the wave is
(a) 10 cm per sec (b) 2.5 cm per sec (c) 5 cm per sec (d) 15 cm per sec

8. 56 tuning forks are so arranged in series that each fork given 4 beats per sec with the
previous one. The frequency of the last fork is 3 times that of the first. The frequency of the
first fork is
(a) 110 (b) 56 (c) 60 (d) 52

9. At a certain instant, a stationary transverse wave is found to have maximum kinetic energy.
The appearance of string at that instant is
A A
(a) sinusoidal shape with amplitude (b) sinusoidal shape with amplitude
3 2

(c) sinusoidal shape with amplitude A (d) straight line

10. A string in musical instrument is 50 cm long and its fundamental frequency is 800 Hz. If a
fundamental frequency of 1000 Hz is to be produced under same tension, then required
length of string is
(a) 62.5 cm (b) 50 cm (c) 40 cm (d) 37.5 cm

11. A tube closed at one end and containing air produces, when excited, the fundamental note
of frequency 512 Hz. If the tube is open at both ends, the fundamental frequency that can
be excited is (in Hz)
(a) 1024 (b) 512 (c) 256 (d) 128

12. Two men stand a certain distance apart beside a long metal fence on a still day; one man
places his ear against the fence while the other gives the fence a sharp knock with a
hammer. Two sounds separated by a time interval of 0.5 second are heard by the first
man. If the velocity of sound in air is 330 ms–1 and in the metal is 5280 ms–1, how far apart
are the men?
(a) 352 m (b) 330 m (c) 165 m (d) 176 m

13. Two vibrating tuning forks producing progressive waves given by y 1  4 sin500 t  ,
y 2  2 sin 506 t  are held near the ear of a person. If the number of beats heard per
second be B and the ratio of maximum to minimum intensity be A, then
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(a) B = 3 and A = 2 (b) B = 3 and A = 9 (c) B = 6 and A = 2 (d) B = 6 and A = 9

14. The frequency of tuning fork A is 2% more than the frequency of a standard tuning fork.
The frequency of a tuning fork B is 3% less than the frequency of same standard tuning
fork. If 6 beats per second are heard when the two tuning forks A and B are excited, the
frequency of A is
(a) 120 Hz (b) 122.4 Hz (c) 116.4 Hz (d) 130 Hz

1 1
15. The amplitude of a wave represented by displacement equation y  sin t  cos t
a b
will be

ab a b a b ab
(a) (b) (c) (d)
ab ab ab ab

16. A plane sound wave is travelling in a medium. With reference to a frame A, its equation is
y  a cos t  kx  . With reference to a frame B, moving with a constant velocity v in the
direction of propagation of the wave, equation of the wave will be
(a) y  a cos  kv t  kx (b) y  a cos  kv t  kx

(c) y  a cos  kv t  kx (d) y  a cos  kv t  kx

 
17. Four simple harmonic vibrations, y 1  8 cos t , y 2  4 cos t   , y 3  2 cost  ,
 2
 3 
y 4  cos t   are superposed on each other. The resulting amplitude and phase are
 2 
respectively

(a) 45 and tan–1 (1/2) (b) 45 and tan–1 (1/3)

(c) 75 and tan–1 (1/2) (d) 75 and tan–1 (1/3)

18. A string of length 0.4 m and mass 10–2 kg is tightly clamped at the ends. The tension in the
string is 1.6 newton. Identical wave pulses are produced at one end at equal intervals of
time t. The minimum value of t which allows constructive interference between
successive pulses, is
(a) 0.05 sec (b) 0.10 sec (c) 0.20 sec (d) 0.40 sec

19. A train blowing its whistle is moving with uniform speed along a straight track. The variation
in the apparent frequency f of the whistle with time t as the train passes by an observer
standing near the track is best represented by

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f f f f

(a) (b) (c) (d)

t t t t

20. A closed organ pipe of length L and an open organ pipe contain gases of densities 1 and
2 respectively. The compressibility of gasses are equal in both the pipes. Both the pipes
are vibrating in their first overtone with same frequency. The length of the open organ pipe
is

L 4L 4L 1 4L 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 3 3 2 3 1

21. Two pulse in a stretched string whose centers

are initially 8 cm apart are moving towards
each other as shown in the figure. The speed
of each pulse is 2 cm/s. After 2 seconds, the
total energy of the pulses will be 8cm
(a) zero (b) purely kinetic

(c) purely potential (d) partly kinetic and partly potential

22. A wave is travelling along a string. At an

instant, shape of the string is as shown in B
figure. At this instant, point A is moving A C
upwards. Which of the following statements is O
x
incorrect.

(a) The wave is travelling to the left

(b) Displacement amplitude of the wave is equal to displacement of B at this instant

(c) At this instant velocity of C is also directed upwards


(d) Phase difference between A and C may be equal to
2

23. Two speakers connected to the same source of fixed frequency are placed 2.0 m apart in
box. A sensitive microphone placed at a distance of 4.0 m from their midpoint along the
perpendicular bisector shows maximum response. The box is slowly rotated until the
speakers are in line with the microphone. The distance between the midpoint of the
speakers and the microphone remains unchanged. Exactly five maximum responses are
observed in the microphone in doing this. The wavelength of the sound wave is
(a) 0.2 m (b) 0.4 m (c) 0.6 m (d) 0.8 m

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24. An observer moves towards a stationary source of sound with a speed (1/5)th of the speed
of sound. The wavelength and frequency of the source emitted are  and f respectively.
The apparent frequency and wavelength recorded by the observer are respectively.
(a) 1.2 f and  (b) f and 1.2  (c) 0.8 f and 0.8  (d) 1.2 f and 1.2 

25. A string of length L and mass M hangs freely from a fixed point. Then the velocity of
transverse waves along the string at a distance x from the free end is

(a) gL (b) gx (c) gL (d) gx

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-72

EXERCISE – III

ONE OR MORE THAN ONE CHOICE CORRECT

 
1. A wave disturbance in a medium is described by y ( x, t )  0.02 cos  50t   cos(10x)
 2
where x and y are in meter and t is in second. Then
(a) First node occurs at x = 0.15m
(b) First antinode occurs at x = 0.3 m
(c) The speed of interfering waves is 5.0 m/s
(d) The wavelength is 0.2 m

2. A plane wave y  a sinbx  ct  is incident on a surface. Equation of the reflected wave is

y '  a' sinct  bx  . Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(a) The wave is incident normally on the surface

(b) Reflecting surface is y-z plane
(c) Medium, in which incident wave is travelling, is denser than the other medium
(d) a ' cannot be greater than a

0.1c 3
3. The wave function for the wave pulse is y x, t   ; with c = 4 cm. At x = 0, the
c 2  x  vt 
2

displacement y x, t  is observed to decrease from its maximum value to half of its
maximum value in time t  2  10 3 sec.
(a) y x, t  represents the motion of travelling wave in the positive X-direction.

(b) y x, t  does not represent the motion of travelling wave.

(c) speed of the wave pulse is 20 ms–1

(d) speed of the wave pulse is 10 ms–1

4. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(a) in case of a wave, travelling in a string, oscillation energy of an elemental length
remains constant.
(b) in case of a wave, travelling in string, oscillation energy of an elemental length varies
periodically.
(c) In case of a wave, travelling in a string, oscillation energy of all elemental parts having
equal length is same
(d) none of these

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5. Mark the correct statement(s)

(a) If all the particles of a string are oscillating in same phase, the string is resonating in its
fundamental tone
(b) If particles of a string, near its ends, are oscillating in opposite phase then the string is
resonating in an even harmonic
(c) If a string is resonating in its fundamental tone then all the particles of the string cannot
oscillate in same phase
(d) none of these

6. The displacement of a particle in a string stretched in the x-direction is represented by y.

Among the following expressions for y, those describing wave motion are

(a) cos kx sin t (b) k 2 x 2  2 t 2 (c) cos2 kx  t  

(d) cos k 2 x 2  2t 2 

7. In the sound emitted by a pipe closed at one end.

(a) all the overtones are harmonics of the fundamental tone
(b) all the overtones are even harmonics of the fundamental tone
(c) all the overtones are odd harmonics of the fundamental tone
(d) the overtones may or may not be harmonics of the fundamental tone.

8. The figure represents a longitudinal wave travelling A E

B x
in positive x-direction. Then Q
(a) part ABC represents compression
C
(b) part ABC represents rarefaction
(c) part CDE represents compression
(d) part CDE represents rarefaction

9. Two identical straight wires are stretched so as to produce 6 beats per second when
vibrating simultaneously. On changing the tension slightly in one of them, the beat
frequency remains unchanged. Denoting by T1 and T2 the higher and the lower initial
tension in the strings, then it could be said that while making the above changes in tension
(a) T2 was decreases (b) T2 was increased
(c) T1 was decreased (d) T1 was increased

10. A transverse sinusoidal wave of amplitude a, wavelength  and frequency f is travelling on

a stretched string. The maximum speed of any point on the string is v/10, where v is the
speed of propagation of the wave. If a = 10–3 m and v = 10 m/s, then  and f are given by

10 3
(a)   2  10 2 m (b)  = 10–3 m (c) f  Hz (d) f  10 4 Ha
2

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11. A sound wave of frequency f travels horizontally to the right. It is reflected from a large
vertical plane surface moving to the left with a speed v. The speed of sound in the medium
is c. Then
f (c  v )
(a) the number of waves striking the surface per second is
c
c (c  v )
(b) the wavelength of the reflected wave is
f (c  v )
c (c  v )
(c) the wavelength of the reflected wave is
f (c  v )
(d) the number of beats heard by the stationary observer to the left of the reflecting surface
2vf
is .
cv

12. For a certain stretched string, three consecutive resonance frequencies are observed as
105, 175, 245 Hz respectively. Then select the correct alternative (s)
(a) the string is fixed at both ends (b) the string is fixed at one end only
(c) the fundamental frequency is 35 Hz (d) the fundamental frequency is 52.5 Hz

13. Function x = A sin2t + B cos2t + C sint cos t represents simple harmonic motion:

(a) for any value of A, B and C (except C = 0) (b) if A = –B, C = 2B, amplitude = | B 2 |
(c) if A = B, C = 0 (d) if A = B, C = 2B, amplitude = | B |

14. Two waves of equal frequency f and velocity v travel in opposite directions along the same
path. The waves have amplitudes A and 3A. Then:

(a) the amplitude of the resulting wave varies with position between maxima of amplitude
4A and minima of zero amplitude

(b) the distance between a maxima and adjacent minima is v/2f

(c) at point on the path the average displacement is zero

(d) the position of a maxima or minima of amplitude does not change with time.

15. S1 and S2 are two sources of sound emitting sine waves. The two sources are in phase, at
point F.

S1 S2 F
2m 4m

The waves of wavelength:

(a) 1 m will result in constructive interference.

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(b) 0.67 m will result in constructive interference.

(c) 2 m will result in destructive interference.

(d) 4 m will result in constructive interference.

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 WAVE MOTION & SOUND WAVE OP-MIII-P-76

EXERCISE – IV

MATCH THE FOLLOWING

Note: Each statement in column – I has only one match in column –II

1. A source of sound of frequency 1000 Hz moves to the right with a speed of 32 m/s relative
to the ground. To its right is a reflecting surface moving to the left with a speed of 64 m/s
relative to the ground. Take speed of sound in air to be 332 m/s.

Column I Column II

I. Wavelength of sound emitted in air by source in the right A. 1320

side of source (in mm)

II. Number of waves arriving per second at the reflecting B. 364

surface.

III. Speed of reflected wave (in m/s). C. 332

IV. Wavelength of reflected wave (in mm). D. 200

2. One end of a steel wire is attached to a fixed support and other end is attached to a string,
which is going over a pulley and is connected to a block, which is hanging vertically. It is
observed that wire vibrates in its fundamental mode with frequency of 200 Hz. When block
is submerged in water, the same wire vibrates in its I harmonic with frequency of 100 Hz.
Density of steel wire is 8000 kg/m3 and length of wire is 1m. Match column I with column II.

Column I Column II

I. Longitudinal stress in the wire (in 107 N/m2) A. 400

II. Velocity of transverse waves along this wire (in m/s) B. 128

III. Longitudinal stress in the wire in submerged condition in C. 0.02

(107 Mm2)

IV. If maximum acceleration of the wire is 800 m/s2, D. 8

amplitude of vibration at the mid point (in m)

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Note: Each statement in column – I has one or more than one match in column –II.

3. Consider a situation (i) that two sound waves, y 1  0.2m  sin 504 t  x / 300  and
y 2  0.6m  sin 490 t  x / 300  are superimposed. Consider another situation (ii) that two
sound waves, y 1  0.2m  sin 504 t  x / 300  and y 2  0.4m  sin 504 t  x / 300  , are
superimposed.
Match the column I with column II.

Column I Column II

I. In situation (i) A. Stationary waves are formed.

II. In situation (ii) B. There will be the phenomenon of Beats.

III. When two waves of same C. Amplitude of the resultant wave will vary
frequency and amplitude and periodically with position.
travelling in opposite directions
superimpose.

IV. If the intensity of sound alternately D. Amplitude of the resultant wave will vary
increases and decreases periodically with time.
periodically as a result of
superposition of waves of slightly
different frequencies.

REASONING TYPE

Directions: Read the following questions and choose

(A) If both the statements are true and statement-2 is the correct explanation of
statement-1.

(B) If both the statements are true but statement-2 is not the correct explanation of
statement-1.

(C) If statement-1 is True and statement-2 is False.

(D) If statement-1 is False and statement-2 is True.

1. Statement-1: A long wire ABC is made by joining two wires AB and BC of equal cross
section area. AB has length 4.80 m and mass 0.12 kg. BC has length 2.56 m and mass 0.4
kg. When a sinusoidal mechanical wave is sent along the wire ABC from end A, it is found
that reflected wave from junction B suffers a phase change of  .

A B C

Statement-2: Wire BC is a denser medium for the mechanical wave as compared to the
wire AB.
(a) (A) (b) (B) (c) (C) (d) (D)

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2. Statement-1: A mechanical wave can not travel through a mass less and inextensible string.
Statement-2: A mechanical wave can pass through only those media which have inertia and
elasticity.
(a) (A) (b) (B) (c) (C) (d) (D)

3. Statement-1: A transverse mechanical wave is traveling on a string. An element of the string

has potential energy minimum at the mean position.
Statement-2: An element of a vibrating string has maximum kinetic energy in the mean
position.
(a) (A) (b) (B) (c) (C) (d) (D)

4. Statement-1: A longitudinal mechanical wave

  a sin( kx  t ) is travelling through a 
medium as shown in figure, where  is x
displacement of the particle from the mean A B
c
position. At points A and B change in pressure
is found to be maximum.

Statement-2: At point A and B compressions are formed.

(a) (A) (b) (B) (c) (C) (d) (D)

 x
5. Statement-1: A function   a e cos(t  kx), where a, ,  and k are constants, represents
a plane wave.

Statement-2: Any differentiable function f (t  x ) provides a solution of wave equation.

(a) (A) (b) (B) (c) (C) (d) (D)

LINKED COMPREHENSION TYPE

When a source of sound is moving toward a stationary

detector, the frequency of sound perceived by the detector is not
the same as that emitted by the source. In order to see this
quantitatively, consider the time T elapsed between the emissions vT vs
of a successive pair of spherical wave fronts as shown in the figure.
A source moving with speed vs emits the first wave front. At this vsT 
point, the first wave front has already traveled a distance vT, where
v = 340 m/s is the speed of sound. Therefore, the wavelength
detected along the direction of motion is given by the difference
'  vT  v sT . Using the fact that ' f '  f  v and T  1 / f , we find
that the shifted frequency f ' perceived by the detector is

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f '  fv / v  v s  .

The previous equation does not

describe situations where v s  v . When the
source travels faster than the speed of sound, vT v T
s  vs
a shock wave is produced by the spherical
wave fronts. Figure 2 shows the spherical
wave fronts produced by such a source at
equally spaced positions over an arbitrary time t.
During this time, the source travels a distance vst, and the first wave front travels a distance vt.
However, in this case, the source emits each new wave after travelling beyond the front of the
previously emitted wave. The wave fronts bunch along the surface of a cone called the match
cone. The resulting rise and fall in air pressure as the surface of the cone passes through a point
in space produces a shock wave.

1. A roller skater carrying a portable stereo skates at constant speed past an observer at rest.
Which of the following accurately represents how frequency perceived by the observer
changes with time?
Frequency

Frequency

Frequency

Frequency

(a) (b) (c) (d)

time time time time

2. A police car moving toward a stationary pedestrian at a speed of 10 m/s operates its siren.
If the pedestrian perceives the frequency of the siren to be 1030 Hz, what is the frequency
emitted by the siren? (Speed of sound = 340 m/s)

(a) 10 Hz (b) 100 Hz (c) 1000 Hz (d) 10, 000 Hz

3. A bat flies towards a stationary wall with speed vb. If the bat emits a signal at frequency f,
what is the correct expression for the frequency of the reflected signal that the bat hears?

v v  vb v  vb v  vb
(a) f (b) f (c) f (d) f
v  vb v  vb v v  vb

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4. An aeroplane moving past a high rise building causing cracks in its window glass-planes.
This suggests

(a) speed of aeroplane is greater than speed of sound emitted by the engine

(b) speed of aeroplane is less than speed of sound emitted by the engine

(c) mach number is less than 1

(d) none of these

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EXERCISE – V

SUBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

1. The vibration of a string of length 60 cm fixed at both ends are represented by the equation
x
y  4sin cos(96t ) , where x and y are in cm and t is in seconds.
15
(a) What is the maximum displacement in cm of a point at x = 2.5 cm?
(b) At what distance in cm from one end the nodes are located along the string?
(c) What is the velocity of the particle in cm/s at x = 7.5 cm and t = 0.25 s?

2. The amplitude of a wave disturbance propagating in the positive x-direction is given by

1 1
y at time t = 0 and by y  at t = 2 s, where x and y are in metres. The
1 x 2
1  ( x 1) 2
shape of the wave disturbance does not change during the propagation. What is the
velocity in cm/s of the wave?

3. Two wires are fixed on a sonometer. Their tensions are in the ratio 8 : 1, the lengths in the
ratio 36 : 35, the diameters in the ratio 4 : 1, the densities in the ratio 1 : 2. Find the
frequency of beats if the note of higher pitch has a frequency of 360 Hz.

4. A source and a detector move away from each other each with a speed of 10 m/sec. If the
detector detects a frequency of 1980 Hz coming from source, what is the original frequency
in Hz of source? Speed of sound in air = 340 m/sec.

5. A progressive and a stationary simple harmonic wave each has the same frequency
250 Hz and the same velocity of 30 m/s. Calculate
(a) minimum path difference (in cm) between two vibrating points on the progressive wave
if phase difference between them is 5/3.
(b) the distance between consecutive nodes (in cm) in the stationary wave.

6. Two wires 1 and 2, same length and same density, of radii r and 2r respectively are welded
together end to end. The combination is used as a sonometer wire and is kept under
tension T. The welded point is midway between the two bridges. What would be the ratio of
n
number of loops 2 formed in the wires such that the joint is a node, when stationary
n1
vibrations are set up in the wire?

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7. A band playing music at a frequency 40 Hz is moving towards a wall at a speed v/9. A

motorist is following the band with a speed v/9. If v is the speed of sound, obtain beat
frequency heard by the motorist.

8. Figure shows an aluminium wire of length 60 cm joined

to a steel wire of length 80 cm and stretched between
Steel Aluminium
two fixed supports. The tension produced is 312 N. The
cross-sectional area of the steel wire is 1 mm2 and that 80 cm 60 cm
of the aluminium wire is 3 mm2. What could be the
minimum frequency of a tuning fork which can produce
standing waves in the system with the joint as a node?
The density of aluminium is 2.6 g/cm3 and that of steel is
7.8 g/cm3.

9. Two travelling waves of equal amplitudes and equal frequencies move in opposite
directions along a string. They superimpose to produce a standing wave having the
equation y = A cos kx sin t in which A = 1 mm, k = 1.57 cm–1 and  = 78.5 s–1. ( = 3.14)

(a) Find the velocity in cm/s of the component travelling waves.

(b) Find the node closest to the origin in the region x > 0.

(c) Find the antinode closest to the origin in the region x > 0.

10. A metal wire of cross-sectional area 1 mm2 is held on two knife-edges separated by a
distance of 50 cm. The tension in the wire is 100 N. The wire vibrating with its fundamental
frequency and a vibrating fork together produce 5 beats/sec. The tension in the wire is then
reduced to 81 N. When the two are excited, beats are heard again at the same rate.
Calculate (i) the frequency of the fork in Hz and (ii) the density of the material of the wire in
102 kg/m3.

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ANSWERS

EXERCISE – I

AIEEE-SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (d)

6. (c) 7. (c) 8. (c) 9. (a) 10. (c)

11. (b) 12. (b) 13. (a) 14. (b) 15. (c)

16. (b) 17. (c) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (d)

21. (b) 22. (b) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (d)

EXERCISE – II

IIT-JEE-SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT

1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (a) 5. (c)

6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (c)

11. (a) 12. (d) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (d)

16. (c) 17. (a) 18. (b) 19. (b) 20. (c)

21. (b) 22. (c) 23. (b) 24. (a) 25. (b)

EXERCISE – III

ONE OR MORE THAN ONE CHOICE CORRECT

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1. (c,d) 2. (all) 3. (a,c) 4. (a,c) 5. (a,b)

6. (a,c) 7. (a,c) 8. (a,d) 9. (b,c) 10. (a,c)

11.(a,b,c) 12. (b,c) 13. (b,d) 14. (c,d) 15. (a,b)

EXERCISE – IV

MATCH THE FOLLOWING

1. I  B; II  A; III  C; IV  D

2. I  B; II  A; III  D; IV  C

3. I  B, D; II  A, C; III  A, C; IV  B, D

REASONING TYPE

1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (d)

LINKED COMPREHENSION TYPE

1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (a)

EXERCISE – V

SUBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

1. (a) y = 2 cm (b) x  0,15,30,45,60 cm (c) 0

2. 50 m/s

3. 10

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4. 2100 Hz

5. (a) 10 cm (b) 6 cm

6. 2

7. 10

8. 500 Hz.

9. (a) 50 cm/s (b) 1 cm (c) 2 cm

10. (i) 95 cycles/sec, (ii) 10

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