DGT MH –CET 12th PHYSICS Study Material 1

7 Wave Motion
 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW b) Transverse waves.
In these waves the velocity of oscillation
Propagation of Waves 
() is perpendicular to the velocity of
1. Wave 
propagation (c) of the wave.
The wave is a disturbance, that transmits energy
 
from one place to another without the journey of That is :   c
material particles between the two places.
S.No. Transverse waves Longitudinal waves
1. Particles of the Particles of the
2. Waves versus particle
medium vibrate medium vibrate parallel
Both the wave as well as particle can transmit perpendicular to the to the direction of
energy from one place to the other. direction of propagation propagation of the
The wave suggests broad distribution of of the wave. wave.
2. The medium gets The medium gets
energy filling the space through which the wave
divided into crests and divided into compressions
passes and transmits energy.
troughs when the wave and rarefactions
But opposite to the concept of the wave, is propagated through when the wave is
the term particle suggests concentration of matter. it. propagated through it.
3. One wavelength contains One wave length contains
3. Types of waves one trough and one one compression
crest. and one rarefaction.
The waves can be classified in a number of ways
4. There is no change in There is a change in the
depending on the characteristics of the waves.
the density of the density of medium which
i) Classification on the basis of the need for medium. is higher at compression
material medium. than at rarefaction.
a) Mechanical waves or elastic waves. 5. Transverse waves can Longitudinal waves
be polarised. cannot be polarised
In this class of waves the particles of the
medium oscillate about their mean positions Longitudinal waves produced by the tuning
and transmit energy to their next neighbours. fork :
b) Electromagnetic waves.
For this class of waves no material medium
is required. The energy is transmitted as the
electric and magnetic field oscillations.
Light waves, -rays, X-rays, radiowaves etc.
are the examples of the electromagnetic
iii) Classification on the basis of net
waves.
transmission of energy.
ii) Classification on the basis of the velocity of
oscillation and the velocity of propagation. a) Progressive waves.
a) Longitudinal waves. In these waves there is a net transmission
of energy between two points in space.
In these waves the velocity of oscillation
 b) Stationary waves.
() is either parallel to or antiparallel to the
 In these waves there is no net transmission
velocity of propagation (c).
    of energy between the points in space. The
That is :   c or   c waves appear to be standing in space.

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iv) Classification on the basis of dimensions i) Infrasonics. These are sound waves of
of waves. One, two and three dimensional frequency less than 20 Hz. They cannot be
waves. heard by the human ear.
If the energy is transmitted along a ii) Audible sound waves. These have
straight line, the wave is called one frequency between 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
dimensional. If it is transmitted in a plane iii) Ultrasonics. These are the sound waves
the wave is called two dimensional and if of frequency greater than 20,000 Hz. They
the energy is transmitted in space, the wave are also not audible to the human ear.
is called three dimensional.
8. Differences between the progressive and
4. Longitudinal Progressive Waves stationary waves :
These waves consist of alternate compressions
S.No. Progressive waves Stationary Waves
and rarefactions propagating forward at the speed
1. The disturbance travels The disturbance does
of the wave. Compression is a region of high forward. not travel forward.
density and rarefaction is a region of low density. 2. Energy is transferred There is no transfer of
along the waves. Each energy along the wave.
particle transfers energy The particles transfer
to the next particle but energy forward and also
does not recei ve any receive it back, so that
amount of energy back. net transfer of energy
In case of stationary waves, the compressions over a period is zero.
3. The phase of the The phase of all the
and rarefactions donot move.
particles continuously particles between two
varies. nodes is always same and
5. Transverse progressive waves
is opposite to those of the
These waves consist of crests and troughs particles between the
propagating forward at the speed of the wave. consecutive set of nodes.
See the figure below. 4. No particle of the Particles of the medium
medium is permanently at the nodes are
at rest. permanently at rest.
5. The amplitude of The amplitude of the
di fferent particles is particles between the
same. consecutive nodes and
antinodes progressively
varies.
6. All particles do not All particles cross the
cross the mean position mean position
simultaneously. simultaneously.
7. All particles do not attain All particles attain the
In case of the stationary wave the crests and
the maximum displacement maximum displacement
troughs donot move forward. simultaneously. simultaneously.
8. The maximum velocity, The maximum velocity
6. Properties of the medium for the propagation while crossing the mean of the particles, while
of the waves position, is same for all crossing the mean
For the propagation of mechanical waves in a the particles. position, continuously
medium, the medium should possess both elasticity increases for the
particles between a
and inertia.
node and the consecutive
anti node and then
7. Sound waves
it decreases till the next
These are the mechanical longitudinal waves in node arrives.
air. They travel with a speed of about 332 m/s at 9. Crests and troughs Crests and troughs
NTP. The sound waves can be further divided move forward. appear and disappear in
into three types as follows : the same region.

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9. Frequency and Time period of waves

  t x 
a) The frequency (f or v) of oscillation of the = A sin  2    
particles of the medium in which the wave   T  
propagate is called frequency of the waves.
 2 
b) 2 f   or 2 v   is called angular = A sin   ft  x  
  
frequency of the wave.
c) The time period of oscillation (T) is called  2 
time period of the wave. = A sin   ct  x  
  
1
d) T = A sin  k(ct  x) 
f
d) Direction of propagation
e) The wave propagates through a distance 
(wavelength) in one time period (T). Hence, y  A sin(t  kx) represents a wave
if c be the velocity of propagation of the propagation along the +VE direction of
wave, then : X-axis.
 Also, the following equation represents a
c f wave propagating along the +VE direction
T
of X-axis.
2
f) Also,   2f  y  A sin(kx  t)
T
That is, if the sign with kx is different than
10. Equation of one dimensional progressive that with t, the wave is propagating along
wave the +VE direction of X-axis.
a) Suppose a wave is propagating with velocity e) The equation y = A sin (t + kx), where the
c along X-axis. Let y = displacement of sign with t and kx is same, is propagating
oscillation at any point along the direction of along the negative direction of X-axis.
propagation. Then the equation of the wave f) The above equations represent both the
is given by the following expression : transverse as well as longitudinal waves. For
y  A sin(t  kx) transverse waves y is perpendicular to x and
for longitudinal waves y is parallel and
Or y  A cos(t  kx)
antiparallel to x.
where, A = amplitude of oscillation. It is also g) The particle velocity is given by :
called amplitude of the wave.
dy
2 
And   2f  = angular frequency of dt
T
h) The wave velocity is given by :
2
the wave & k  = propagation constant. dx
 c
dt
 2f
b)   f  c, the wave velocity.. i) The wave velocity (c) is a constant but the
k 2 /  particle velocity () is a variable as its value
c) The wave equation may be written in a varies with time.
number of formats as follows :
dc d
y = A sin(t  kx) That is,  0 but 0
dt dt
 2  1
= A sin  2ft  x v
   j)

is called wave number..

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k) (t  kx) is called phase of the wave 12. Relation between wave velocity (c) frequency
(f), time period (T), angular frequency ()
2 and wavelength ().
k , it is called wave constant.

Here  = wave length.  2f 
c  f  
l) Wave length is the distance between the T (2 / ) k
nearest crests or two nearest troughs. For
the longitudinal waves, it is the distance 13. Wave equation & the direction of propagation
between the two nearest compressions or of the wave
rarefactions. The equation for the wave propagation in the +VE
direction of X-axis is given by :
y  Asin(t  kx) ... (i)
And that for the wave propagation in the –VE
direction of X-axis is given by :
y  A sin(t  kx) ... (ii)
11. Path difference, phase difference and time
difference * If the equation (i) represents the incident wave,
then equation (ii) represents the reflected wave.
a) The difference in the distance travelled by
the two waves originating at the same instant 14. Intensity of mechanical wave
is called path difference (x). The path
The energy transported per second per unit area
difference is related to phase difference
is called intensity of the wave. Its unit is J/m2s or
() as follows :
W/m2.
2 a) The intensity of the wave is given by :
  x

It can also be written as follows : 1
I  2 A 2c
2 T 2  x  2
   x   
 T T  c   22 f 2 A 2c
2 where  = angular frequency, A = amplitude
 t
T of the wave, f = frequency of the wave
 
Here, c  and 
T f   ,  = density of the medium and
 2 
x
t  is the time difference. c = velocity of the wave.
c
b) Note that for the given wave : I  A 2
b) From the above relations, the equivalence
between phase difference, path difference c) The intensity of sound waves is also given
and time difference is as follows. by :

 x t p 2max
I
0 0 0 2
  T where P max is the maximum change of
2 4 4 pressure in the medium.
 T d) The intensity of the waves from a point

2 2 source and propagating in all directions
3 3 3T varies inversely as the square of the

2 4 4 1
2  T distance (r). That is : I 
r2

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e) For a linear source of waves the intensity For example, the vacuum is the rarer medium
varies inversely as the distance (r) perpen- for electromagnetic waves (light etc.) but the
dicular to the source. That is : same is densest medium for the sound waves.
The velocity of sound is minimum (zero) in
1
I vacuum and that of light is the maximum.
r
** If the incident wave be :
15. Energy density y  A sin(t  kx)
The wave energy per unit volume is called energy then the reflected wave from the denser medium
density (u). It is given by, is : y   A sin(t  kx). And that from the rarer
u  2 f A 
2 2 2
medium is y  A sin(t  kx).
iv) On reflection, the amplitude and intensity of
16. Differential equation for three dimensional
the wave may decrease.
wave may be written as :
v) When a transverse wave is reflected from
 2 2 2  1  2 a denser medium, the crest is reflected as
 2     
trough and vice versa.
 x y2 z 2  c 2 t 2
If the incident wave be
1  2
y  A sin(t  kx), then the reflected
or V2 
c 2 t 2
wave is y  A sin(t  kx).
where  = displacement of the particle.
vi) When a transverse wave is reflected from
For one dimensional wave, it may be written as : a rarer medium, the crest is reflected as crest
2y 1 2 y and the trough is reflected as trough. The
 reflected wave is :
x 2 c 2 t 2
where, y = displacement of the particle and the y  A sin(t  kx)
wave is propagating along the X-axis. vii) When a longitudinal wave is reflected from
a rarer medium, the compression is reflected
17. Reflection of waves as rarefaction and vice versa. The reflected
The return of a wave from the surface of wave is :
separation of two media is called reflection.
y   A sin(t  kx)
The reflection of the wave occurs according
viii) When a longitudinal wave is reflected from
to the following laws.
a denser medium the compression is reflected
i) Angle of incidence = angle of reflection.
as compression and rarefaction is reflected
ii) On reflection there is no change in the as rarefaction. The reflected wave is :
velocity, frequency, wavelength, angular
frequency, time period or wave constant of y  A sin(t  kx)
the wave.
18. Persistence of hearing
iii) A phase difference of 1800 is introduced
In order to hear a sound, we require (i) a
when the transverse wave is reflected from
source (ii) a material medium to transmit the
a denser medium* and longitudinal wave
sound produced by the source and (iii) a device
is reflected from rarer medium.
to receive the sound such as ear. It is found that
* A medium is said to be denser if the velocity of
the sensation of sound once received by our ear
the wave in it is lower.
It is important to keep in mind that a medium 1
persists for about th of a second. This is called
which is denser for electromagnetic waves may 10
not be so for the mechanical or sound waves. persistence of hearing.

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This places a limitation on the nature of sound 20. Refraction of the waves
we can hear and interpret. Two sounds, reaching i) The bending of the path of the waves at the
the ear within a time interval less than 0.1 second, surface of separation of two media is called
cannot be interpreted clearly. We say that they refraction.
are not heard distinctly. Thus, for distinct hearing,
ii) The refraction occurs according to the Snell's
the two sounds should reach the ear at least one
law. It states that the ratio of the sine of the
tenth of a second apart.
angle of incidence and the sine of the angle
19. Echo of refraction is constant. It is called refractive
Echo is a sound that reaches the observer index (n). Thus :
after reflection from some surface or object.
sin i
For example, when we shout among the hills, n
sin r
our shout may be repeated a number of times.
These repetitions of sound are called echos of iii) On refraction, the speed, the wavelength and
the original sound. the wave constant of the wave change. But
Echo of momentary sound. Momentary frequency, time period & angular frequency
sound is that which lasts for a very short interval remain unchanged.
of time. To hear the echo of a sound, at the same iv) On refraction the amplitude as well as the
place, from which it is produced, there must be intensity of the wave may change.
certain minimum distance between the source and v) If the wave goes from denser to rarer
the object from which the sound is reflected. medium, the refracted ray goes away from
Because, two sounds can be distinguished by the the normal. That is, the angle of refraction
ear only when they are at least one tenth of a is greater than the angle of incidence (r > i).
second apart, the reflected sound should reach vi) If the wave goes from rarer to denser
the ear at least 0.1 second after the direct sound. medium, the refracted ray goes towards the
Taking the velocity of sound as 340 ms–1 (This is normal. That is, the angle of refraction is
the velocity at about room temperature), the smaller than the angle of incidence (r < i).
distance covered by sound in 0.1 second is
vii) If the incidence wave be,
34 metre. Therefore the obstacle should be at a
distance of about 17 m. y  A sin(t  kx)
We do not hear echos in small rooms then the refracted wave for normal incidence
because, as explained above, there is a certain is given by :
minimum distance required between the source y  A 'sin(t  k 'x)
and point of reflection.
In long corridors or galleries or halls we are 21. Snell's law
able to hear the echos, because the walls are more The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence
than 17 m apart. (i) and the sine of the angle of refraction (r) is a
Echo of articulate sound. Articulate sound constant, called refractive index (n). That is :
is that which is produced by human beings. It is
sin i 1
also called syllabic sound. It has been found that n 
a person's vocal chords can produce not more sin r 2
than 5 syllables in one second. That is, each where, 1 = velocity of the waves in the medium
syllable is produced in about 0.2 s. To hear the of incidence and 2 is that in the medium of
echo of a mono-syllabic sound, the reflected sound refraction.
should reach the observer's ear at least 0.2 s after
the original sound. That is, sound should travel a 22. Superposition of waves
distance of 0.2  340 m = 68 m during this time. When the two or more waves propagating in the
Hence the obstacle, from which the mono-syllabic same medium superpose, then resultant displace-
sound is being reflected should be about 34 m ment is the vector sum of the displacements due
from the source of sound. to the individual waves. That is :

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    The resultant amplitude will vary in the same
y  y1  y 2  y3  .......
way as described above). Thus, periodic
The value of the resultant displacement depends maxima and minima will be produced. They
on the following factors : are called BEATS.
i) Amplitudes of the waves
ii) Frequencies of the waves
iii) Direction of propagation of the waves
iv) Phase difference between the waves
v) Velocities of the waves
23. Phenomena resulting from superposition of
waves are as follows :
i) Interference
ii) Beats formation
iii) Formation of stationary waves
iv) Formation of Lissajous figures
24. Interference
Fig. 25.1
Interference of waves is the phenomenon b) For hearing the beats (audible beats),
resulting from the superposition of waves of same following conditions should be satisfied.
frequency & same wavelength. This phenomenon i) The frequency difference of the two
will be discussed in detail in optics. waves should not be more than 10.
ii) The amplitudes of the two waves must
25. Beats
be nearly equal.
The beats are the periodic variation of the iii) The direction of propagation of the
intensity of sound due to the superposition of two waves should be the same.
sounds of slightly different frequencies. c) When the audible beats are formed, the
The phenomenon of beats produces loud and resultant sound decreases and increases
faint sound at regular intervals of time. One loud periodically. It is called waning and waxing
sound along with the consecutive faint sound is of sound respectively.
termed as one beat. The number of beats d) One waning and one waxing of sound
produced per second is found to be equal to the constitutes a beat.
difference in the frequencies of the superimposing e) The number of beats (n) heard per second
sound waves. is equal to the difference between the
frequencies (n1, n2) of the waves. That is :
a) Formation of beats. Fig. 25.1 shows two
wave trains of slightly different frequencies. n  n1  n 2
So, their wavelengths also differ slightly. For It is called beat frequency.
convenience, we have assumed their
amplitudes to be equal. When they travel 26. Tuning fork
together, in the same direction, at certain
points like M, N, Q the crest of upper wave
train superposes on the crest of the lower
wave train. Resultant wave is of double the
amplitude. At certain other points, say like
L and P, the crest of the upper wave train
superposes on the trough of the lower wave
train. The resultant amplitude at such points
is zero. (In case of sound wave in air, crest
will correspond to compression and trough
to rarefaction. Fig. 26.1

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The tuning fork is a metallic device that 29. Expression for apparent frequency
produces sound of a single frequency. It consists Suppose, the real frequency of the sound
of two prongs and a stern as shown above. produced by a source is n. The source is moving
The prongs execute transverse vibrations 
with a velocity cs and the listener is moving with
and the stem executes the longitudinal vibrations.
 
Both vibrate with the same frequency. a velocity c L . Let the velocity of the sound be c.
Stationary vibrations are set up in the tuning Then apparent frequency of sound as heard by
fork with the antinodes (A) and nodes (N) as the listener will be :
shown in the figure.  
c  cL
Loading and filing the prong of the n '    n
tuning fork. c  cs
If we attach a little wax to one of the prongs
A case of general importance
of tuning fork, it is said to have been loaded.
Loading decreases the frequency of the tuning In case the source and listener are moving
fork. on the same straight line path, then the above
expression may be written as follows :
If we file the prong of the tuning fork to
make it thinner, the frequency of the tuning fork c  cL
n'  n
increases. c  cs

27. Determination of frequency of the tuning fork For using the expression following sign
using the phenomenon of beats. conventions are used.
First step i) cL as well as cs are taken as +VE when
they are in the same direction as c (the
Suppose, we have a standard tuning fork of
direction of propagation of sound, which is
frequency ns = 580 Hz.
from the source to listener).
The standard tuning fork & the experimental
ii) CL as well as cs are taken as –VE when
tuning fork of unknown frequency are sounded
they are opposite to c (the direction of
together.
propagation of sound which is from the
Let the number of beats produced be 5. Then
source to listener).
the frequency of the experimental tuning fork is
either 580 + 5 = 585 Hz or 580 – 5 = 575 Hz. +VE sign with c L and cs when
  
Second step c L || c and cs || c
Let the experimental tuning fork be loaded VE sign with c L and cs when
   
and it is sounded together with the standard tuning c L  c and cs  c
fork. Suppose, the beat frequency in this case is
4. Then it is evident that the frequency of the 30. Effect of the motion of the medium
loaded experimental tuning fork has decreased 
by 5 – 4 = 1. If the medium is moving with velocity W, then :
  
That is, the frequency of the experimental c  W  cL
tuning fork has become either 585 – 1 = 584 Hz n '     n
c  W  cs
or 575 – 1 = 574 Hz. But four beats are possible
only with 584 Hz, hence original frequency of the    
For c, W, cL , cs along the same straight line,
experimental tuning fork is 585 Hz. the expression becomes :
c  W  cL
Doppler's effect and Characteristic of Sound n'
c  W  cs
28. The apparent change in frequency due to the  
Here, we take +VE sign with W when W || c
relative motion ofthe source of sound and the  
listener is called Doppler's effect. and –VE sign is taken with W when W  c.

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a) Apparent frequency increases when the Case 3. When the observer approaches the
source and the listener approach each other. source of light with velocity cL = u. Then :
b) The apparent frequency decreases when 1
the source and the listener recede from each c 1  u
'     1   
other. cu  u  c
1  
c) The motion of the source changes the  c
wavelength of the sound waves received by
1
the listener.  u u
If u  c, then 1    1 
d) Doppler's effect can be observed for all  c  c
types of waves.
e) For the Doppler's effect of light waves, the  u
Hence  '  1   
same relations are valid as for the sound  c
waves. That is :
u
c  cL or      '  
n'  n c
c  cs
That is, apparent wavelength decreases and
If ' be the apparent wavelength and  be consequently violet or blue shift occurs.
the actual wavelength, then :
Case 4. When the observer recedes from the
c c  cL  c  source of light with velocity CL = u. Then :
  
 ' c  cs   
c
'  
c  cs cu
or '  
c  cL
u
This gives    '   
Case 1. When the source of light approaches c
the stationary observer, we have cL = 0 and let The apparent wavelength increases. That is red
Cs = u. Then shift occurs.
(c  u)  u  Note. The change in wavelength of the light
'   1    waves remains the same, that is :
c  c
u
u s  
     '   c
c
Whether the source moves or the listener moves
This is called Doppler's shift. In this case the
provided u << c. However, the same is not true
wavelength decreases. It is called violet or blue
for sound waves in which case generally u  c.
shift.
31. The motion of the medium affects the apparent
Case 2. When the source of light moves away
frequency of sound waves, but it does not affect
from the stationary observer with velocity u, then
the apparent frequency or wavelength of the light
we find :
waves.
(c  u)  u
'    1    32. The Doppler's effect is not observed when the
c  c relative velocity between the source and the
u listener is zero.
or    '   
c 33. When the source and the listener move in mutually
This is called red shift. The apparent wavelength perpendicular directions, the Doppler's effect is
of light increases. not observed.

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34. When only the medium moves, the Doppler's This is the maximum value of the apparent
effect is not observed. frequency. As the source moves towards M, the
apparent frequency increases and becomes equal
35. When the source of sound moves, the change in to the real frequency at M and then again starts
apparent frequency is due to the change in
wavelength. c
decreasing, becoming n '  n at far away
c  cs
36. When the listener moves, the change in apparent
frequency is due to the number of waves received point.
by the listener.
38. Doppler's effect due to the oblique motion
37. Doppler's effect due to the oblique motion of the listener of sound
of the source of sound. Fig. below shows S as the stationary source of
Fig. ahead shows L as the stationary listener. S is sound. The listener L is moving on the line X'X.
the source of sound moving with velocity cs along Let the instantaneous position of the listener be P
the line XX'. Let the instantaneous position of and SPX be .
the source be P and LPX be .

Fig. 38.1
Fig. 37.1 Then the apparent frequency of the sound is given
Then the apparent frequency of the sound is given by :
by,
c  cL cos 
n'  n
c c
n'  n
c  cs cos  i) Here +VE sign is taken with cL when the
i) Here –VE sign is taken when the distance distance between the source and the listener
between the source & listener is decreasing is decreasing (approaching each other). That
(approaching each other). That is, when the is, when the source is on the left side of
source is on the left side of point M. point M.
ii) And +VE sign is taken with cs cos when ii) And –VE sign is taken with cL when the
the source recedes from the listener. That distance between the source and the listener
is when the source is on the right side of the is increasing. That is, when the source is on
point M. the right angle of M.
iii) The apparent frequency decreases as the iii) The apparent frequency decreases as the
source comes nearer to the listener ( listener approaches the source ( increases)
increases) and becomes equal to the real and becomes equal to the actual frequency
frequency at M and then again goes on (n' = n) when the listener is at M. After that
decreasing as the source moves away from the apparent frequency again decreases as
M. the listener moves away from M.
iv) When the source is far away on the left side iv) When the source is far away on the left side
of M,  = 0, hence : of M = 0, hence

n' 
c
n c  cL
n'  n
c  cs c

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This is the maximum value of the apparent If n" is greater than n, then the aeroplane is
frequency. As the listener approaches M, the approaching the radar. And if n" < n, then the
frequency goes on decreasing and becomes equal aeroplane is going away from the radar.
to the actual frequency at M and then again goes Also, c >> u, hence we can write :
on decreasing as the listener moves away from
2u
M. The minimum frequency is obtained when the n  n
listener is far away on the right side and is given c

c  cL 42. Source going past the stationary listener

by, n '  n.
c When the source goes past the stationary
listener, it first approaches the listener and then
39. If a source moves along a circular path and the recedes from the listener. Hence, change in
listener is at the centre of the circular path, the frequency will be :
apparent frequency of the sound is equal to the
actual frequency. That is, there is no change in c c
 sp   
frequency due to the Doppler's effect. c  us c  us

40. If a listener moves along a circular path and the  c  us  c  us 

source is at the centre of the circular path, there   c
 c  us
2 2

is no change in the apparent frequency of the
sound due to the Doppler's effect.
2cu s
or  sp   ... (i)
41. Determining the speed of aeroplane c 2  u s2
Suppose, an aeroplane is approaching a radar with
2u s
speed u. Let the frequency of the electromagnetic However, if c >> us, we find sp  .
c
wave emitted from the radar be n. Then the
apparent frequency of the waves incident on the 43. Listener going past the stationary source
aeroplane will be (listener approaching the
When the listener goes past the stationary source,
source) :
the change in frequency will be :
c
n'  n c  uL c  uL
cu  LP   
c c
The frequency of the wave reflected from
the aeroplane will be n'. Now, the aeroplane will 2u L
or  LP   ... (ii)
act as a source of waves. c
So, the apparent frequency received at the Discussion. From expressions (i) and (ii), we
radar will be : find that for us = uL, we have sp   LP .
cu cu c cu That is, the change in frequency when the
n ''  n'  n n
c c cu cu source goes past the listener is more, as compared
Change in frequency will be : to that when the listener goes past the source
with the same velocity.
cu
n  n '' n  nn
cu 44. Limits of application of Doppler effect
cucu In principle, the mathematical relation,
 n
cu c  uL
'  
2u c  us
n  n
cu should remain valid for all values of uL and us.

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However, in actual practice, it fails when uL = c The tones of higher frequency are
or u s  c. That is, relation is no more valid when interpreted by the listeners as SHRILL and
that of low frequency are interpreted as
the velocity of source or listener is comparable
grave, flat or hoarse. So, pitch helps the
with that of sound. This is so, because when the
listeners in distinguishing a shrill note
source or listener moves with velocity comparable
from a flat one. For example, the voice of
with that of sound, the linear relation between
children and women are generally of higher
the restoring force and the displacement of the
pitch as compared to that of an adult male.
medium fails. So, the general mechanism of the
propagation of the sound as an elastic wave in b) Loudness. Loudness is the magnitude of a
the air is no more valid. hearing sensation produced by the sound. It
depends upon the intensity of the sound.
For uL > c or us > c, the apparent frequency
Higher the intensity, greater is the loudness.
may become negative, which is meaningless. That
For example, harder we hit the bell,
is, the Doppler effect is meaningless when the
louder is the sound produced. The loudness
source or listener moves with a velocity greater
depends on the following factors :
than that of sound.
(i) Amplitude of oscillations (ii) surface area
45. Musical Sound and Noise of the vibrating body (iii) distance between
the source and listener (iv) density of the
A musical sound consists of quick,
medium (v) presence of other materials
regular and periodic succession of
(vi) frequency (vii) motion of the medium.
compressions or rarefactions without a sudden
change in amplitude. c) Quality. Quality or timber is a measure
of the complexity of sound. It depends
A noise, on the other hand, consists of upon the number of harmonics, frequency
slow, irregular and a periodic succession of intensity of the harmonics present in the
compressions and rarefactions, that may have sound. It is found that a pure note produces
sudden changes in amplitude. comparatively less pleasing effect than the
Differences between musical sound and one consisting of a number of harmonics.
noise Various harmonics superpose producing
Musical sound Noise complex interference pattern. Larger the
1. Consists of quick, Compressions & rareregular number of harmonics (or overtone) present
and periodic factions in noise are not in a note, higher (richer) is said to be the
succession of compress- quick, regular and in quality or timber of the musical sound.
ions and rarefactions. periodic succession.
2. Frequency is generally Frequency is usually 47. Distinction between intensity and loudness
high. low. The loudness is intimately connected with
3. Changes in amplitude Changes in amplitude the intensity of sound. But they are basically
are not sudden. may be sudden. different concepts as explained below.
4. It is usually of long It may be of very short
Intensity of sound Loudness
duration. duration.
1. It is a physical quantity It cannot be measured
5. It produces pleasing It produces displeasing which is measured in like physical quantities.
effect on the listeners. effect on the listeners. terms of rate of flow of It can only be compared
6. It is a desirable sound. It is an undesirable energy through unit in terms of intensity of
sound. area. the sound.
2. It is independent of the It depends on the
46. Characteristics of musical sound sensitivity of the ears. sensitivity of the ears.
3. It has objective It has a subjective
Various musical sounds differ from each other in
existence in the sense existence as its
terms of following three characteristics : (a) Pitch, that the personal magnitude depends
(b) Loudness and (c) Quality. physiology of the upon the personal
a) Pitch is the characteristic ofmusical listener has no effect on physiology of the
sound that depends upon its frequency. its magnitude. listener.

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48. Threshold of hearing and unit of louttness In general, if intensity of sound is I, then its
Threshold of hearing (or audibility threshold)  I
is the lowest intensity of sound that can be loudness is  log  bel, where I0 is the threshold
 I0 
perceived by the ear.
The magnitude of the sensation of hearing of hearing.
depends upon both the intensity as well as A smaller unit for loudness is 'decibel'. It is
frequency of the sound. The sensitiveness of the one tenth of bel. Symbol for bel is 'B' and that for
ear is different in different frequency ranges. That decibel is 'dB'.
is, sound of given intensity produces different The loudness of whisper is about 15 dB, and
amounts of hearing sensation in different ranges that of ordinary conversation is about 70 dB. It is
of frequency. found that at a loudness more than about 120 dB,
Threshold of hearing has been standardised the hearing sensation is painful.
experimentally. It is taken as 10–12 Wm–2 for a An aeroplane engine makes a sound of
pure note, of frequency 1 kHz. The normal human loudness of about 120 dB.
ear can just hear the sound of the above mentioned 
frequency and intensity. This level of intensity is
called the threshold of hearing. We shall represent
it by the symbol I0.

49. Weber-Fechner law.

It states that loudness (L) of the sound,
as perceived by the ear, is proportional to the
logarithm of its intensity.
That is : L  log I

50. The unit of loudness.

Making use of the Weber-Fechner law and the
concept of the threshold of hearing, the loudness
of a sound intensity 'I' is given by,

I
L  log ... (i)
I0
where I0 = threshold of hearing
= 10–12 Wm–2 at 1 kHz.
According to equation (i), I0 corresponds to zero
value of loudness, because when I = I0, we have
I
 1 and log1  0.
I0
The unit of loudness is called 'bel'.
The loudness of a sound is said to be one
bel, if its intensity is 10 times that of the
threshold of hearing (I0).
Thus, when I = 10 I0.
10 I0
L  log  log10  1 'bel'
I0

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Simple Harmonic Progressive Wave 9. The angle between particle velocity and wave
1. The total energy E of sound waves is related to velocity in a transverse wave is :
their frequency f as : 
a) zero b)
1 4
a) E  f b) E 
f 
c) d) 
2
1
c) E  f 2 d) E  10. When a longitudinal wave passes through air, the
f2
instantaneous acceleration of the particle is
2. Longitudinal waves cannot travel through : proportional to its :
a) vacuum b) solids a) velocity b) displacement
c) liquids d) gases c) time period d) frequency
3. Which of the following is NOT the property of 11. The frequency of a man's voice is 300 Hz. If velocity
sound ? of sound waves is 336 ms–1, the wavelength of
a) It can travel in vacuum the sound is :
b) It is reflected a) 300 / 336 m b) 300  336 m
c) It shows the phenomenon of interference c) 1.12 m d) none of the above
d) It is propagated as longitudinal wave 12. When a stone is dropped on the surface of the
4. There is no net transfer of energy by the particles still water, the waves produced are :
of the medium in : a) transverse b) longitudinal
a) longitudinal wave b) transverse wave c) stationary d) none of the above
c) progressive wave d) stationary wave 13. A property of the progressive wave that does not
5. For the propagation of which of the following depend upon the other characteristics mentioned
types of waves a material medium is essential ? below is :
a) Light waves a) amplitude b) frequency
b) Electromagnetic waves c) wave velocity d) wavelength
c) Radio waves d) Sound waves 14. A transverse wave is given by :
6. Through fluids, which of the following types of
 x
waves cannot be propagated ? y  A sin 2  ft  
  
a) Longitudinal waves
The maximum particle velocity is 4 times the wave
b) Transverse waves
velocity, when :
c) Progressive d) Stationary
7. Which of the following expressions is that of a A A
a)   b)  
simple harmonic progressive wave ? 4 2
a) A sin t b) A sin t cos kx c)   A d)   2 A
c) Asin(t  kx) d) A cos kx 15. A transverse wave is represented by :

8. The expression x  A sin(kx  t)

The velocity of the wave is given by :
y(x, t)  A cos(kx  t) represents :
a) transverse wave travelling along +X direction k
a) kx b)
b) transverse wave travelling along –X direction 
c) longitudinal wave travelling along +X direction 
c) t d)
d) longitudinal wave travelling along –X direction k

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16. The equation of a progressive wave is, 23. A sound wave is travelling in a medium in which
y  3cos(60t  2x), where x and y are in metres its velocity is . It is incident on the second
medium in which the velocity of the wave is 2
and t in seconds. Which of the following statements
What should be the minimum angle of incidence
is wrong ?
on the second medium, so that the wave fails to
a) The wave velocity of 30 ms–1 cross the surface of separation of the two media ?
b) The wave length is  m a) 15° b) 30°
c) The frequency is 30 hertz c) 45° d) 60°
d) The amplitude is 3 m 24. The velocity of sound in air is 330 ms–1 and that
17. A wave of frequency 400 Hz has a velocity of in water is 1320 ms–1. A sound wave is incident
320 ms–1. The distance between the particles from air on to the surface of water at 30° to the
differing in phase by 900 is : surface of water. The sound is :
a) 20 cm b) 40 cm a) refracted away from the normal
c) 60 cm d) 80 cm b) refracted towards the normal
18. In the equation of simple harmonic wave c) reflected back into the air
y  0.6sin(0.3t  0.2), the initial phase is : d) reflected at grazing angle to the surface
a) 0.3 t b) 0.3 25. The sound waves are reflected from an obstacle
into the same medium from which they were
c) 0.2 d) (0.3 t + 0.2)
incident. Which of the following changes ?
a) Speed b) Frequency
Reflection and Refraction of Waves
c) Wavelength d) None of these
19. What happens when a sound wave is reflected
26. In the above question if the reflection is into other
from the boundary of a denser medium ? The
medium, which of the following does not change ?
compression of the incident wave is returned as :
a) Speed b) Frequency
a) crest b) trough
c) Wavelength d) None
c) compression d) rarefaction
20. For hearing syllabic echo, the minimum distance
Superposition of Waves
required, between the source of sound and the
obstacle is more than that for momentary sound 27. Which of the following is essential for interference
because : of sound waves ?
a) syllabic sound travels faster a) Same frequency
b) syllabic sound travels slower b) Same amplitude
c) the velocity of sound does not depend upon c) Constant phase difference
the momentary nature of sound d) None of the above
d) time taken to produce syllabic sound is more 28. When two simple harmonic waves interfere,
21. A sound wave travelling with a velocity  in a vector addition of which one of the following
medium A reaches a point on the interface of characteristics takes place ?
medium A and medium B. If the velocity in the a) Frequency b) Wavelength
medium B be 2, the angle of incidence for total c) Intensity d) Amplitude
internal reflection of the wave will be : 29. Sound waves in air differ from the electro-
a) 15° b) 30° magnetic waves in that they cannot be :
c) 45° d) 90° a) reflected b) refracted
22. A longitudinal wave is travelling in a coiled spring c) diffracted d) polarised
with a velocity of 2 ms–1. The time period of the 30. Two waves of same frequency but amplitude
oscillations is 0.5 s. What is the wavelength ? equal to a and 2a travelling in the same direction
a) 2 m b) 1 m superimpose out of phase. The resultant amplitude
c) 0.5 m d) 0.25 m will be :

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a) a b) 2a Formation of Beats
1 37. Beats are produced by the superposition of two
c) 3a d) a 2  (2a) 2  2 waves of nearly equal frequencies. Which of the
following statements is correct ?
31. In a gas two waves of lengths 1 metre and 1.01
metre superpose to produce 10 beats in 3 seconds. a) All particles of the medium vibrate simple
The velocity of sound in this medium is : harmonically with frequency equal to the
a) 332 m/s b) 336.7 m/s difference between the frequencies of
component waves
c) 83 m/s d) 166 m/s
b) The frequency of beats changes with the
32. Two waves of wavelengths 2 m and 2.02 m
location of the observer
respectively, moving with the same velocity
superpose to produce 2 beats per second. The c) The frequency of beats changes with time
velocity of the waves is : d) Amplitude of vibration of particle at any point
a) 400.0 m/s changes simple harmonically with frequency
equal to one half of the difference between
b) 404.0 m/s
the component waves
c) 402.0 m/s
38. When a tuning fork produces sound waves in air,
d) 406.0 m/s
which one of the following properties of sound is
33. If two waves of the same frequency and same same in the material of tuning fork as well as
amplitude respectively, on superimposition air ?
produce a resultant disturbance of the same
a) Wavelength b) Frequency
amplitude, the waves differ in phase by :
c) Velocity d) Amplitude
 2 39. What happens when two sound waves of
a) b)
2 3 frequencies differing by more than 10 Hz reach
c)  d) 2  our ear simultaneously ?
34. A boat at anchor is rocked by waves whose a) Interference of sound does not take place
crests are 100 metre apart and whose velocity b) Beats are not produced
is 25 metre per second. These waves reach the c) Beats cannot be heard
boat once every :
d) The waves destroy each other's effect
a) 0.25 s b) 4.00 s
40. The number of beats produced by two tuning forks
c) 2500 s d) 1500 s
when sounded together is 4. One of them has a
35. What is the phase difference between the frequency of 250 Hz. The frequency of the other
following two waves ? cannot be more than :
y  2sin(t  kx) a) 246 Hz b) 248 Hz
y  4cos(t  kx) c) 252 Hz d) 254 Hz
41. The number of beats produced per second by
 3 two tuning forks when sounded together is 4. One
a) b)
2 2 of them has a frequency of 250 Hz. The frequency
of the other cannot be less than :
 3
c) 2kx  d) 2kx  a) 246 Hz b) 248 Hz
2 2
c) 252 Hz d) 254 Hz
36. y1  a cos(kx  t) superimpose on another 42. Two tuning forks are sounded together and
wave giving a stationary wave having node at produce 5 beats per second. The frequency of
x = 0. What is the equation of the other wave ? one of them is 250 Hz. The other is loaded with a
a) a cos(kx  t) b) a cos(kx  t) little wax and now they produce 7 beats per
second. The frequency of the other tuning fork
c) a cos(kx  t) d) a cos(kx  t) is :

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a) 243 Hz b) 245 Hz a) 2 b) 4
c) 255 Hz d) 257 Hz c) 6 d) 8
43. To hear beats, it is essential that the two sound 50. What is the phase difference between the
waves in air should : oscillations of the two forks of a tuning fork ?
a) be travelling in opposite directions a) 0° b) 45°
b) be travelling in the same direction c) 90° d) 180°
c) have slightly different amplitude 51. What happens to the frequency of tuning fork
when the temperature increases ?
d) have slightly different wavelengths
a) Increases b) Decreases
44. A set of 56 tuning forks is arranged in series of
c) Remains unchanged
increasing frequencies. If each fork gives 4 beats
with the preceding one and the frequency of the d) Increases or decreases depending on the
last is twice that of the first, then the frequency nature of material
of the first fork is : 52. 20 tuning forks are so arranged in series that each
fork gives 4 beats per second with the previous
a) 220 Hz b) 110 Hz
one. The frequency of the 20th fork is 3 times
c) 55 Hz d) 440 Hz
that of the first. What is the frequency of the
45. Two sound waves of equal intensity I generate first tuning fork ?
beats. The maximum intensity of sound produced a) 38 Hz b) 40 Hz
in beats will be :
c) 57 Hz d) 60 Hz
a) I b) 4 I 53. Two sound sources produce progressive waves,
c) 2 I d) I / 2
given by y1  6cos100t and y 2  4cos102t,
46. A tuning fork of frequency 290 Hz appears to be
near the ears of an observer. He will hear :
vibrating with a frequency of 10 Hz when
a) 4 beats per second and intensity ratio of
observed in a flashing illumination. The frequency
of the flashing light is : 3
maxima to minima =
a) 10 Hz b) 280 Hz 2
c) 290 Hz d) 270 Hz b) 2 beats per second and intensity ratio of
47. Two tuning forks have frequencies 450 Hz and 9
454 Hz respectively. On sounding these forks maxima to minima =
4
together, the time interval between successive c) 1 beat per second and intensity ratio of
maximum intensities will be :
25
maxima and minima =
1 1 1
a)   second b)   second
4 2 d) 1 beat per second and intensity ratio of
c) 1 second d) 2 seconds 9
maxima to minima =
48. Two tuning forks of nearly same frequencies 4
produce Lissajous figures, which complete the
Doppler's effect in Sound
cycle in 5 seconds. If the frequency of one tuning
fork is 100 Hz, then that of the second tuning fork 54. A source of sound moves towards a stationary
will be : listener. The apparent pitch of the sound is found
to be higher than its actual value. This happens
a) (100 ± 0.2) Hz b) (100 ± 0.1) Hz
because :
c) (100 ± 0.05) Hz d) (100 ± 0.01) Hz
a) wavelength of sound waves decreases
1 b) wavelength of sound waves increases
49. A is producing a note whose frequency is th
8 c) the number of waves received by the listener
of that produced by B. If energy of both notes be increases
same, then the ratio of the amplitude of the note d) the number of waves received by the listener
of A to that of B is : decreases

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55. A source of sound is moving towards a high wall 60. The velocity of sound is 330 ms–1. To hear a sound
with a speed of 20 ms–1. The frequency of the with 50% higher frequency, a listener should move
sound produced by the source is 400 Hz. If the towards the stationary source with a velocity
sound travels at 340 ms–1, what will be the beat equal to :
frequency heard by a man standing near the wall ? a) 330 ms–1 b) 220 ms–1
–1
a) zero b) 2 c) 165 ms d) 110 ms–1
c) 5 d) 10 61. The wavelength of the sound produced by a
56. There are following four possible relative motions source is 0.8 m. If the source moves towards the
between the source of sound and the listener. stationary listener at 32 ms–1, what will be apparent
wavelength of the sound ? The velocity of sound
I. Source moves towards stationary listener
is 320 ms–1.
II. Source moves away from stationary listener a) 0.32 m b) 0.40 m
III. Listener moves towards stationary source c) 0.12 m d) 0.80 m
IV. Listener moves away from stationary source 62. Radio waves of wavelength  are sent from a
In which of the cases, the change in frequency is RADAR towards an aeroplane. If the aeroplane
same, the magnitude of velocity of source or is moving towards the RADAR station, the
listener being the same ? wavelength of the radiowaves received after
a) I and II b) II and III reflection from the aeroplane will be :
c) III and IV a)  b) more than 
c) less than 
d) none of the above
d) more or less than , depending on the speed
57. An engine is moving on circular path of radius
of aeroplane
100 metres with a speed of 20 metre per second.
63. A car sounding its horn at 480 Hz moves towards
What will be the frequency observed by an
a high wall at a speed of 20 ms–1. If the speed of
observer standing stationary at the centre of
sound is 340 ms–1, the frequency of the reflected
circular path when the engine blows a whistle of
sound heard by the passenger sitting in the car
frequency 500 Hz ?
will be nearest to :
a) More than 500 Hz
a) 480 Hz b) 510 Hz
b) Less than 500 Hz c) 544 Hz d) 570 Hz
c) 500 Hz 64. The wavelength of light received from a galaxy
d) No sound is heard is 10% greater than that received from identical
58. A sound wave of wavelength  travels towards source on the earth: The velocity of the galaxy
an obstacle with a speed c. The obstacle itself is relative to the earth is :
moving in the opposite direction with speed . a) 3  108 ms–1 b) 3  107 ms–1
How many compressions will strike the obstacle c) 3  10 ms
6 –1
d) 3  105 ms–1
in one second ? 65. A man runs towards a source of sound at 10 ms–1.
The frequency of the sound produced by the
(c  ) (c  )
a) b) source is 400 Hz. If the speed of the sound be
  340 ms–1, the relative speed of sound perceived
by the man will be :
(c 2  2 ) (c 2  2 )
c) d) a) 330 ms–1 b) 340 ms–1
c c
c) 350 ms–1 d) 400 ms–1
59. The velocity of sound in air is 330 ms–1. To increase 66. The apparent wavelength of light from a star
the apparent frequency of the sound by 50%, the moving away from the earth is 0.02% more than
source should move towards the stationary the actual wavelength. What is the velocity of
observer with a velocity equal to : the star ?
a) 300 ms–1 b) 220 ms–1 a) 30 kms–1 b) 60 kms–1
c) 165 ms–1 d) 110 ms–1 c) 90 kms –1
d) none of the above

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67. A source of sound moves toward a stationary 73. Loudness of a note of sound is :
listener with a velocity equal to half the velocity a) directly proportional to the amplitude of wave
of sound. If the actual frequency of the sound
b) directly proportional to the square of amplitude
produced by the source be f, then the change in
of wave
frequency is :
c) inversely proportional to the square root of
f f amplitude of wave
a) b)
4 2 d) inversely proportional to the amplitude of
c) f d) none of the above wave
68. A source of sound moves away from a stationary 74. Two tuning forks A and B give 4 beats/second,
listener with velocity equal to half the velocity of when sounded together. If the fork B is loaded
the sound. If the actual frequency of the sound with wax 6-Beats/second are heard. If the
produced by the source be f, then change in frequency of A is 320 Hz, the original frequency
frequency will be : of the tuning fork B is :
a) 320 Hz b) 316 Hz
f f
a) b) c) 326 Hz d) 314 Hz
4 2
75. A set of tuning forks are arranged in ascending
c) f d) none of the above order of frequency. Each tuning fork gives 5 beats
69. The frequency of the waves emitted from a per second with the preceding one. If the
RADAR is 750 MHz. The frequency of the frequency of the first tuning fork is 100 Hz and
reflected wave from the aeroplane as observed that of last fork is 150 Hz, the total number of
at the Radar station is increased by 2.5 kHz. What tuning forks arranged are :
is the speed of the aeroplane ? a) 9 b) 10
a) 4 kms–1 b) 2 kms–1 c) 11 d) 12
c) 1 kms–1 d) 0.5 kms–1 76. For a wave travelling in the positive X-direction,
70. When both source and listener approach each the particles at higher values of X :
other with a velocity equal to half the velocity of a) lag behind in phase
sound, the change in frequency of the sound as
b) lead in phase
detected by the listener is :
c) have the same phase as any other particle
a) zero b) 25 %
d) none of the above
c) 50 % d) none of the above
71. When both source and listener move in the same 92 92
77. Two sound waves of wavelength m& m
direction with a velocity equal to half the velocity 157 155
of sound, the change in frequency of the sound produce 8 beats per second, when allowed to
as detected by the listener is : superimpose. The velocity of sound is :
a) zero b) 25 % a) 320 m/s
c) 50 % d) none of the above b) 332 m/s
c) 368 m/s
Recent Questions from MH-C.E.T Exams d) 312 m/s
72. When a transverse wave pulse is reflected from 78. Apparent frequency of sound heard by a listener
free end, the phase change produced is : is less than the actual frequency of the sound
emitted by the source :

a) b)  a) Listener moves towards the source
2
b) Source moves towards the listener
3 c) The listener moves away from the source
c) d) zero
4 d) Source and listener move towards each other

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79. Two waves of same amplitude and frequency 86. The phase difference between two points is /3.
arrive at a point simultaneously. The resultant If the frequency of wave is 50 Hz, then what is
amplitude is same as amplitude of each wave. the distance between two points ?
So the initial phase difference of the two waves [given ;  = 330 m/s]
is : a) 2.2 m b) 1.1 m
  c) 0.6 m d) 1.7 m
a) b)
4 2 87. The amplitude of two waves are in ratio 5 : 2. If
all other conditions for the two waves are same,
2 3 then what is the ratio of their energy densities ?
c) d)
3 4 a) 5 : 2 b) 10 : 4
80. Ten tuning forks are arranged in increasing order c) 2 : 5 : 1 d) 25 : 4
of frequency so that any two consecutive forks 88. A source is moving towards observer with a speed
produces 4 beats. The highest frequency is twice of 20 m/s and having frequency 240 Hz and
that of the lowest. The possible lowest and highest observer is moving towards source with a velocity
frequencies in Hz are : of 20 m/s. What is the apparent frequency heard
a) 72, 144 b) 36, 72 by observer if velocity of sound is 340 m/s ?
c) 18, 36 d) 9, 18 a) 270 Hz b) 240 Hz
81. The equation of a progressive wave is : c) 268 Hz d) 360 Hz
  t x x 89. A sonometer wire of length 1 vibrates with a
y  8sin      
3 
frequency 250 Hz. If the length of wire is increased
  10 4 
then 2 beats per second are heard. What is ratio
The wavelength of the wave is : of the lengths of the wire ?
a) 8 m b) 4 m a) 125 : 124 b) 250 : 313
c) 2 m d) 10 m c) 5 : 3 d) 41 : 57
82. When a sound wave get reflected from denser 90. In the longitudinal waves the direction of vibration
medium phase changes by : in medium particle is :
 a) Perpendicular to propagation of wave
a) 2  b) b) Parallel to propagation
2
c)  d) no phase cbange c) Different from each other
83. If velocity of body is half the maximum velocity. d) Variable time to time
Then what is the distance from the mean position ? 91. When a compression is incident on rigid wall it is
reflected as :
3
a) 2 a b) a a) compression with a phase change of 
2
b) compression with no phase change
a c) rarefaction with a phase change of 
c) a d)
2 d) rarefaction with no phase change
84. If two waves of frequencies n1 = 200 Hz and 92. A tuning fork C is sounded with another fork D
n2 = 205 Hz superimpose then what is the value of frequency 384 Hz gives 4 beats/sec. When C
of beat frequency ?
is filed, the beat frequency becomes 3 beats/sec.,
a) 6 b) 5
then original frequency of tuning fork C is :
c) 4 d) 3
a) 388 Hz b) 387 Hz
85. What is the pbase difference between two
successive crests in the wave ? c) 380 Hz d) 381 Hz
93. A tuning fork of frequency 480 Hz is in unison
 with pipe closed at one end vibrating in its first
a)  b)
2 overtone. Then fundamental frequency of the pipe
c) 2  d) 4  is :

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a) 150 Hz b) 480 Hz 100. In sine wave, minimum distance between 2

c) 160 Hz d) 190 Hz particles always having same speed is :
94. A pipe closed at one end vibrating in 5th overtone  
is in unison with open pipe vibrating in its 5th a) b)
2 4
overtone. The ratio of c : 0 is :
a) 12 : 11 b) 11 : 12 
c) d) 
c) 1 : 1 d) 5 : 1 3
95. A tuning fork is in unison with a sonometer wire. 101. Two Cu wires of radii R1 and R2 are such that
If the length of sonometer is increased by 4%, (R1 > R2). Then which of the following is true :
the number of beats heard are 8. The frequency a) Transverse wave travels faster in thicker wire
of tuning fork is : b) Transverse wave travels in thinner wire
a) 104 Hz b) 208 Hz c) Travels with the same speed in both the wires
c) 416 Hz d) 512 Hz d) Does not travel
96. If the maximum particle velocity is 4 times wave 102. A progressive wave is, y  12sin(5t  4x), where
velocity, then the relation between wavelength all the quantities are in SI unit. On this wave,
and amplitude is : how far away are the two points having a phase
A A difference of /2 ?
a)   b)  
2 2  
a) b)
 A 4 8
c)   d)  
2A 2  
c) d)
97. A vibrating tuning fork emits sound waves of 16 32
period 2  10–3 second and wavelength 0.7 m in 103. 10 beats/s are produced by the super position of
air. The velocity of sound in air is : two sound waves. If equation of the first wave is
a) 175 m/s b) 330 m/s y1  5sin 20(30t), then the equation of second
c) 340 m/s d) 350 m/s wave is :
98. In the equation of a simple harmonic progressive
a) y 2  5sin 20  (31 t)
wave of wavelength '', the propagation constant
is given by : b) y 2  5sin 20 (30 t)

2 c) y 2  5sin 20 (32 t)

a) b) 
 d) y 2  5sin 20  (33 t)
  104. The maximum particle velocity in a progressive
c) d)
 2 wave is 4 times of the wave velocity. If the
amplitude of the particle is 'A', then the wave-
99. The equation of a simple harmonic progressive
length of the wave is :
wave is given by, y  A sin(100t  3x). Find the
distance between 2 particles having a phase 4 A
a) b)
A 2

difference of .
3 2 A
c) d)
A 2
 
a) m b) m 105. When a wave travels in a medium, displacement
9 18
of a particle is given by y  a sin 2(bt  cx)
  where a, b, c are constants. The maximum particle
c) m d) m
6 3 velocity will be twice the wave velocity if :

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REVISION OUESTIONS
1
a) b  ac b) b  from Competitive Exams
ac
1. Velocity of sound is measured in hydrogen and
1
c) c  a d) c  oxygen gases at a given temperature and at the
a same pressure. The ratio of two velocities will
106. The pitch of the whistle of an engine appears to
V 
th be  h  :
5  V0 
drop to   of original value when it passes a
6
a) 1 : 4 b) 4 : 1
stationary observer. If the speed of sound in air
c) 1 : 1 d) 32 : 1
is 350 m/s then the speed of engine is :
2. A sound source is moving towards a stationary
a) 35 m/s b) 70 m/s
c) 105 m/s d) 140 m/s 1
observer with of the speed of sound. The
107. The equation of the progressive wave is, 10
ratio of apparent to real frequency is :
 x
y  a sin 2  nt   10 11
 5 a) b)
9 10
The ratio of maximum particle velocity to wave
velocity is :  11 
2
 9
2

c)   d)  
a 2a  10   10 
a) b)
5 5 3. The ratio of velocity of sound in air at 4 atmospheres
pressure and that at one atmosphere pressure
3a 4a
c) d) would be :
5 5
a) 1 : 1 b) 4 : 1

c) 1 : 4 d) 3 : 1
4. The frequency of the sound of a car horn as
received by an observer towards whom the car
is moving differs from the frequency of the horn
by 2.5%. Assuming that the velocity of sound of
air is 320 m/s, the velocity of car is :
a) 8 m/s b) 800 m/s
c) 7.5 m/s d) 6.0 m/s
5. The intensity of sound gets reduced by 20% on
passing through slab. The reduction in intensity
on passage through two consecutive slabs is :
a) zero b) 25 %
c) 50 % d) none of the above
6. The difference between the apparent frequency
of a source of sound as perceived by an observer
during its approach and 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

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7. An object producing a pitch of 400 Hz flies past 12. A source of sound emitting a tone of frequency
a stationary person. The object was moving in a 200 Hz moves towards an observer with a
straight line with a velocity of 200 m/s. The velocity velocity V equal to the velocity of sound. If the
of sound is 300 m/s. The frequency of sound heard observer also moves away from the source with
by the stationary person when the object is the same velocity V, the apparent frequency heard
approaching him, is equal to : by the observer is :
a) 240 Hz b) 96 Hz a) 50 Hz b) 100 Hz
c) 1200 Hz d) 960 Hz c) 150 Hz d) 200 Hz
8. The intensity of sound wave while passing through 13. Beats are produced by two waves,
an elastic medium falls down by 10% as it covers
y1  a sin 2000 t and y 2  a sin 2008t.
one metre distance through the medium. If the
initial intensity of the sound wave was 100 The number of beats heard per second is :
decibels, its value after it has passed through a) zero b) one
3 metre thickness of the medium will be : c) four d) eight
a) 70 decibel 14. The frequency of RADAR is 780 MHz. The
b) 72.9 decibel frequency of the reflected wave from an aeroplane
c) 81 decibel is increased by 2.6 kHz. The velocity of the
d) 60 decibel aeroplane is :
9. An object producing a pitch of 400 Hz approaches a) 0.25 km per second
a stationary person in a straight line with a velocity b) 0.5 km per second
of 200 metres per second. Velocity of sound is c) 1.0 km per second
300 metres per second. The person will note a
d) 2.0 km per second
change in frequency, as the object flies past him,
equal to : 15. The speed of sound in air at N.T.P. is 300 metre
per second. If the pressure is increased to four
a) 1440 Hz b) 240 Hz
times the atmospheric pressure, then the speed
c) 1200 Hz d) 960 Hz
of sound will be :
10. Three progressive waves A, B and C are shown
a) 150 metre per second
in the adjoining diagram. With respect to the wave
A, the wave C : b) 300 metre per second
c) 600 metre per second
d) 1200 metre per second
16. The speed of sound in hydrogen at N.T.P. is 1270
metre per second. Then the speed in a mixture
of hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio 4 : 1 by
volume, will be :
  a) 317 metre per second
a) lags behind in phase by and B leads by
2 2 b) 635 metre per second
b) leads in phase by  and B lags behind by  c) 830 metre per second
d) 950 metre per second
 
c) leads in phase by and B lags behind 17. A sound wave travelling with a velocity  in a
2 2 medium A reaches a point on the interface of
d) lags behind in phase by  and B leads by  medium A and medium B. If the velocity in the
11. How many times more intense is a 90 dB sound medium B be 2, the angle of incidence for total.
than a 40 dB sound ? internal reflection of the wave will be :
a) 5 b) 50 a) 15° b) 30°
c) 500 d) 105 c) 45° d) 900

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18. The pressure amplitude in a sound wave is tripled, 25. Two waves
then the intensity of the sound is increased by a y = 0.25 sin 316 t
factor of : & y = 0.25 sin 310 t
a) 9 b) 3 are travelling in same direction. The number of
c) 6 d) 3 beats produced per second will be :
a) 6 b) 3
19. A stone is dropped into a lake from a tower 500
metre high. The sound of the splash will be heard c) 3 / d) 3 
by the man approximately after : 26. A source of sound gives five beats per second,
a) 11.5 seconds b) 21 seconds when sounded with another source of frequency
100 s–1. The second harmonic of the source,
c) 10 seconds d) 14 seconds
together with a source of frequency 205 s–1 gives
20. Two sources of sound are said to be coherent if : five beats per second. What is the frequency of
a) they produce sounds of equal intensity the source ?
b) they produce sounds of equal frequency a) 105 s–1 b) 205 s–1
c) they produce sound waves vibrating with the c) 95 s–1 d) 100 s–1
same phase 27. A toothed wheel is rotated at 120 r.p.m. and a
d) they produce sound waves with zero or post-card is placed against the teeth. How many
constant phase difference at all instants of time teeth (frequency) must the wheel have to
21. For production of beats the two sources must produce a note whose pitch is same as that of a
have : tuning fork of frequency 256 /second ?
a) different frequencies and same amplitude a) 120  256 b) 120
b) different frequencies c) 256 d) 128
c) different frequencies, same amplitude and 28. The couple of tuning forks produces 2 beats in
same phase the time interval of 0.4 seconds, so the beat
frequency is :
d) different frequencies and same phase
a) 8 Hz b) 5 Hz
22. With the propagation of a longitudinal wave
c) 2 Hz d) 8 Hz
through a material medium, the quantities
transmitted in the propagation direction are : 29. A source of sound is travelling with a velocity
40 km/hour towards observer and emits sound
a) energy, momentum and mass
of frequency 2000 Hz. If velocity of sound is
b) energy 1220 km/hour. Then what is the apparent
c) energy and mass frequency heard by an observer ?
d) energy and linear momentum a) 2210 Hz b) 1920 Hz
23. A tuning fork when sounded along with a standard c) 2068 Hz d) 2086 Hz
source of frequency 300 Hz produces 5 beats/s. 30. An object producing a pitch of 1200 Hz is moving
The tuning fork when loaded by some wax is with a velocity of 40 m/s towards a stationary
again found to give 5 beats/s with the standard person. The velocity of sound is 350 m/s. The
source. The frequency of the fork originally is : frequency of sound heard by stationary person
a) 290 Hz b) 295 Hz is :
c) 305 Hz d) 310 Hz a) 700 Hz b) 1400 Hz
24. A wave is propagating along X-axis and another c) 1050 Hz d) 1250 Hz
identical wave is propagating along Y-axis. If they 31. The equation of a travelling wave is,
superimpose each other, the resultant wave will y  60cos(1800t  6x), where y is in microns, t
be : in seconds and x in metres. The ratio of maximum
a) circular b) parabolic particle velocity to velocity of wave propagation
c) straight line d) elliptical is :

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a) 3.6  10–11 b) 3.6  10–6 a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the
c) 3.6  10–4 d) 3.6 Reason is correct explanation of the Assertion
32. An unknown frequency x produces 8 beats per b) If both Assertion and Reason are true, but
second with a frequency of 250 Hz and 12 beats Reason is not correct explanation of the Assertion
with 270 Hz source, then x is : c) If Assertion is true, but the Reason is false
a) 258 Hz b) 242 Hz d) If Asertion is false and Reason is true
c) 262 Hz d) 282 Hz 39. Newton's formula for the velocity of sound in
33. An observer is watching two vehicles of same gases is :
velocity (4 m/s). The former is approaching towards
the observer while the later receding. If the  p
a)   b)  
frequency of the siren of the vehicle is 240 Hz p 
and velocity of sound in air is 320 m/s, then the
beats produced is : 2p 3 p
c)   d)  
a) 6 b) 3  2 
c) zero d) 12 40. Longitudinal strain is possible in :
34. A vehicle, with a horn of frequency n is moving
a) solids b) liquids
with a velocity of 30 m/s in a direction perpen-
dicular to the straight line joining the observer and c) gases d) all of these
the vehicle. The observer perceives the sound to 41. The waves in which the particles of the medium
have a frequency n + n1. Then (if the sound vibrates in a direction  to the direction of wave
velocity in air is 300 m/s) : motion is known as :

a) n1  10 n b) n1  0 a) transverse waves b) longitudinal waves

c) propagated waves d) none of these
c) n1  0.1 n d) n1  0.1 n
42. In which medium sound travel faster ?
35. Two trains, one coming towards and another going a) steel b) water
away from an observer both at 4 m/s, produce
c) air d) vacuum
whistle simultaneously of frequency 300 Hz. Find
the number of beats produced. 43. The transverse displacement y(x, t) of a wave
on a string is given by,
a) 5 b) 6
2
 bt 2  2 abxt )
c) 7 d) 12 y(x, t)  e  (ax
36. Two tuning forks have frequencies 380 and 384 This represents a :
hertzs respectively. When they are sounded
together, they produce 4 beats. After hearing the 1
a) standing wave of frequency
maximum sound, how long will it take to hear the b
minimum sound ?
a
1 1 b) wave moving in +x direction with speed
a) s b) s b
2 4
c) wave moving in –x direction with speed if
1 1
c) s d) s b
8 16
a
37. The Doppler's effect is applicable for :
a) light waves b) sound waves d) standing wave of frequency b
c) space waves d) both 'A' and 'B' 44. Sound waves travel at 350 m/s through a warm
38. Assertion : Radio waves can be polarised. air and at 3500 m/s through brass. The wavelength
Reason : Sound waves in air are longitudinal in of a 700 Hz acoustic wave as it enters brass from
nature. warm air :

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a) decrease by a factor 10 d) If the wind blows from the source to the

b) increase by a factor 20 observer, f2 < f1
c) increase by a factor 10 49. A speeding motorcyclist sees traffic jam ahead
d) decrease by a factor 20 of him. He slows down to 36 km/hour. He finds
that traffic has eased and a car moving ahead of
45. A police car with a siren of frequency 8 kHz is
him at 18 km/hour is honking at a frequency of
moving with uniform velocity 36 km/hr towards
1392 Hz. If the speed of sound is 343 m/s, the
a tall building which reflects the sound waves.
frequency of the honk as heard by him will be :
The speed of sound in air is 320 m/s. The frequency
of the siren heard by the car driver is : a) 1454 Hz b) 1332 Hz
a) 8.50 kHz b) 8.25 kHz c) 1372 Hz d) 1412 Hz
c) 7.75 kHz d) 7.50 kHz 50. A train is moving on a straight track with speed
20 ms–1. It is blowing its whistle at the frequency
46. The equation of a simple harmonic wave is given
of 1000 Hz, The percentage change in the
by,
frequency heard by a person standing near the
 track as the train passes him is (speed of sound
y  3sin (50t  x)
2 = 320 ms–1) close to :
where x and y are in, metres and t is in seconds. a) 18 % b) 24 %
The ratio of maximum particle velocity to the c) 6 % d) 12 %
wave velocity is : 51. A source of sound S emitting waves of frequency
3 100 Hz and an observer O are located at some
a) 2  b)  distance from each other. The source is moving
2
with a speed of 19.4 ms–1 at an angle of 600 with
2 the source observer line as shown in the figure.
c) 3  d) 
3 The observer is at rest. The apparent frequency
47. A train moving at a speed of 220 ms–1 towards a observed by the observer (velocity of sound in
stationary object, emits a sound of frequency air 330 ms–1), is :
1000 Hz. Some of the sound reaching the object
gets reflected back to the train as echo. The
frequency of the echo as detected by the driver
of the train is :
[Speed of sound in air is 330 ms–1]
a) 3500 Hz b) 4000 Hz
c) 5000 Hz d) 3000 Hz a) 106 Hz b) 97 Hz
48. Two vehicles, each moving with speed u on the c) 100 Hz d) 103 Hz
same horizontal straight road, are approaching 
each other. Wind blows along the road with
velocity w. One of these vehicles blows a whistle
of frequency f1. An observer in the other vehicle
hears the frequency of the whistle to be f2. The
speed of sound in still air is V. The correct
statement(s) is (are) :
a) If the wind blows from the observer to the
source, f2 > f1
b) If the wind blows from the source to the
observer, f2 > f1
c) If the wind blows from observer to the source,
f2 < f 1

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Brain Teasers a) 3 kHz b) 30 kHz

1. A sound wave y  A sin(t  kx) is propagating c) 3 MHz d) 30 MHz
through a medium of density . What is the sound 7. Two sources S1 & S2 of sound having frequencies
energy per unit volume ? 338, 342 Hz are separated by a large distance.
The speed of sound is 340 ms–1. With what
1 2 2 velocity should an observer move from source
a) A  b) A 
2 2

2 S2 to the source S1 so that he hears no beats ?

c) 2A 2 2 d) 4A 2 2 a) 1 ms–1 b) 2 ms–1
c) 3 ms–1 d) 4 ms–1
2. A sound wave is represented as displacement
8. A train is approaching the platform with a speed
wave by y  A sin(t  kx). What will be the
of 4 ms–1. Another train is leaving the platform
expression for pressure wave ? with the same speed. The velocity of sound is
a) p  Ac cos(t  kx) 320 ms–1. If both the trains sound their whistles
at frequency 280 hertz, the number of beats heard
b) p  Ac sin(t  kx)
per second will be :
c) p  Ac cos(t  kx) a) 6 b) 7
d) p  Ac sin(t  kx) c) 8 d) 10
9. Two factories are sounding their sirens at 800 Hz.
3. If the amplitude of the pressure wave of sound
A man goes from one factory to the other at a
of frequency f, in a medium of density  and wave
speed of 2 ms–1. The velocity of sound is 320 ms–1.
velocity c be p0, then what is the amplitude of the
The number of beats heard by the person in one
displacement wave ?
second will be :
p0 p0 a) 2 b) 4
a) b)
2cf cf c) 8 d) 10
p0 p0 10. The threshold of hearing corresponds to the sound
c) d) intensity of 10–12 W/m2 and the threshold of pain,
cf 3cf
which is the upper limit for the sound intensity to
4. A sound wave propagating in air may be treated which the human ear responds corresponds to
either as a displacement wave or a pressure the intensity of 1 W/m2. What are the loudness
wave. What is the phase difference between the levels in terms of decibels for these intensities ?
displacement and pressure waves ? a) 1 and 12
a) zero b) 450 b) 0 and 12
c) 900 d) 1800 c) 1 and 120 d) 0 and 120
5. An obstacle is moving towards the source with 11. Figure here shows two pulses A and B, with
velocity . The sound is reflected from the instantaneous velocities indicated by arrows.
obstacle. If the speed of sound be c, then what Which way do the pulses travel with time ?
will be the wavelength of the reflected wave ?
cv cv
a)  b) 
cv cv

c cv
c)  d) 
cv c
a) A to right, B to left
6. A source emits radio signals of frequency
b) B to right, A to left
100 MHz. It moves towards the observer with a
speed of 9 kms–1. What will be the apparent c) both to the right
change in the frequency of the signals ? d) both to the left

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12. A source of sound passes an observer at time 15. Figure below shows the displacement versus
t = 0 with speed about 10% the speed of sound distance x curve in a longitudinal wave at a certain
in air. The observed frequency f versus time t is instant. The displacement is taken as positive
best represented by the graph : when it is along the positive direction of distance
x. The maxima and minima of pressure at this
instant are respectively, at :

a) b) a) P and R b) Q and P
c) Q and S d) R and P


c) d)

13. Figure here shows an incident pulse P reflected

from a rigid support.

Which one of A, B, C, D represents the reflected

pulse correctly ?

a)

b)

c)

d)

14. In the figure here, O shows a pulse moving

towards a wall W of rarer medium. The reflected
pulse is best represented by the curve :

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DINESH [MHT - CET] PHYSICS

Answer Key
MH Text Book Based MCQ's
01. (c) 17. (a) 33. (b) 49. (d) 65. (c) 81. (b) 97. (d)
02. (a) 18. (c) 34. (b) 50. (d) 66. (b) 82. (c) 98. (a)
03. (a) 19. (c) 35. (d) 51. (b) 67. (c) 83. (b) 99. (a)
04. (d) 20. (d) 36. (d) 52. (a) 68. (d) 84. (b) 100. (a)
05. (d) 21. (b) 37. (d) 53. (c) 69. (d) 85. (c) 101. (b)
06. (b) 22. (b) 38. (b) 54. (a) 70. (d) 86. (b) 102. (b)
07. (c) 23. (b) 39. (c) 55. (a) 71. (a) 87. (d) 103. (a)
08. (a) 24. (c) 40. (d) 56. (c) 72. (d) 88. (a) 104. (b)
09. (c) 25. (d) 41. (a) 57. (c) 73. (b) 89. (a) 105. (d)
10. (b) 26. (b) 42. (b) 58. (a) 74. (b) 90. (b) 106. (b)
11. (c) 27. (d) 43. (d) 59. (d) 75. (c) 91. (a) 107. (b)
12. (a) 28. (d) 44. (a) 60. (c) 76. (a) 92. (c)
13. (a) 29. (d) 45. (b) 61. (c) 77. (c) 93. (c)
14. (b) 30. (a) 46. (b) 62. (c) 78. (c) 94. (b)
15. (d) 31. (b) 47. (a) 63. (c) 79. (c) 95. (b)
16. (c) 32. (b) 48. (a) 64. (b) 80. (b) 96. (b)

REVISION QUESTIONS from Competitive Exams.

01. (b) 09. (d) 17. (b) 25. (c) 33. (a) 41. (a) 49. (d)
02. (a) 10. (a) 18. (a) 26. (a) 34. (b) 42. (a) 50. (d)
03. (a) 11. (d) 19. (a) 27. (d) 35. (c) 43. (c) 51. (d)
04. (a) 12. (d) 20. (d) 28. (b) 36. (c) 44. (c)
05. (b) 13. (c) 21. (b) 29. (c) 37. (d) 45. (a)
06. (b) 14. (b) 22. (d) 30. (b) 38. (b) 46. (b)
07. (c) 15. (b) 23. (c) 31. (c) 39. (b) 47. (c)
08. (d) 16. (b) 24. (c) 32. (a) 40. (a) 48. (a, b)

BRAIN TEASERS
01. (a) 03. (b) 05. (b) 07. (b) 09. (b) 11. (b) 13. (d)
02. (c) 04. (c) 06. (a) 08. (b) 10. (d) 12. (c) 14. (b)
15. (a)

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