WAVES

PROGRESSIVE AND STATIONARY WAVES

1. A displacement wave is represented as

𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 0.25 𝑥 10−3 sin 500𝑡 − 0.025𝑥
Deduce the amplitude, time period, angular frequency, frequency, wavelength, velocity amplitude and
amplitude of particle acceleration. Y and x are in cm and t is in seconds.
2. A transverse harmonic wave on a string is described by
𝜋
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 3.0 sin 36𝑡 + 0.018𝑥 +
4
Is this wave travelling or stationary? If travelling, what are the speed and direction of propagation?
What are the amplitude and frequency? What is the initial phase? What is the distance between centres
of two consecutive troughs in the wave?
3. A harmonic wave travelling along the positive direction of x-axis is represented by the equation:
220
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 0.3 𝑥 10−4 cos⁡
( 𝑡 − 1.57𝑥) cm
7
Deduce the amplitude, wavelength and time period. (0.3 x 10-4 cm, 2π/1.57 cm, 0.2 s).
4. The equation of a wave travelling in x-direction on a string is
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 3.0 𝑐𝑚 sin 3.14𝑥 − 314𝑡
Find the maximum velocity of a particle on the string. Find the acceleration of the particle at x=6 cm
and t=0.11 s.(9.4 m/s and 0)
5. Write down the equation for a wave propagating with velocity 330 m/s and having frequency 110 Hz.
The amplitude is 0.05 m.
6. Stationary waves are set up by the superposition of the waves given by 𝑦1 = 0.05 sin 5𝜋𝑡 − 𝑥 and
𝑦2 = 0.05 sin 5𝜋𝑡 + 𝑥 . Where x and y are in metres and t is in sec. Calculate the amplitude of the
particle at a distance x=1 m.( 0.054 m)
7. For the travelling harmonic wave 𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 2.0 cos(2𝜋(10𝑡 − 0.0080𝑥 + 0.35)), where x and y are in
cm and t is in s. What is the phase difference between oscillatory motion at two points separated by a
distance of (i) 4 m (ii) 0.5 m (iii) λ/2 (iv) 3λ/4. (6.4π, 0.8π, π, 1.5π)
8. The transverse displacement of a string clamped at its two ends is given by:
2𝜋
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 0.06 sin 𝑥 cos 120𝜋𝑡
3
Where x and y are in m and t is in s. The length of the string is 1.5 m and its mass is 0.03 kg.
a. Does the function represent a travelling or stationary wave?
b. What are the λ, ν and speed of propagation?
c. Determine the tension in the string.
9. A transverse harmonic wave on a string is described by
𝜋
𝑦 𝑥, 𝑡 = 7.5 sin 12𝑡 + 0.0050𝑥 +
4
What are the displacement and velocity of oscillation of a point at x = 1 cm and t = 1 sec? Is this
velocity equal to the velocity of wave propagation? (87.89 cm/s, 24 m/s, no)
10. A simple harmonic wave train of amplitude 1 cm and frequency 100 vibrations is travelling in +x
direction with velocity 15 m/s. Calculate the displacement y, particle velocity and particle acceleration
at x =180 cm and t= 5sec. (0, 200π, 0)
11. A certain spring has a linear mass density of 0.25 kg/m and is stretched with a tension of 25 N. One end
is given a sinusoidal motion of frequency 5 Hz and amplitude 0.01 m. At t=0, the other end has zero
displacement and is moving in the + y direction.
 a. Find the wave speed, amplitude, angular frequency, period, wavelength and wave
number.(10,0.01,31.4,0.2,2,3.14)
b. Write a wave function representing the wave.
c. Find the position of the point at x = 0.25 m at t=0.1 s. (0.00707m)
12. If a splash is heard 4.23 sec after a stone is dropped into a well 78.4 m deep, find the speed of sound in
air. (340.87 m/s)
13. A stone dropped from the top of a tower of height 300 m splashes into the water of a pond near the base
of the tower. When is the splash heard at the top? Given the speed of sound in air is 340 m/s. (8.7 s)
14. A progressive wave of frequency 500 Hz is travelling with a velocity of 360 m/s. How far apart are two
points 600 out of phase?(0.12m)

STATIONARY WAVES IN ORGAN PIPES AND STRING

15. Find the frequency of note emitted by a string of length 10√10 cm under a tension of 3.14 kg. Radius of
the string is 0.5 mm and density = 9.8 g/cc. (100 Hz)
16. The fundamental frequency of a sonometer wire increases by 5 Hz if its tension is increased by 21 %.
What will be the frequency if length is increased by 10%? (45.45 Hz)
17. A guitar string is 90 cm long and has a fundamental frequency of 124 Hz. Where should it be pressed
to produce a fundamental frequency of 186 Hz? (60 cm)
18. A string vibrates with a frequency of 200 Hz. Its length is doubled and tension altered until it begins to
vibrate at 300 Hz. What is the ratio of new to old tension? (9:1)
19. The length of the sonometer wire between its two fixed ends is 110 cm. Where the two bridges should
be placed so as to divide the wire into three segments, whose fundamental frequencies are in the ratio
1:2:3? (60cm,90 cm)
20. The length of the sonometer wire between its two fixed ends is 105 cm. Where the two bridges should
be placed so as to divide the wire into three segments, whose fundamental frequencies are in the ratio
1:3:15? (75 cm, 100 cm)
21. A 100 cm long wire of mass 40 gm supports a mass of 1.6 kg as shown. Find the fundamental
frequency of the portion of the string between the wall and the pulley. Take g=10 m/s2. (12.5 Hz)

22. The fundamental frequency of a closed organ pipe is equal to the first overtone of an organ pipe. If the
length of the open pipe is 60 cm, what is the length of the closed pipe? (15 cm)
23. A resonance air column resonates with a tuning fork of 512 Hz at length 17.4 cm. Deduce the speed of
sound in air. (356.35 m/s)
24. A pipe 30 cm long is open at both ends. Which harmonic mode of the pipe is resonantly excited by a
1.1 kHz source? Will resonance from the same source be observed if one end of the pipe is closed?
Take the speed of sound in air as 330 m/s.(second harmonic, no)
25. A tuning fork of frequency 341 Hz is vibrated just over a tube of length 1 m. Water is being poured
gradually in the tube. What height of water column will be required for resonance? Take the speed of
sound in air as 341 m/s.(25 cm or 75 cm)
 BEATS

26. A tuning fork produces 4 beats/s when sounded with a tuning fork of 512 Hz. The same tuning fork
when sounded with another tuning fork of frequency 514 Hz produces 6 beats/s. Find the frequency of
the tuning fork. (508 Hz)
27. A tuning fork of frequency 200 Hz is in unison with a sonometer wire. How many beats per second will
be heard if the tension of the wire were increased by 2%? (2)
28. Calculate the speed of sound in a gas in which two sound waves of wavelength 1 m and 1.01 m
produces 24 beats in 6 seconds. (404 m/s)
29. The air columns of resonance tubes 100 cm and 101 cm long give 17 beats in 20 seconds, when each is
sounding its fundamental note. Calculate the velocity of sound. (343.4 m/s)
30. A tuning fork of unknown frequency gives 6 beats/s with a tuning fork of frequency 256 Hz. It gives
the same number of beats per second when loaded with wax. Find the unknown frequency. (262 Hz)
31. Two parts of sonometer wire divided by a movable knife differ by 2 mm and produce one beat per
second when sounded together. Find their frequencies if the whole length of the wire is one meter.
(249.5, 250.5 Hz)

DOPPLER’S EFFECT IN SOUND

32. A source and an observer are approaching each other with a relative velocity of 40 m/s. If the true
source frequency is 1200 Hz, deduce the observed frequency when:
a. All velocity is in the source only.
b. All velocity is in the observer only. (1360, 1341 Hz)
33. A train, standing at the outer signal of a railway station blows a whistle of frequency 400 Hz in still air.
What is the frequency of the whistle for a platform observer when the train (a) approaches the platform
at a speed of 10 m/s (b) recedes the platform at a speed of 10 m/s. Take the speed of sound in still air as
340 m/s.(412.12, 388.6 Hz)
34. A SONAR system fixed in a submarine operates at a frequency of 40 kHz. An enemy submarine moves
towards the SONAR system with a speed of 360 km/h. What is the frequency of the sound reflected by
the submarine? Take the speed of sound in water as 1450 m/s. (45.9 kHz)
35. A rocket is moving at a speed of 220 m/s towards a stationary target. While moving, it emits a sound
wave of frequency 1000 Hz. Some of the sound reaching the target gets reflected back into the rocket
as an echo. Calculate: (a) the frequency of the sound wave as detected by a detector attached to the
target (b) frequency of echo as detected by a detector attached to the rocket. (3000 Hz, 5000 Hz)
36. A bat is flying about in a cave, navigating via ultrasonic beeps. Assume that the sound emission
frequency of the bat is 40 kHz. During one fast swoop directly towards a flat wall surface, the bat is
moving at 0.03 times the speed of sound in air. What frequency does the bat hear reflected off the wall?
(42.47 kHz)
37. When an engine goes away from a stationary observer, the frequency of the engine appears 6/7 times
the real frequency. Calculate the speed of the engine. Speed of sound in air = 330 m/s. (55 m/s)
38. Two engines pass each other in opposite directions with a velocity of 60 km/h each. One of them is
emitting a note of frequency 540 Hz. Calculate the frequencies heard in the other engine before and
after they have passed each other. Given velocity of sound = 316.67 m/s. (600, 486 Hz)
39. Find the velocity of source of sound when the frequency appears to be (i) double (ii) half the original
frequency to a stationary observer. Velocity of sound = 330 m/s. (165, -330 m/s)
40. An observer standing on a railway crossing receives frequencies of 2.2 kHz and 1.8 kHz when the train
approaches and recedes from the observer. Find the velocity of the train. Speed of sound in air =300
m/s. (30 m/s)
 THEORY

Give reasons for the following observations (41-46):

41. The thunder of lightning is heard some moments after the flash is seen.
42. Two astronauts cannot talk on the surface of the moon as they do on earth.
43. Explosions on other planets are not heard on earth.
44. Sound travels faster on a rainy day than a dry day.
45. Sound travels faster in warm air than cool air.
46. Liquids and gases cannot propagate transverse waves.

47. Define the term wave motion. Name the three different types of waves, giving an example of each.
48. Mention the important properties which a medium must possess for the propagation of mechanical
waves through it.
49. Obtain the equation of a plane progressive simple harmonic wave.
50. Derive the formula for the following using dimensional analysis:
a. Speed of transverse wave on a stretched string.
b. Speed of longitudinal wave in a medium.
51. State Newton’s formula for the velocity of sound in air. Point out the error and hence discuss Laplace’s
correction.
52. State Superposition principle. Does it apply to electromagnetic waves?
53. What are standing waves? Give its important characteristics. Discuss graphical method for the
formation of standing waves on a stretched string.
54. Give analytical treatment for the formation of standing waves in the following and discuss the
harmonics and overtones:
a. Stretched string.
b. Closed organ pipe
c. Open organ pipe.
55. What are beats? Explain the graphical and analytical method for the formation of beats.
56. Explain Doppler’s effect in sound. Write down the expression for the apparent frequency of sound
waves when:
a. Source is stationary and the observer is moving towards the source.
b. Observer is stationary and the source is moving towards the observer.
c. Observer is stationary and the source is moving away from the observer.
d. The source and the observer are moving towards each other
e. The source and the observer are moving in the same direction with the same speed.
f. The source and the observer are moving away from each other
g. The source is at rest and the observer is moving away from the source
Assume the medium to be at rest in both the cases.
57. Discuss the various factors which affect the velocity of sound in a gas.
𝛾𝑃
58. Use the formula 𝑣 = to explain why the speed of sound in air
𝜌
a. Is independent of pressure
b. Increases with humidity
c. Increases with temperature.
59. State the laws of vibrations of stretched string.
60. Distinguish between:
a. Transverse and longitudinal waves
b. Standing and travelling waves.