Waves and Sound 834

3. Ultrasonic, Infrasonic and audible waves travel (c) 660 Hz (d) 330 Hz
Vu, Vi Va 10. The wavelength of ultrasonic waves in air is of the
through a medium with speeds and
respectively, then order of

[CPMT 1989] [EAMCET 1989]

(a)
Vu, Vi
and
Va
are nearly equal (a) 5×10−5 cm (b) 5×10−8 cm

(b)
V u ≥V a ≥V i
(c) 5×105 cm (d) 5×108 cm
V u ≤V a ≤V i 11. The relation between phase difference () and
(c) path difference (x) is [MNR 1995; UPSEAT 1999,
V a ≤V u V u ≈V i 2000]
(d) and
2π
4. The distance between two consecutive crests in a Δφ= Δx
(a) λ (b)
Δφ=2 πλ Δx
wave train produced in a string is 5 cm. If 2
complete waves pass through any point per 2 πλ 2 Δx
second, the velocity of the wave is Δφ= Δφ=
(c) Δx (d) λ
[CPMT 1990]
12. A hospital uses an ultrasonic scanner to locate
(a) 10 cm/sec (b) 2.5 cm/sec
tumours in a tissue. The operating frequency of
(c) 5 cm/sec (d) 15 cm/sec the scanner is 4.2 MHz. The speed of sound in a
tissue is 1.7 km-s–1. The wavelength of sound in
5. A tuning fork makes 256 vibrations per second in
the tissue is close to
air. When the velocity of sound is 330 m/s, then
[CBSE PMT 1995]
wavelength of the tone emitted is
−4
[KCET 1994; AFMC 1998;
(a) 4×10 m (b) 8×10−3 m
MH CET 1999; CBSE PMT 1999]
(a) 0.56 m (b) 0.89 m (c)
4×10−3 m (d)
8×10−4 m
(c) 1.11 m (d) 1.29 m 13. The minimum audible wavelength at room
6. A man sets his watch by a whistle that is 2 km temperature is about [AFMC 1996]
away. How much will his watch be in error. (speed (a) 0.2 Å (b) 5 Å
of sound in air 330 m/sec) (c) 5 cm to 2 metre (d) 20 mm
[MP PET 1991]
14. The ratio of the speed of sound in nitrogen gas to
(a) 3 seconds fast (b) 3 seconds slow that in helium gas, at 300 K is
[IIT 1999]
(c) 6 seconds fast (d) 6 seconds slow
7. When a sound wave of frequency 300 Hz passes (a) √ 2/7 (b) √ 1/7
through a medium the maximum displacement of
a particle of the medium is 0.1 cm. The maximum (c) √ 3/5 (d) √ 6/5
velocity of the particle is equal to [MNR 1992;
UPSEAT 1998, 2000; 15. In a sinusoidal wave, the time required for a
particular point to move from maximum
RPMT 2002; Pb. PET 2004] displacement to zero displacement is 0.170
(a) 60  cm/sec (b) 30  cm/sec second. The frequency of the wave is
(c) 30 cm/sec (d) 60 cm/sec [CBSE PMT 1998; AIIMS 2001;
AFMC 2002; CPMT 2004]
8. Sound waves have the following frequencies that
are audible to human beings (a) 1.47 Hz (b) 0.36 Hz
[CPMT 1975] (c) 0.73 Hz (d) 2.94 Hz
(a) 5 c/s (b) 27000 c/s 16. The number of waves contained in unit length of
the medium is called [AIIMS 1998]
(c) 5000 c/s (d) 50,000 c/s
(a) Elastic wave (b) Wave number
9. Velocity of sound waves in air is 330 m/sec. For a
particular sound in air, a path difference of 40 cm (c) Wave pulse (d) Electromagnetic
wave
is equivalent to a phase difference of 1.6 . The
frequency of this wave is 17. The frequency of a rod is 200 Hz. If the velocity of
[CBSE PMT 1990] sound in air is 340 ms−1 , the wavelength of the
(a) 165 Hz (b) 150 Hz sound produced is
 835 Waves and Sound
[EAMCET (Med.) 1995; 26. If the density of oxygen is 16 times that of
Pb. PMT 1999; CPMT 2000] hydrogen, what will be the ratio of their
(a) 1.7 cm (b) 6.8 cm corresponding velocities of sound waves [KCET
1999]
(c) 1.7 m (d) 6.8 m
(a) 1 : 4 (b) 4 : 1
18. Frequency range of the audible sounds is
(c) 16 : 1 (d) 1 : 16
[EAMCET (Med.) 1995; RPMT 1997]
27. At which temperature the speed of sound in
(a) 0 Hz – 30 Hz (b) 20 Hz – 20 kHz
hydrogen will be same as that of speed of sound in
(c) 20 kHz – 20,000 kHz (d) 20 kHz – 20 MHz oxygen at 100oC
19. In a medium sound travels 2 km in 3 sec and in [UPSEAT 1999]
air, it travels 3 km in 10 sec. The ratio of the o
(a) – 148 C (b) – 212.5oC
wavelengths of sound in the two media is
[NTSE 1995] (c) – 317.5oC (d) – 249.7oC

(a) 1 : 8 (b) 1 : 18 28. A tuning fork produces waves in a medium. If the

temperature of the medium changes, then which
(c) 8 : 1 (d) 20 : 9 of the following will change [EAMCET (Med.) 1998;
20. A stone is dropped into a lake from a tower 500 Pb. PMT 1999; MH CET 2001]
metre high. The sound of the splash will be heard
by the man approximately after [CPMT 1992;
(a) Amplitude (b) Frequency
JIPMER 2001, 02; (c) Wavelength (d) Time-period
Kerala PMT 2005] ( λV )
29. The wave length of light in visible part and for
(a) 11.5 seconds (b) 21 seconds
( λS )
(c) 10 seconds (d) 14 seconds sound are related as
[RPMT 1999]
21. When sound waves travel from air to water, which
of the following remains constant
λV > λS λ S > λV
(a) (b)
[AFMC 1993; DCE 1999; CPMT 2004] λ S =λ V
(c) (d) None of these
(a) Velocity (b) Frequency
30. Which of the following is different from others
(c) Wavelength (d) All the above [AFMC 1994; CPMT 1999; Pb. PMT 2004]
22. A stone is dropped in a well which is 19.6m deep. (a) Velocity (b) Wavelength
Echo sound is heard after 2.06 sec (after dropping) (c) Frequency (d) Amplitude
then the velocity of sound is
31. The phase difference between two points
[RPMT 1999] separated by 1m in a wave of frequency 120 Hz is
(a) 332.6 m/sec (b) 326.7 m/sec 90 o . The wave velocity is
(c) 300.4 m/sec (d) 290.5 m/sec [KCET 1999]

23. At what temperature velocity of sound is double (a) 180 m/s (b) 240 m/s
than that of at 0°C [RPMT 1999] (c) 480 m/s (d) 720 m/s
(a) 819 K (b) 819°C 32. The echo of a gun shot is heard 8 sec. after the
gun is fired. How far from him is the surface that
(c) 600°C (d) 600 K reflects the sound (velocity of sound in air = 350
24. Velocity of sound is maximum in m/s) [JIPMER 1999]

[AFMC 1998; BCECE 2001; RPMT 1999, 02] (a) 1400 m (b) 2800 m
(a) Air (b) Water (c) 700 m (d) 350 m

(c) Vacuum (d) Steel 33. A man sets his watch by the sound of a siren
placed at a distance 1 km away. If the velocity of
25. If velocity of sound in a gas is 360 m/s and the sound is 330 m/s
distance between a compression and the nearest [JIPMER 1999]
rarefaction is 1m, then the frequency of sound is (a) His watch is set 3 sec. faster
[KCET 1999]
(b) His watch is set 3 sec. slower
(a) 90 Hz (b) 180 Hz (c) His watch is set correctly
(c) 360 Hz (d) 720 Hz (d) None of the above
34. Velocity of sound in air is
 Waves and Sound 836
[Pb. PMT 1999; UPSEAT 2000] (a) 2 metres (b) 4 metres
(a) Faster in dry air than in moist air (c) 8 metres (d) 16 metres
(b) Directly proportional to pressure 41. Speed of sound at constant temperature depends
(c) Directly proportional to temperature on
(d) Independent of pressure of air [RPET 2000; AIIMS 1998]
35. Two monoatomic ideal gases 1 and 2 of molecular (a) Pressure (b) Density of gas
masses m1 and m2 respectively are enclosed in (c) Above both (d) None of the above
separate containers kept at the same
temperature. The ratio of the speed of sound in 42. A man standing on a cliff claps his hand hears its
gas 1 to that in gas 2 is given by echo after 1 sec. If sound is reflected from another
mountain and velocity of sound in air is 340 m/sec.
[IIT-JEE Screening 2000]
Then the distance between the man and reflection

√ √
m1 m2 point is [RPET 2000]
m2 m1 (a) 680 m (b) 340 m
(a) (b)
(c) 85 m (d) 170 m
m1 m2
43. What will be the wave velocity, if the radar gives
m2 m1
(c) (d) 54 waves per min and wavelength of the given
36. A man is standing between two parallel cliffs and wave is 10 m
fires a gun. If he hears first and second echoes [RPET 2000]
after 1.5 s and 3.5s respectively, the distance (a) 4 m/sec (b) 6 m/sec
between the cliffs is (Velocity of sound in air = 340
(c) 9 m/sec (d) 5 m/sec
ms–1)
44. Sound velocity is maximum in
[EAMCET (Med.) 2000]
[Pb. CET 2000; RPMT 2000]
(a) 1190 m (b) 850 m
(c) 595 m (d) 510 m H2 N2
(a) (b)
37. When the temperature of an ideal gas is increased
O2
by 600 K, the velocity of sound in the gas (c) He (d)
√
becomes 3 times the initial velocity in it. The 45. The minimum distance of reflector surface from
initial temperature of the gas is the source for listening the echo of sound is
[CPMT 1997; RPMT 1999; KCET 2000]
[EAMCET (Med.) 2000]
(a) 28 m (b) 18 m
(a) −73o C (b) 27 o C
(c) 19 m (d) 16.5 m
o o
(c) 127 C (d) 327 C 46. The type of waves that can be propagated through
solid is
38. The frequency of a sound wave is n and its
[CPMT 2000]
velocity is v. If the frequency is increased to
4 n,
(a) Transverse (b) Longitudinal
the velocity of the wave will be
[MP PET 2000] (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
47. A man stands in front of a hillock and fires a gun.
(a) v (b) 2 v He hears an echo after 1.5 sec. The distance of the
v /4 hillock from the man is (velocity of sound in air is
(c) 4 v (d) 330 m/s)
39. The temperature at which the speed of sound in [EAMCET (Eng.) 1998; CPMT 2000]
o
air becomes double of its value at 27 C is (a) 220 m (b) 247.5 m
[CPMT 1997; UPSEAT 2000; DPMT 2003] (c) 268.5 m (d) 292.5 m
o
327 o C 48. Velocity of sound in air
(a) 54 C (b)
I. Increases with temperature
o o
(c) 927 C (d) −123 C II. Decreases with temperature
40. The speed of a wave in a certain medium is 960 III. Increase with pressure
m/s. If 3600 waves pass over a certain point of the IV. Is independent of pressure
medium in 1 minute, the wavelength is
[MP PMT 2000]
V. Is independent of temperature
 837 Waves and Sound
Choose the correct answer. [Kerala (Engg.) 2001] 55. Velocity of sound measured in hydrogen and
oxygen gas at a given temperature will be in the
(a) Only I and II are true (b) Only I and III are true ratio
(c) Only II and III are true (d) Only I and IV are [RPET 2001; UPSEAT 2001; KCET 2002, 05]
true (a) 1 : 4 (b) 4 : 1
49. The speed of a wave in a medium is 760 m/s. If (c) 2 : 1 (d) 1 : 1
3600 waves are passing through a point, in the 56. Find the frequency of minimum distance between
medium in 2 minutes, then its wavelength is compression & rarefaction of a wire. If the length
[AFMC 1998; CPMT 2001] of the wire is 1m & velocity of sound in air is 360
m/s [CPMT 2003]
(a) 13.8 m (b) 25.3 m
(a) 90 sec–1 (b) 180s–1
(c) 41.5 m (d) 57.2 m
(c) 120 sec–1 (d) 360 sec–1
50. If at same temperature and pressure, the densities
57. The velocity of sound is vs in air. If the density of
d d air is increased to 4 times, then the new velocity
for two diatomic gases are respectively 1 and 2 ,
then the ratio of velocities of sound in these gases of sound will be
will be [BHU 2003]

[CPMT 2001] vs vs

√ √
d2 d1 (a) 2 (b) 12
d1 d2 3 2
(a) (b) 12 v s vs
(c) (d) 2
(c)
d1 d2
(d)
√ d1 d2 58. It takes 2.0 seconds for a sound wave to travel
between two fixed points when the day
51. The frequency of a tunning fork is 384 per second o
and velocity of sound in air is 352 m/s. How far the temperature is 10 C. If the temperature rise to
sound has traversed while fork completes 36 30o C the sound wave travels between the same
vibration
fixed parts in [Orissa JEE 2003]
[KCET 2001]
(a) 1.9 sec (b) 2.0 sec
(a) 3 m (b) 13 m
(c) 2.1 sec (d) 2.2 sec
(c) 23 m (d) 33 m
59. If vm is the velocity of sound in moist air, vd is the
v1 v2 velocity of sound in dry air, under identical
52. and are the velocities of sound at the same
temperature in two monoatomic gases of densities conditions of pressure and temperature [KCET
2002, 03]
1
ρ1 ρ2 ρ1 / ρ2= (a) vm > vd (b) vm < vd
and respectively. If 4 then the
v1 v2 (c) vm = vd (d) vmvd = 1
ratio of velocities and will be [KCET 2000;
60. A man, standing between two cliffs, claps his
AIIMS 2002; AFMC 2002]
hands and starts hearing a series of echoes at
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 4 : 1 intervals of one second. If the speed of sound in
(c) 2 : 1 (d) 1 : 4 air is 340 ms-1, the distance between the cliffs is
[KCET 2004]
53. The temperature at which the speed of sound in
o (a) 340 m (b) 1620 m
air becomes double of its value at 0 C is [AIEEE
2002] (c) 680 m (d) 1700 m
(a) 273K (b) 546K 61. A source of sound of frequency 600 Hz is placed
(c) 1092K (d) 0K inside water. The speed of sound in water is 1500
m/s and in air is 300 m/s. The frequency of sound
54. If wavelength of a wave is
λ=6000 Å . Then wave recorded by an observer who is standing in air is
number will be [MH CET 2002] [IIT-JEE Screening 2004]
3 −1 (a) 200 Hz (b) 3000 Hz
(a) 166×10 m–1 (b) 16 . 6×10 m–1
6 7 (c) 120 Hz (d) 600 Hz
(c) 1 .66×10 m–1 (d) 1 .66×10 m–1 62. If the temperature of the atmosphere is increased
the following character of the sound wave is
effected
 Waves and Sound 838
[AFMC 2004] [RPMT 1999; RPET 2000; J & K CET 2004]
(a) Amplitude (b) Frequency (a) Transverse (b) Longitudinal
(c) Velocity (d) Wavelength (c) Stationary (d) Electromagnetic
72. Transverse waves can propagate in
63. An underwater sonar source operating at a
[CPMT 1984; KCET 2000; RPET 2001]
frequency of 60 KHz directs its beam towards the
surface. If the velocity of sound in air is 330 m/s, (a) Liquids (b) Solids
the wavelength and frequency of waves in air are: (c) Gases (d) None of these
[DPMT 2004]
73. Sound waves in air are [RPET 2000; AFMC 2001]
(a) 5.5 mm, 60 KHz (b) 330 m, 60 KHz (a) Transverse (b) Longitudinal
(c) 5.5 mm, 20 KHz (d) 5.5 mm, 80 KHz (c) De-Broglie waves (d) All the above
64. Two sound waves having a phase difference of 60° 74. Which of the following is not the transverse wave
have path difference of [CBSE PMT 1996; AIIMS [AFMC 1999; BHU 2001]
2001]
(a) X-rays (b) γ -rays
(a) 2 (b) /2
(c) Visible light wave (d) Sound wave in a gas
(c) /6 (d) /3
75. What is the phase difference between two
65. It is possible to distinguish between the transverse successive crests in the wave [RPMT 2001, 02; MH
and longitudinal waves by studying the property of CET 2004]

[CPMT 1976; EAMCET 1994] (a)  (b) /2

(a) Interference (b) Diffraction (c) 2 (d) 4
76. A wave of frequency 500 Hz has velocity 360
(c) Reflection (d) Polarisation
m/sec. The distance between two nearest points
66. Water waves are [EAMCET 1979; AIIMS 2004] 60° out of phase, is
(a) Longitudinal [NCERT 1979; MP PET 1989; JIPMER 1997;
RPMT 2002, 03; CPMT 1979, 90, 2003; BCECE 2005]
(b) Transverse
(a) 0.6 cm (b) 12 cm
(c) Both longitudinal and transverse
(c) 60 cm (d) 120 cm
(d) Neither longitudinal nor transverse 77. The following phenomenon cannot be observed for
67. Sound travels in rocks in the form of sound waves [NCERT 1982; CPMT 1985, 97;
[NCERT 1968] AFMC 2002; RPMT 2003]

(a) Longitudinal elastic waves only (a) Refraction (b) Interference

(b) Transverse elastic waves only (c) Diffraction (d) Polarisation

78. When an aeroplane attains a speed higher than
(c) Both longitudinal and transverse elastic waves
the velocity of sound in air, a loud bang is heard.
(d) Non-elastic waves This is because
68. The waves in which the particles of the medium [NCERT 1972; J & K CET 2002]
vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the (a) It explodes
direction of wave motion is known as (b) It produces a shock wave which is received as
[EAMCT 1981; AIIMS 1998; DPMT 2000] the bang
(a) Transverse wave (b) Longitudinal waves (c) Its wings vibrate so violently that the bang is
heard
(c) Propagated waves (d) None of these
(d) The normal engine noises undergo a Doppler
69. A medium can carry a longitudinal wave because shift to generate the bang
it has the property of [KCET 1994]
79. Ultrasonic waves are those waves [CPMT 1979]
(a) Mass (b) Density
(a) To which man can hear (b) Man can't hear
(c) Compressibility (d) Elasticity
(c) Are of high velocity (d) Of high amplitude
70. Which of the following is the longitudinal wave
80. A big explosion on the moon cannot be heard on
[AFMC 1997] the earth because [CPMT 1972; AFMC 2005]
(a) Sound waves (b) Waves on plucked (a) The explosion produces high frequency sound
string waves which are inaudible
(c) Water waves (d) Light waves (b) Sound waves required a material medium for
propagation
71. The nature of sound waves in gases is
 839 Waves and Sound
(c) Sound waves are absorbed in the moon's (a) Audible wave (b) Infrasonic wave
atmosphere
(c) Ultrasonic wave (d) None of the above
(d) Sound waves are absorbed in the earth's
atmosphere 89. Speed of sound in mercury at a certain
temperature is 1450 m/s. Given the density of
81. Sound waves of wavelength greater than that of
mercury as 13.6  103 kg / m3, the bulk modulus
audible sound are called [KCET 1999]
for mercury is [JIPMER 2000]
(a) Seismic waves (b) Sonic waves
(a) 2.86 1010 N/m3 (b) 3.86 1010 N/m3
(c) Ultrasonic waves (d) Infrasonic waves
(c) 4.86 1010 N/m3 (d) 5.86 1010 N/m3
82. ‘SONAR’ emits which of the following waves
90. A micro-wave and an ultrasonic sound wave have
[AIIMS 1999] the same wavelength. Their frequencies are in the
(a) Radio waves (b) Ultrasonic waves ratio (approximately) [Kerala (Engg.) 2002]

(c) Light waves (d) Magnetic waves (a) 106 : 1 (b) 104 : 1
83. Which of the following do not require medium for (c) 102 : 1 (d) 10 : 1
transmission [RPMT 2000] 91. A point source emits sound equally in all directions
(a) Cathode ray (b) Electromagnetic in a non-absorbing medium, Two points P and Q
wave are at distance of 2m and 3m respectively from
the source. The ratio of the intensities of the
(c) Sound wave (d) None of the above waves at P and Q is [CBSE PMT 2005]
84. Consider the following (a) 9 : 4 (b) 2 : 3
I. Waves created on the surfaces of a water pond (c) 3 : 2 (d) 4 : 9
by a vibrating sources.
92. A wave has velocity u in medium P and velocity 2u
II. Wave created by an oscillating electric field in in medium Q. If the wave is incident in medium P
air. at an angle of 30° then the angle of refraction will
III. Sound waves travelling under water. be [J & K CET 2005]
Which of these can be polarized (a) 30° (b) 45°
[AMU 2001] (c) 60° (d) 90°
(a) I and II (b) II only 93. An observer standing near the sea shore observes
(c) II and III (d) I, II and III 54 waves per minute. If the wavelength of the
85. Mechanical waves on the surface of a liquid are water wave is 10m then the velocity of water wave
is [Kerala (Engg.) 2005]
[SCRA 1996]
(a) 540 ms-1 (b) 5.4 ms-1
(a) Transverse
-1
(c) 0.184 ms (d) 9 ms-1
(b) Longitudinal
94. Ultrasonic signal sent from SONAR returns to it
(c) Torsional
after reflection from a rock after a lapse of 1 sec. If
(d) Both transverse and longitudinal the velocity of ultrasound in water is 1600 ms–1,
86. The ratio of densities of nitrogen and oxygen is the depth of the rock in water is
14:16. The temperature at which the speed of [JIPMER 2000]
sound in nitrogen will be same at that in oxygen at (a) 300 m (b) 400 m
55oC is (c) 500 m (d) 800 m
[EAMCET (Engg.) 1999]
(a) 35°C (b) 48°C Progressive Waves
(c) 65°C (d) 14°C
1. The equation of a wave is
y=2sin π (0 . 5 x−200t )
,
87. The intensity of sound increases at night due to
where x and y are expressed in cm and t in sec.
[CPMT 2000] The wave velocity is
(a) Increase in density of air (b) Decreases in [MP PMT 1986]
density of air (a) 100 cm/sec (b) 200 cm/sec
(c) Low temperature (d) None of these (c) 300 cm/sec (d) 400 cm/sec
88. A wavelength 0.60 cm is produced in air and it 2. Equation of a progressive wave is given by
travels at a speed of 300 ms–1. It will be an
[UPSEAT 2000]
 Waves and Sound 840

( )
π the two waves is [MP PMT 1993; SCRA 1996; CET
y=0. 2 cos π 0 . 04 t +. 02 x− 1998;
6
EAMCET 1991; Orissa JEE 2002]
The distance is expressed in cm and time in
second. What will be the minimum distance
π
between two particles having the phase difference (a) 4 (b) 
of /2
π π
(a) 4 cm (b) 8 cm
(c) 25 cm (d) 12.5 cm (c) 8 (d) 2

3. A travelling wave passes a point of observation. At 9. If amplitude of waves at distance r from a point
this point, the time interval between successive source is A, the amplitude at a distance 2r will be
crests is 0.2 seconds and [MP PMT 1990] [MP PMT 1985]
(a) The wavelength is 5 m (a) 2A (b) A
(b) The frequency is 5 Hz (c) A/2 (d) A/4
(c) The velocity of propagation is 5 m/s 10. The relation between time and displacement for
(d) The wavelength is 0.2 m two particles is given by
4. The equation of a transverse wave is given by y 1 =0 . 06 sin 2 π (0 . 04 t+φ1 ) y 2 =0 . 03 sin2 π (1 .04 t+φ 2 )
,
y=10 sin π (0 . 01 x −2t ) The ratio of the intensity of the waves produced
where x and y are in cm and t is in second. Its by the vibrations of the two particles will be [MP
frequency is PMT 1991]
[MP PET 1990; MNR 1986; RPET 2003] (a) 2 : 1 (b) 1 : 2
(a) 10 sec
−1
(b) 2 sec−1 (c) 4 : 1 (d) 1 : 4
−1 −1 11. A wave is reflected from a rigid support. The
(c) 1 sec (d) 0.01 sec change in phase on reflection will be
5. At a moment in a progressive wave, the phase of a [MP PMT 1990; RPMT 2002]
π
π/4 π/2
particle executing S.H.M. is 3 . Then the phase of (a) (b)
T 2π
(c)  (d)
the particle 15 cm ahead and at the time 2 will
12. A plane wave is represented by
be, if the wavelength is 60 cm
π 2π x=1.2sin(314 t+12.56 y)
(a) 2 (b) 3 Where x and y are distances measured along in x
5π and y direction in meters and t is time in seconds.
This wave has
(c) Zero (d) 6 [MP PET 1991]
6. The equation of a wave travelling on a string is
(a) A wavelength of 0.25 m and travels in + ve x
y=4 sin
π
2(8t−
x
)
8 . If x and y are in cm, then
direction
(b) A wavelength of 0.25 m and travels in + ve y
velocity of wave is [MP PET 1990] direction
(a) 64 cm/sec in – x direction (c) A wavelength of 0.5 m and travels in – ve y
(b) 32 cm/sec in – x direction direction
(c) 32 cm/sec in + x direction (d) A wavelength of 0.5 m and travels in – ve x
(d) 64 cm/sec in + x direction direction
7. The equation of a progressive wave is given by 13. The displacement y (in cm) produced by a simple
y=a sin(628 t−31. 4 x )
If the distances are expressed in cms and time in harmonic wave is
y=
10
π (
sin 2000 πt−
. The
πx
17 )
seconds, then the wave velocity will be periodic time and maximum velocity of the
[DPMT 1999]
particles in the medium will respectively be
(a) 314 cm/sec (b) 628 cm/sec [CPMT 1986]
(c) 20 cm/sec (d) 400 cm/sec −3 −4
(a) 10 sec and 330 m/sec (b)10 sec and 20
y 1 =a sin( ωt−kx ) m/sec
8. Two waves are given by and
y 2 =a cos(ω t−kx)
The phase difference between
 841 Waves and Sound
−3 −2 19. Which one of the following does not represent a
(c) 10 sec and 200 m/sec (d)10 sec and 2000 travelling wave [NCERT 1984]
m/sec
y=sin( x−v t ) y= y m sin k (x +v t )
14. The equation of a wave travelling in a string can (a) (b)
y=3 cos π (100 t−x ) . Its wavelength is 2 2
(d) y=f ( x −v t )
be written as y= y log(x −v t )
m
(c)
[MNR 1985; CPMT 1991; MP PMT 1994, 97; Pb. PET 20. A wave represented by the given equation
2004]
(a) 100 cm (b) 2 cm (
Y = A sin 10 π x+15 π t +
π
)
3 , where x is in meter and
(c) 5 cm (d) None of the above
t is in second. The expression represents [IIT 1990]
15. A transverse wave is described by the equation (a) A wave travelling in the positive X direction
Y =Y 0 sin 2 π ft − ( xλ )
. The maximum particle
with a velocity of 1.5 m/sec
(b) A wave travelling in the negative X direction
with a velocity of 1.5 m/sec
velocity is four times the wave velocity if
(c) A wave travelling in the negative X direction
with a wavelength of 0.2 m
[IIT 1984; MP PMT 1997; EAMCET; 1998;
(d) A wave travelling in the positive X direction
CBSE PMT 2000; AFMC 2000; MP PMT/PET 1998; 01; with a wavelength of 0.2 m
KCET 1999, 04; Pb. PET 2001; DPMT 2005] 21. A plane wave is described by the equation

(a)
λ=
πY 0
4 (b)
λ=
πY 0
2
y=3 cos ( 4x −10 t− π2 )
. The maximum velocity of
the particles of the medium due to this wave is [MP
λ=πY 0 λ=2 πY 0 PMT 1994]
(c) (d)
3π
16. A wave equation which gives the displacement
along the Y direction is given by the equation (a) 30 (b) 2
4 (c) 3/4 (d) 40
y=10 sin (60 t+2 x ) ,
where x and y are in metres 22. The path difference between the two waves

( ) ( )
and t is time in seconds. This represents a wave 2 πx 2 πx
y 1 =a1 sin ωt − y 2 =a2 cos ωt− +φ
[MNR 1983; IIT 1982; RPMT 1998; MP PET λ and λ is
2001]
[MP PMT 1994]
(a) Travelling with a velocity of 30 m/sec in the
negative X direction
(b) Of wavelength  metre (a) π
2
λ
φ
(b)
λ
2π
φ+
π
2 ( )
( )
(c) Of frequency 30/ Hz 2π π 2π
φ− φ
4 λ 2 (d) λ
(d) Of amplitude 10 metre travelling along the (c)
negative X direction 23. Wave equations of two particles are given by
17. A transverse wave of amplitude 0.5 m and y 1 =a sin( ω t−kx) y 2 =a sin( kx+ω t )
, , then [BHU
wavelength 1 m and frequency 2 Hz is
1995]
propagating in a string in the negative x-direction.
The expression for this wave is (a) They are moving in opposite direction
[AIIMS 1980] (b) Phase between them is 90°
y( x , t )=0.5sin (2πx−4πt ) (c) Phase between them is 180°
(a)
(d) Phase between them is 0°
(b)
y( x , t )=0.5cos(2πx+4πt ) 24. A wave is represented by the equation
y( x , t )=0.5sin (πx−2 πt ) y=0. 5 sin(10 t−x )m . It is a travelling wave
(c)
propagating along the + x direction with velocity
(d)
y( x , t )=0.5cos(2πx+2πt ) [Roorkee 1995]

18. The displacement of a particle is given by (a) 10 m/s (b) 20 m/s

−4
y=5×10 sin(100 t−50 x) , (c) 5 m/s (d) None of these
where x is in meter and t
25. A wave is represented by the equation
in sec, find out the velocity of the wave [CPMT

( )
1982] π
y=7 sin 7 πt−0 .04 xπ +
(a) 5000 m/sec (b) 2 m/sec 3
(c) 0.5 m/sec (d) 300 m/sec
 Waves and Sound 842
x is in metres and t is in seconds. The speed of the vibrations of two such particles
wave is [SCRA 1994]
[MP PET 1996; AMU (Engg.) 1999] (a) Varies with time
(a) 175 m/sec (b) 49 m/sec (b) Varies with distance separating them
(c) 49 m/sec (d) 0.28 m/sec (c) Varies with time as well as distance
26. The equation of a transverse wave travelling on a (d) Is always zero
y=10 sin π (0 . 01 x−2. 00 t ) where y
rope is given by
and x are in cm and t in seconds. The maximum
transverse speed of a particle in the rope is about 32. A wave is given by
y=3 sin 2 π ( 0 .04t − 0 .01x )
, where
y is in cm. Frequency of wave and maximum
[MP PET 1999; AIIMS
2000] acceleration of particle will be
[RPET 1997]
(a) 63 cm/s (b) 75 cm/s
(c) 100 cm/s (d) 121 cm/s (a) 100 Hz , 4 .7×103 cm/s 2 (b) 50 Hz, 7.5×103 cm/s 2
27. As a wave propagates [IIT-JEE 1999]
(c)
25 Hz, 4.7×10 4 cm/ s2
(d)
25 Hz, 7.4×10 4 cm/ s2
(a) The wave intensity remains constant for a
plane wave 33. Equation of a progressive wave is given by
(b) The wave intensity decreases as the inverse of
the distance from the source for a spherical
wave
{( ) }
y=4 sin π
t x π
− +
5 9 6

(c) The wave intensity decreases as the inverse Then which of the following is correct [CBSE PMT
square of the distance from the source for a 1993]
spherical wave
(a)
v=5 m /sec (b)
λ=18 m
(d) Total intensity of the spherical wave over the
spherical surface centered at the source (c)
a=0.04 m (d)
n=50 Hz
remains constant at all times
34. With the propagation of a longitudinal wave
28. A transverse wave is represented by the equation through a material medium, the quantities
2π transmitted in the propagation direction are [CBSE
y= y 0 sin (vt−x ) PMT 1992; Roorkee 2000]
λ
(a) Energy, momentum and mass
For what value of , the maximum particle velocity (b) Energy
equal to two times the wave velocity
(c) Energy and mass
[CBSE PMT 1998; JIPMER 2001, 02; AFMC 2002]
(d) Energy and linear momentum
λ=2 πy 0 λ=πy 0 / 3 35. The frequency of the sinusoidal wave
(a) (b)
λ=πy 0 / 2 λ=πy 0
y=0.40 cos[ 2000 t+0.80 x ] would be [CBSE PMT
(c) (d) 1992]
29. A travelling wave in a stretched string is described (a) 1000  Hz (b) 2000 Hz
by the equation
y= A sin (kx−ωt ) . The maximum 1000
Hz
(d) π
particle velocity is
(c) 20 Hz
[IIT 1997 Re-Exam; UPSEAT 2004]
36. Which of the following equations represents a
(a) A (b) /k wave
(c) d/dk (d) x/t [CBSE PMT 1994; JIPMER 2000]

30. A wave travels in a medium according to the (a)

Y = A (ω t−kx) (b)
Y = A sin ω t
equation of displacement given by
(c) Y = A cos kx (d)
Y = A sin(at−bx +c )
y( x , t )=0.03sin π(2t−0.01x)
37. The equation of a transverse wave is given by
where y and x are in metres and t in seconds. The
wavelength of the wave is [EAMCET 1994; CPMT y=100 sin π(0.04 z−2t )
2004]
where y and z are in cm ant t is in seconds. The
(a) 200 m (b) 100 m frequency of the wave in Hz is
(c) 20 m (d) 10 m [SCRA 1998]

31. The particles of a medium vibrate about their (a) 1 (b) 2

mean positions whenever a wave travels through (c) 25 (d) 100
that medium. The phase difference between the
 843 Waves and Sound
38. The equation of a plane progressive wave is given 45. Progressive wave of sound is represented by

by
y=0. 025 sin(100 t +0 .25 x ) . The frequency of this y=asin[ 400 π t−πx/6.85 ] where x is in m and t is
wave would be [CPMT 1993; JIPMER 2001, 02] in sec. Frequency of the wave will be [RPMT 1999]
(a) 200 Hz (b) 400 Hz
50 100
Hz Hz (c) 500 Hz (d) 600 Hz
(a) π (b) π
46. Two waves of frequencies 20 Hz and 30 Hz.
(c) 100 Hz (d) 50 Hz Travels out from a common point. The phase
39. The equation of a sound wave is difference between them after 0.6 sec is
[JIPMER 1999]
y=0.0015sin(62 .4 x+316 t )
π
The wavelength of this wave is
[CBSE PMT 1996; AFMC 2002; AIIMS 2002] (a) Zero (b) 2
(a) 0.2 unit (b) 0.1 unit 3π
(c) 0.3 unit (d) Cannot be calculated (c) π (d) 4
40. In the given progressive wave equation, what is 47. The phase difference between two points
the maximum velocity of particle separated by 0.8 m in a wave of frequency 120 Hz
Y =0. 5 sin(10 πt−5 x ) cm o
is 90 . Then the velocity of wave will be
[BHU 1997] [MH CET 1999]
(a) 5 cm/s (b) 5 cm/s (a) 192 m/s (b) 360 m/s
(c) 10 cm/s (d) 10.5 cm/s (c) 710 m/s (d) 384 m/s
41. A pulse or a wave train travels along a stretched 48. The equation of progressive wave is
string and reaches the fixed end of the string. It
will be reflected back with
[CBSE PMT 1997]
y=0. 2 sin 2 π
[ t
−
x
0 .01 0 . 3 ] , where x and y are in
(a) The same phase as the incident pulse but with
metre and t is in second. The velocity of
velocity reversed
propagation of the wave is
(b) A phase change of 180° with no reversal of [KCET 2000]
velocity
(a) 30 m/s (b) 40 m/s
(c) The same phase as the incident pulse with no
(c) 300 m/s (d) 400 m/s
reversal of velocity
49. If the equation of transverse wave is
(d) A phase change of 180° with velocity reversed
42. The equation of a travelling wave is
y=60 cos(1800 t−6 x )
y=5 sin 2 π
[ t
−
x
]
0 . 04 40 , where distance is in cm and
time in second, then the wavelength of the wave
where y is in microns, t in seconds and x in is
metres. The ratio of maximum particle velocity to [MH CET 2000; DPMT 2003]
velocity of wave propagation is [CBSE PMT 1997; (a) 60 cm (b) 40 cm
JIPMER 2001, 02]
−11 −6
(c) 35 cm (d) 25 cm
(a) 3 . 6×10 (b) 3 . 6×10 50. A wave is represented by the equation :
−4 y=a sin(0 . 01 x−2 t ) where a and x are in cm.
(c) 3 . 6×10 (d) 3.6
velocity of propagation of wave is
43. The wave equation is
y=0. 30 sin(314 t−1 . 57 x )
[EAMCET 1994; AIIMS 2000; Pb. PMT 2003]
where t, x and y are in second, meter and
(a) 10 cm/s (b) 50 cm/s
centimeter respectively. The speed of the wave is
[CPMT 1997; AFMC 1999; CPMT 2001] (c) 100 cm/s (d) 200 cm/s
(a) 100 m/s (b) 200 m/s 51. A simple harmonic progressive wave is represented by
(c) 300 m/s (d) 400 m/s the equation :
y=8 sin2 π (0 . 1 x−2 t ) where x and y
44. Equation of the progressive wave is given by : are in cm and t is in seconds. At any instant the
y=a sin π (40 t−x )
where a and x are in metre and phase difference between two particles separated
t in second. The velocity of the wave is by 2.0 cm in the x-direction is
[KCET
1999] [MP PMT 2000]

(a) 80 m/s (b) 10 m/s (a) 18o (b) 36o

(c) 40 m/s (d) 20 m/s (c) 54o (d) 72o

 Waves and Sound 844
52. The intensity of a progressing plane wave in loss- 58. The equation of a wave is represented by

[ ]
free medium is [Roorkee 2000] x
(a) Directly proportional to the square of y=10−4 sin 100 t− .
10
amplitude of the wave The velocity of the wave will
(b) Directly proportional to the velocity of the be
wave [CBSE PMT 2001]
(c) Directly proportional to the square of (a) 100 m/s (b) 250 m/s
frequency of the wave
(c) 750 m/s (d) 1000 m/s
(d) Inversely proportional to the density of the
medium 59. A wave travelling in positive X-direction with
53. The equation of progressive wave is A=0 .2 m has a velocity of 360 m/sec. if λ=60 m ,
y=a sin(200 t−x) . where x is in meter and t is in then correct expression for the wave is [CBSE PMT
second. The velocity of wave is 2002; KCET 2003]

[ ( )] [ ( )]
[RPMT 2000]
x x
(a) 200 m/sec (b) 100 m/sec y=0. 2 sin 2 π 6 t+ y=0. 2 sin π 6 t +
60 60
(c) 50 m/sec (d) None of these (a) (b)

[ ( )] [ ( )]
54. A wave is represented by the equation
x x
y=7 sin{π (2 t−2 x )} where x is in metres and t in y=0. 2 sin 2 π 6 t− y=0. 2 sin π 6 t−
60 60
seconds. The velocity of the wave is (c) (d)
[CPMT 2000; CBSE PMT 2000; Pb. PET 2000]
60. The equation of a wave motion (with t in seconds
(a) 1 m/s (b) 2 m/s x
and in metres) is given by
(c) 5 m/s (d) 10 m/s
55. The equation of a longitudinal wave is represented

as
y=20cos π (50t−x ) . Its wavelength is
[
y=7 sin 7 πt−0. 4 πx+
π
3 ] . The velocity of the wave
will be
[UPSEAT 2001; Orissa PMT 2004]
[BHU 2002]
(a) 5 cm (b) 2 cm
(a) 17.5 m/s (b)
49 π m/s
(c) 50 cm (d) 20 cm
56. A wave equation which gives the displacement 49 2π
m/s m/s
along y-direction is given by
y=0. 001 sin(100 t+ x ) (c) 2 π (d) 49
where x and y are in meterand t is time in second. 61. Two waves represented by the following equations
This represented a wave are travelling in the same medium
[UPSEAT 2001] y 1 =5 sin 2 π (75 t−0 . 25 x ) y 2 =10 sin 2 π (150 t−0 . 50 x )
,
100 I 1/ I 2
The intensity ratio of the two waves is
(a) Of frequency π Hz
[UPSEAT 2002]
(b) Of wavelength one metre
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 1 : 4
50 (c) 1 : 8 (d) 1 : 16
(c) Travelling with a velocity of π ms–1 in the 62. The equation of a progressive wave is

[( ) ]
positive X-direction
t x π
(d) Travelling with a velocity of 100 ms–1 in the y=8 sin π − +
10 4 3
negative X-direction . The wavelength of the
wave is

57. A transverse wave is given by

y= A sin 2 π
.
( Tt − xλ ) (a) 8 m (b) 4 m
[MH CET 2002]

The maximum particle velocity is equal to 4 times

(c) 2 m (d) 10 m
the wave velocity when [MP PMT 2001]
63. Which of the following is not true for this
1
(a)
λ=2 πA (b)
λ= πA
2
progressive wave
y=4 sin 2 π ( 0.t02 −100x ) where y
1
λ= πA and x are in cm & t in sec
(c) λ=πA (d) 4 [CPMT 2003]
(a) Its amplitude is 4 cm
 845 Waves and Sound
(b) Its wavelength is 100 cm 2π
y=0. 08 sin (200 t−x )
(c) Its frequency is 50 cycles/sec 69. If the wave equation λ then
3 the velocity of the wave will be
(d) Its propagation velocity is 50×10 cm/sec [BCECE 2004]
64. The equation of a wave is given as
(a) 400 √2 (b) 200 √ 2
y=0. 07 sin (12 πx−3000 πt ) . Where x is in metre and
(c) 400 (d) 200
t in sec, then the correct statement is
70. The phase difference between two points
[UPSEAT 2003]
separated by 0.8 m in a wave of frequency is 120
λ=1/6 m , v=250 m/ s a=0.07m, v=300m/s π
(a) (b) .
Hz is 2 The velocity of wave is
(c)
n=1500, v=200 m/ s (d) None [Pb. PET 2000]

65. The equation of the propagating wave is (a) 720 m/s (b) 384 m/s

y=25sin (20 t+5 x ), where y is displacement. Which (c) 250 m/s (d) 1 m/s
71. A plane progressive wave is represented by the
of the following statement is not true
equation
[MP PET 2003]

(a) The amplitude of the wave is 25 units

x-
(
y=0. 1 sin 200 πt−
20 πx
17 )
where y is displacement in
(b) The wave is propagating in positive
m, t in second and x is distance from a fixed origin
direction
in meter. The frequency, wavelength and speed of
(c) The velocity of the wave is 4 units the wave respectively are
(d) The maximum velocity of the particles is 500 [Pb. PET 2001]
units (a) 100 Hz, 1.7 m, 170 m/s (b) 150 Hz, 2.4 m,
66. In a plane progressive wave given by 200 m/s
y=25cos(2 πt−πx) , the amplitude and frequency (c) 80 Hz, 1.1 m, 90 m/s (d) 120 Hz, 1.25 m, 207
m/s
are respectively
[BCECE 2003]
72. The equation of a travelling wave is given by

(a) 25,100 (b) 25, 1 y=0. 5 sin(20 x−400 t ) where x and y are in meter
50 π , and t is in second. The velocity of the wave is
(c) 25, 2 (d) 2 [UPSEAT 2004]

67. The displacement y of a wave travelling in the x- (a) 10 m/s (b) 20 m/s

direction is given by
(
y=10−4 sin 600 t−2 x +
π
3 ) 73.
(c) 200 m/s (d) 400 m/s
A transverse progressive wave on a stretched
−1
metres, where x is expressed in metres and t in
–1 string has a velocity of 10 ms and a frequency of
seconds. The speed of the wave-motion, in ms , is
100 Hz. The phase difference between two
[AIEEE 2003]
particles of the string which are 2.5 cm apart will
(a) 200 (b) 300 be [MP PMT 1994]
(c) 600 (d) 1200 π π
68. The displacement y of a particle in a medium can (a) 8 (b) 4
be expressed as:
y=10−6 sin(100 t +20 x+π /4 )m , 3π π
(c) 8 (d) 2
where t is in second and x in meter. The speed of
wave is
74. A transverse sinusoidal wave of amplitude a,
[AIEEE 2004]
wavelength  and frequency n is travelling on a
(a) 2000 m/s (b) 5 m/s stretched string. The maximum speed of any point
(d) 5 π m/ s
on the string is v/10, where v is the speed of
(c) 20 m/s
propagation of the wave. If a=10−3 m and
−1
v=10 ms , then  and n are given by [IIT 1998]
 Waves and Sound 846

(a)
λ=2π×10−2 m (b)
λ=10−3 m Interference and Superposition of Waves
3
10 1. There is a destructive interference between the
n= Hz
(c) 2π (d) n=104 Hz two waves of wavelength  coming from two
different paths at a point. To get maximum sound
75. When a longitudinal wave propagates through a
or constructive interference at that point, the path
medium, the particles of the medium execute
of one wave is to be increased by
simple harmonic oscillations about their mean
positions. These oscillations of a particle are [MP PET 1985]
characterised by an invariant λ λ
(a) 4 (b) 2
[SCRA 1998]
(a) Kinetic energy
3λ
(b) Potential energy
(c) 4 (d)
λ
(c) Sum of kinetic energy and potential energy
(d) Difference between kinetic energy and 2. When two sound waves with a phase difference of
potential energy π / 2 , and each having amplitude A and frequency
76. Equation of a progressive wave is given by ω , are superimposed on each other, then the
t x
y=a sin π − ,
[ ]
2 4 where t is in seconds and x is in
maximum amplitude and frequency of resultant
wave is [MP PMT 1989]

meters. The distance through which the wave A ω A

: :ω
(a) √ 2 (b) √ 2
moves in 8 sec is (in meter) 2
[KCET 1998]
(a) 8 (b) 16 ω
√2 A :
(c) 2 (d) 4 (c) 2 (d) √ 2 A :ω
77. The phase difference between two waves
represented by 3. If the phase difference between the two wave is
−6 2 during superposition, then the resultant
y 1 =10 sin [100 t +( x /50 )+0. 5 ]m amplitude is
y 2 =10−6 cos [100 t+( x /50)]m [DPMT 2001]
where x is expressed in metres and t is expressed (a) Maximum (b) Minimum
in seconds, is approximately [CBSE PMT 2004]
(c) Maximum or minimum (d) None of the above
(a) 1.5 rad (b) 1.07 rad
4. The superposition takes place between two waves
(c) 2.07 rad (d) 0.5 rad
of frequency f and amplitude a. The total intensity
78. Equation of motion in the same direction are given is directly proportional to [MP PMT 1986]
by
(a) a (b) 2a
y 1 =2 a sin(ωt−kx) y =2 a sin(ωt−kx−θ )
and 2 2 2
The amplitude of the medium particle will be (c) 2 a (d) 4 a
[CPMT 2004] 5. If two waves of same frequency and same
amplitude respectively, on superimposition
(a) 2 a cos θ (b) √ 2a cosθ produced a resultant disturbance of the same
amplitude, the waves differ in phase by
(c) 4 a cosθ /2 (d) √ 2 a cosθ/2 [MP PMT 1990; MP PET 2000]
79. A particle on the trough of a wave at any instant
will come to the mean position after a time (T = (a)  (b) 2 π / 3
time period) π/2
(c) (d) Zero
[KCET 2005]
6. Two sources of sound A and B produces the wave
(a) T / 2 (b) T / 4 of 350 Hz, they vibrate in the same phase. The
particle P is vibrating under the influence of these
(c) T (d) 2 T two waves, if the amplitudes at the point P
80. If the equation of transverse wave is produced by the two waves is 0.3 mm and 0.4
Y =2sin (kx−2 t ), then the maximum particle
mm, then the resultant amplitude of the point P
velocity is [Orissa JEE 2005] will be when AP – BP = 25 cm and the velocity of
sound is 350 m/sec
(a) 4 units (b) 2 units
(a) 0.7 mm (b) 0.1 mm
(c) 0 (d) 6 units
 847 Waves and Sound
(c) 0.2 mm (d) 0.5 mm (a) 1 : 16 (b) 1 : 4
7. Two waves are propagating to the point P along a (c) 4 : 1 (d) 2 : 1
straight line produced by two sources A and B of
13. Out of the given four waves (1), (2), (3) and (4)
simple harmonic and of equal frequency. The
amplitude of every wave at P is ‘a’ and the phase y=a sin(kx+ωt ) ......(1)
π
y=a sin(ωt−kx) ......(2)
of A is ahead by 3 than that of B and the distance
AP is greater than BP by 50 cm. Then the resultant y=a cos( kx+ωt ) ......(3)
amplitude at the point P will be, if the wavelength
is 1 meter y=a cos( ωt−kx ) ......(4)
[BVP 2003] S ,S ,S S
emitted by four different sources 1 2 3 and 4
(a) 2a (b) a √3 respectively, interference phenomena would be
observed in space under appropriate conditions
(c) a √2 (d) a
when [CPMT 1988]

8. Coherent sources are characterized by the same S1 S2

(a) Source emits wave (1) and emits wave
[KCET 1993] (2)
(a) Phase and phase velocity S3 S4
(b) Source emits wave (3) and emits wave
(b) Wavelength, amplitude and phase velocity (4)
(c) Wavelength, amplitude and frequency S2 S4
(d) Wavelength and phase (c) Source emits wave (2) and emits wave
(4)
9. The minimum intensity of sound is zero at a point
due to two sources of nearly equal frequencies, S4 S3
(d) emits waves (4) and emits waves (3)
when
14. Two waves of same frequency and intensity
(a) Two sources are vibrating in opposite phase superimpose with each other in opposite phases,
(b) The amplitude of two sources are equal then after superposition the
[AFMC 1995]
(c) At the point of observation, the amplitudes of
two S.H.M. produced by two sources are equal (a) Intensity increases by 4 times
and both the S.H.M. are along the same (b) Intensity increases by two times
straight line
(c) Frequency increases by 4 times
(d) Both the sources are in the same phase
(d) None of these
10. Two sound waves (expressed in CGS units) given
15. The superposing waves are represented by the
2π 2π following equations :
y 1 =0 .3 sin (vt−x ) y 2 =0 . 4 sin (vt−x +θ )
by λ and λ
y 1 =5 sin 2 π (10 t−0 . 1 x ) y 2 =10 sin 2 π (20 t−0 . 2 x )
,
interfere. The resultant amplitude at a place where
I max
phase difference is
π / 2 will be
I min
[MP PET 1991] Ratio of intensities will be
[AIIMS 1995; KCET 2001]
(a) 0.7 cm (b) 0.1 cm
(a) 1 (b) 9
1 (c) 4 (d) 16
√ 7 cm
(c) 0.5 cm (d) 10 16. The displacement of a particle is given by

11. If two waves having amplitudes 2A and A and x=3sin(5 π t )+4 cos(5 π t )
same frequency and velocity, propagate in the The amplitude of the particle is
same direction in the same phase, the resulting [MP PMT 1999]
amplitude will be (a) 3 (b) 4
[MP PET 1991; DPMT 1999] (c) 5 (d) 7
17. Two waves
(a) 3A (b) √5 A y 1 =A 1 sin( ωt−β 1 ) y 2 = A2 sin (ωt−β 2 )
,

(c) √2 A (d) A
Superimpose to form a resultant wave whose
amplitude is
12. The intensity ratio of two waves is 1 : 16. The ratio [CPMT 1999]
of their amplitudes is [EAMCET 1983]
 Waves and Sound 848

√ A 21 + A 22 +2 A 1 A2 cos( β 1 −β2 )
[RPMT 1996]
(a)
√2 a
(b) √ 1
(a) a (b)
A 2 + A 22 +2 A 1 A2 sin( β 1−β 2 )
A1 + A 2 (c) √3 a (d) 2a
(c)
25. The amplitude of a wave represented by
|A + A |
(d) 1 2 1 1
y= sin ωt± cos ωt
18. If the ratio of amplitude of wave is 2 : 1, then the
displacement equation √a √b
ratio of maximum and minimum intensity is [MH
CET 1999] will be
[BVP 2003]
(a) 9 : 1 (b) 1 : 9
(c) 4 : 1 (d) 1 : 4 a+b √ a+ √ b
19. The two interfering waves have intensities in the (a) ab (b) ab
ratio 9 : 4. The ratio of intensities of maxima and
minima in the interference pattern will be

(a) 1 : 25
[AMU 2000]
(b) 25 : 1
(c)
√ a± √b
ab (d) √ a+b
ab
26. Two waves having equations
(c) 9 : 4 (d) 4 : 9
20. If the ratio of amplitude of two waves is 4 : 3. Then
x 1=a sin(ω t +φ 1 ) x 2 =a sin (ω t+φ2 )
,
the ratio of maximum and minimum intensity will
If in the resultant wave the frequency and
be
amplitude remain equal to those of superimposing
[MHCET 2000] waves. Then phase difference between them is
(a) 16 : 18 (b) 18 : 16 [CBSE PMT 2001]
(c) 49 : 1 (d) 1 : 49 π 2π
21. Equation of motion in the same direction is given by (a) 6 (b) 3
y 1 =A sin(ωt−kx) 2 y = A sin(ωt −kx−θ )
, . The π π
amplitude of the medium particle will be
[BHU 2003] (c) 4 (d) 3

θ
2 A cos Beats
(a) 2 (b) 2 A cosθ
θ 1. Two tuning forks when sounded together produced
√ 2 A cos 1.2f , 1.2 λ 4 beats/sec. The frequency of one fork is 256. The
(c) 2 (d) number of beats heard increases when the fork of
22. Two waves having the intensities in the ratio of 9 : frequency 256 is loaded with wax. The frequency
1 produce interference. The ratio of maximum to of the other fork is
the minimum intensity, is equal to
[CPMT 1976; MP PMT 1993]

[CPMT 2001; Pb. PET 2004] (a) 504 (b) 520

(a) 2 : 1 (b) 4 : 1 (c) 260 (d) 252

(c) 9 : 1 (d) 10 : 8 2. Beats are the result of

[CPMT 1971; J & K CET 2002]
23. The displacement of the interfering light waves

( )
π (a) Diffraction
y 2 =3 sin ω t+
y 1 =4 sin ω t 2 (b) Destructive interference
are and . What is the
amplitude of the resultant wave (c) Constructive and destructive interference
[RPMT 1996; Orissa JEE 2005] (d) Superposition of two waves of nearly equal
(a) 5 (b) 7 frequency
(c) 1 (d) 0 3. Two adjacent piano keys are struck
simultaneously. The notes emitted by them have

24. Two waves are represented by

(
y 1 =a sin ω t+
π
6 ) n
frequencies 1 and
n2
. The number of beats heard
per second is
2 y =a cos ω t
and . What will be their resultant [CPMT 1974, 78; CBSE PMT 1993]
amplitude
 849 Waves and Sound
1 1 (c) 343 (d) 347
(n 1−n 2 ) (n 1 +n2 )
(a) 2 (b) 2 10. Two tuning forks of frequencies 256 and 258
vibrations/sec are sounded together, then time
n1 ~n 2 2 (n 1−n 2 ) interval between consecutive maxima heard by
(c) (d) the observer is
4. A tuning fork of frequency 100 when sounded [MP PET/PMT 1988]
together with another tuning fork of unknown (a) 2 sec (b) 0.5 sec
frequency produces 2 beats per second. On
(c) 250 sec (d) 252 sec
loading the tuning fork whose frequency is not
11. A tuning fork gives 5 beats with another tuning
known and sounded together with a tuning fork of
fork of frequency 100 Hz. When the first tuning
frequency 100 produces one beat, then the
fork is loaded with wax, then the number of beats
frequency of the other tuning fork is
remains unchanged, then what will be the
[NCERT 1977]
frequency of the first tuning fork
(a) 102 (b) 98
[MP PMT 1985]
(c) 99 (d) 101 (a) 95 Hz (b) 100 Hz
5. A tuning fork sounded together with a tuning fork (c) 105 Hz (d) 110 Hz
of frequency 256 emits two beats. On loading the
tuning fork of frequency 256, the number of beats
F
12. Tuning fork 1 has a frequency of 256 Hz and it is
heard are 1 per second. The frequency of tuning observed to produce 6 beats/second with another
fork is F2 F2
tuning fork . When is loaded with wax, it still
[NCERT 1975, 81; MP PET 1985] F1
(a) 257 (b) 258 produces 6 beats/second with . The frequency of
F2
(c) 256 (d) 254 before loading was
[MP PET 1990]
6. If two tuning forks A and B are sounded together,
they produce 4 beats per second. A is then slightly (a) 253 Hz (b) 262 Hz
loaded with wax, they produce 2 beats when (c) 250 Hz (d) 259 Hz
sounded again. The frequency of A is 256. The 13. A tuning fork and a sonometer wire were sounded
frequency of B will be together and produce 4 beats per second. When
[CPMT 1976; RPET 1998] the length of sonometer wire is 95 cm or 100 cm,
the frequency of the tuning fork is
(a) 250 (b) 252 [MP PMT 1990]
(c) 260 (d) 262 (a) 156 Hz (b) 152 Hz
7. The frequencies of two sound sources are 256 Hz (c) 148 Hz (d) 160 Hz
and 260 Hz. At t = 0, the intensity of sound is 14. Two tuning forks A and B vibrating simultaneously
maximum. Then the phase difference at the time t produce 5 beats. Frequency of B is 512. It is seen
= 1/16 sec will be that if one arm of A is filed, then the number of
(a) Zero (b)  beats increases. Frequency of A will be
[MP PMT 1991]
(c) /2 (d) /4
(a) 502 (b) 507
8. Two tuning forks have frequencies 450 Hz and 454 (c) 517 (d) 522
Hz respectively. On sounding these forks together,
the time interval between successive maximum 15. The beats are produced by two sound sources of
intensities will be same amplitude and of nearly equal frequencies.
The maximum intensity of beats will be ...... that of
[MP PET 1989; MP PMT 2003]
one source
(a) 1/4 sec (b) 1/2 sec [CPMT 1999]
(c) 1 sec (d) 2 sec (a) Same (b) Double
9. When a tuning fork of frequency 341 is sounded (c) Four times (d) Eight times
with another tuning fork, six beats per second are 16. Beats are produced by two waves given by
heard. When the second tuning fork is loaded with y 1 =a sin 2000 πt y =a sin 2008 πt
wax and sounded with the first tuning fork, the and 2 . The number
number of beats is two per second. The natural of beats heard per second is [CPMT 1990; DCE
frequency of the second tuning fork is 1999]

[MP PET 1989]

(a) Zero (b) One
(c) Four (d) Eight
(a) 334 (b) 339
 Waves and Sound 850
17. A tuning fork whose frequency as given by 23. A tuning fork A of frequency 200 Hz is sounded
manufacturer is 512 Hz is being tested with an with fork B, the number of beats per second is 5.
accurate oscillator. It is found that the fork By putting some wax on A, the number of beats
produces a beat of 2 Hz when oscillator reads 514 increases to 8. The frequency of fork B is
Hz but produces a beat of 6 Hz when oscillator [MP PMT 1996]
reads 510 Hz. The actual frequency of fork is
[MNR 1979; RPMT 1999]
(a) 200 Hz (b) 195 Hz

(a) 508 Hz (b) 512 Hz (c) 192 Hz (d) 205 Hz

(c) 516 Hz (d) 518 Hz 24. Two tuning forks, A and B, give 4 beats per second
when sounded together. The frequency of A is 320
18. A tuning fork of frequency 480 Hz produces 10
Hz. When some wax is added to B and it is
beats per second when sounded with a vibrating
sounded with A, 4 beats per second are again
sonometer string. What must have been the
heard. The frequency of B is
frequency of the string if a slight increase in
tension produces lesser beats per second than [MP PMT 1997]
before [NCERT 1984] (a) 312 Hz (b) 316 Hz
(a) 460 Hz (b) 470 Hz (c) 324 Hz (d) 328 Hz
(c) 480 Hz (d) 490 Hz 25. Two tuning forks have frequencies 380 and 384 Hz
respectively. When they are sounded together,
19. When a tuning fork A of unknown frequency is
they produce 4 beats. After hearing the maximum
sounded with another tuning fork B of frequency
sound, how long will it take to hear the minimum
256 Hz, then 3 beats per second are observed.
sound
After that A is loaded with wax and sounded, the
again 3 beats per second are observed. The [MP PMT/PET 1998]
frequency of the tuning fork A is 1 1
(a) 2 sec (b) 4 sec
[MP PMT 1994]
(a) 250 Hz (b) 253 Hz
1 1
(c) 259 Hz (d) 262 Hz
20. A source of sound gives five beats per second (c) 8 sec (d) 16 sec
when sounded with another source of frequency 26. Beats are produced with the help of two sound
100 s−1 . The second harmonic of the source
waves of amplitudes 3 and 5 units. The ratio of
maximum to minimum intensity in the beats is
−1
together with a source of frequency 205 s gives [MP PMT 1999]
five beats per second. What is the frequency of (a) 2 : 1 (b) 5 : 3
the source [CBSE PMT 1995]
(c) 4 : 1 (d) 16 : 1
−1 −1
(a) 105 s (b) 205 s 27. Two waves of lengths 50 cm and 51 cm produced
12 beats per second. The velocity of sound is
(c) 95 s−1 (d) 100 s−1 [CBSE PMT 1999; Pb. PET 2001; AFMC 2003]
21. When two sound waves are superimposed, beats (a) 306 m/s (b) 331 m/s
are produced when they have
(c) 340 m/s (d) 360 m/s
[MP PET 1995;
CBSE PMT 1992, 99; DCE 2000; DPMT 2000, 01]
28. Two waves
y=0.25sin 316 t
and
y=0.25sin 310 t
are
(a) Different amplitudes and phases travelling in same direction. The number of beats
produced per second will be
(b) Different velocities
[CPMT 1993; JIPMER 2000]
(c) Different phases
(a) 6 (b) 3
(d) Different frequencies
(c) 3/ (d) 3
22. Two tuning forks A and B give 4 beats per second.
29. The couple of tuning forks produces 2 beats in the
The frequency of A is 256 Hz. On loading B time interval of 0.4 seconds. So the beat
slightly, we get 5 beats in 2 seconds. The frequency is
frequency of B after loading is
[CPMT 1996]
[Haryana CEE 1996]
(a) 8 Hz (b) 5 Hz
(a) 253.5 Hz (b) 258.5 Hz (c) 2 Hz (d) 10 Hz
(c) 260 Hz (d) 252 Hz 30. An unknown frequency x produces 8 beats per
seconds with a frequency of 250 Hz and 12 beats
 851 Waves and Sound
with 270 Hz source, then x is 38. Two sound waves of wavelengths 5m and 6m
[CPMT 1997; KCET 2000] formed 30 beats in 3 seconds. The velocity of
(a) 258 Hz (b) 242 Hz sound is
(c) 262 Hz (d) 282 Hz [EAMCET 2001]
–1
31. Beats are produced by two waves (a) 300 ms (b) 310 ms–1

y 1 =a sin 1000 πt , y 2 =a sin 998 πt (c) 320 ms–1 (d) 330 ms–1
39. The wavelength of a particle is 99 cm and that of
The number of beats heard/sec is other is 100 cm. Speed of sound is 396 m/s. The
[KCET 1998]
number of beats heard is
(a) 0 (b) 2 [DCE 2001]
(c) 1 (d) 4 (a) 4 (b) 5
32. The wavelengths of two waves are 50 and 51 cm (c) 1 (d) 8
respectively. If the temperature of the room is 40. A tuning fork arrangement (pair) produces 4
20oC, then what will be the number of beats beats/sec with one fork of frequency 288 cps. A
produced per second by these waves, when the little wax is placed on the unknown fork and it
speed of sound at 0oC is 332 m/sec then produces 2 beats/sec. The frequency of the
[UPSEAT 1999] unknown fork is
(a) 14 (b) 10 [KCET 1998; AIEEE 2002]
(c) 24 (d) None of these (a) 286 cps (b) 292 cps
33. Maximum number of beats frequency heard by a (c) 294 cps (d) 288 cps
human being is [RPMT 2000]
41. A tuning fork vibrates with 2 beats in 0.04 second.
(a) 10 (b) 4 The frequency of the fork is [AFMC 2003]
(c) 20 (d) 6 (a) 50 Hz (b) 100 Hz
34. Two sound waves of slightly different frequencies
(c) 80 Hz (d) None of these
propagating in the same direction produce beats
due to 42. Two sound sources when sounded simultaneously
[MP PET 2000] produce four beats in 0.25 second. the difference
in their frequencies must be
(a) Interference (b) Diffraction
[BCECE 2003]
(c) Polarization (d) Refraction
(a) 4 (b) 8
35. On sounding tuning fork A with another tuning fork
B of frequency 384 Hz, 6 beats are produced per (c) 16 (d) 1
second. After loading the prongs of A with some 43. A tuning fork of known frequency 256 Hz makes 5
wax and then sounding it again with B, 4 beats are beats per second with the vibrating string of a
produced per second. What is the frequency of the piano. The beat frequency decreases to 2 beats
tuning fork A per second when the tension in the piano string is
[MP PMT 2000] slightly increased. The frequency of the piano
string before increasing the tension was
(a) 388 Hz (b) 380 Hz
[AIEEE 2003]
(c) 378 Hz (d) 390 Hz
(a) 256 + 5 Hz (b) 256 + 2Hz
36. It is possible to hear beats from the two vibrating
sources of frequency [UPSEAT 2001] (c) 256 – 2 Hz (d) 256 – 5Hz

(a) 100 Hz and 150 Hz (b) 20 Hz and 25 Hz 44. When temperature increases, the frequency of a
tuning fork
(c) 400 Hz and 500 Hz (d) 1000 Hz and 1500 Hz
[AIEEE 2002]
37. A tuning fork gives 4 beats with 50 cm length of a
(a) Increases
sonometer wire. If the length of the wire is
shortened by 1 cm, the number of beats is still the (b) Decreases
same. The frequency of the fork is (c) Remains same
[MP PMT 2001]
(d) Increases or decreases depending on the
(a) 396 (b) 400 material
(c) 404 (d) 384 45. Two strings X and Y of a sitar produce a beat
frequency 4 Hz. When the tension of the string Y is
slightly increased the beat frequency is found to
 Waves and Sound 852
be 2 Hz. If the frequency of X is 300 Hz, then the λ
original frequency of Y was 2
(a)  (b)
[UPSEAT 2000] λ
(a) 296 Hz (b) 298 Hz (c) 4 (d) 2
(c) 302 Hz (d) 304 Hz 2. In stationary wave [MP PET 1987; BHU
1995]
46. The frequency of tuning forks A and B are
(a) Strain is maximum at nodes
respectively 3% more and 2% less than the
(b) Strain is maximum at antinodes
frequency of tuning fork C. When A and B are
(c) Strain is minimum at nodes
simultaneously excited, 5 beats per second are
produced. Then the frequency of the tuning fork (d) Amplitude is zero at all the points
'A' (in Hz) is [EAMCET 2001] 3. The phase difference between the two particles
situated on both the sides of a node is
(a) 98 (b) 100 [MP PET 2002]
(c) 103 (d) 105 (a) 0° (b) 90°
47. When a tuning fork vibrates, the waves produced (c) 180° (d) 360°
in the fork are 4. Which of the property makes difference between
[AFMC 2001] progressive and stationary waves
[MP PMT 1987]
(a) Longitudinal (b) Transverse
(a) Amplitude (b) Frequency
(c) Progressive (d) Stationary
(c) Propagation of energy (d) Phase of the wave
48. Two vibrating tuning forks produce progressive
5. Stationary waves are formed when
Y 1 =4 sin500 πt Y 2 =2 sin 506 πt .
waves given by and [NCERT 1983]
Number of beats produced per minute is (a) Two waves of equal amplitude and equal
[CBSE PMT 2005] frequency travel along the same path in
opposite directions
(a) 360 (b) 180
(b) Two waves of equal wavelength and equal
(c) 3 (d) 60 amplitude travel along the same path with
49. When a tuning fork produces sound waves in air, equal speeds in opposite directions
which one of the following is same in the material (c) Two waves of equal wavelength and equal
of tuning fork as well as in air phase travel along the same path with equal
[AFMC 2005] speed
(d) Two waves of equal amplitude and equal
(a) Wavelength (b) Frequency speed travel along the same path in opposite
(c) Velocity (d) Amplitude direction
50. The disc of a siren containing 60 holes rotates at a
constant speed of 360 rpm. The emitted sound is
in unison with a tuning fork of frequency 6. For the stationary wave
y=4 sin (15πx ) cos(96 πt )
, the
[KCET 2005]
distance between a node and the next antinode is
[MP PMT 1987]
(a) 10 Hz (b) 360 Hz
(a) 7.5 (b) 15
(c) 216 Hz (d) 6 Hz
(c) 22.5 (d) 30
51. A sound source of frequency 170 Hz is placed near 7. The equation of stationary wave along a stretched
a wall. A man walking from a source towards the πx
wall finds that there is a periodic rise and fall of y=5 sin cos 40 πt
string is given by 3 , where x and
sound intensity. If the speed of sound in air is 340
m/s the distance (in metres) separating the two y are in cm and t in second. The separation
adjacent positions of minimum intensity is between two adjacent nodes is [CPMT 1990; MP
PET 1999; AMU 1999;
[MNR 1992; UPSEAT 2000; CPMT 2002] DPMT 2004; BHU 2005]
(a) 1/2 (b) 1 (a) 1.5 cm (b) 3 cm
(c) 3/2 (d) 2 (c) 6 cm (d) 4 cm

Stationary Waves
8. The equation
φ ( x , t )= ⃗j sin
⃗ ( 2λπ v t ) cos ( 2λπ x )
1. The distance between the nearest node and represents
antinode in a stationary wave is [MNR 1994]
[MP PET 1984; CBSE PMT 1993; AFMC 1996; RPET 2002] (a) Transverse progressive wave
 853 Waves and Sound
(b) Longitudinal progressive wave (c) Maximum displacement and maximum
(c) Longitudinal stationary wave pressure change
(d) Transverse stationary wave (d) Maximum displacement and minimum
pressure change
9. The equation of a stationary wave is

( )
πx 15. In stationary waves all particles between two
y=0. 8 cos sin 200 πt nodes pass through the mean position
20
, where x is in cm and t is [MP PMT 1999; KCET 2001]
in sec. The separation between consecutive nodes
will be (a) At different times with different velocities
[MP PET 1994] (b) At different times with the same velocity
(a) 20 cm (b) 10 cm (c) At the same time with equal velocity
(c) 40 cm (d) 30 cm (d) At the same time with different velocities
10. In a stationary wave, all particles are 16. Standing waves can be produced
[MP PMT 1994] [IIT-JEE 1999]
(a) At rest at the same time twice in every period of (a) On a string clamped at both the ends
oscillation
(b) On a string clamped at one end and free at the
(b) At rest at the same time only once in every other
period of oscillation
(c) When incident wave gets reflected from a wall
(c) Never at rest at the same time
(d) Never at rest at all (d) When two identical waves with a phase
difference of  are moving in the same
11. A wave represented by the given equation direction
y=acos( kx−ω t ) is superposed with another wave 17. A standing wave having 3 nodes and 2 antinodes
to form a stationary wave such that the point x = is formed between two atoms having a distance
0 is a node. The equation for the other wave is 1.21 Å between them. The wavelength of the
[IIT 1988; MP PMT 1994, 97; standing wave is
AIIMS 1998; SCRA 1998; MP PET 2001; KCET 2001;
[CBSE PMT 1998; MH CET 2002; AIIMS 2000; BHU
AIEEE 2002; UPSEAT 2004] 2001]

(a)
y=asin(kx+ω t ) (b)
y=−acos(kx+ω t ) (a) 1.21 Å (b) 2.42 Å
(c) 6.05 Å (d) 3.63 Å
(c)
y=−acos(kx−ω t ) (d)
y=−asin(kx−ω t )
18. In stationary waves, distance between a node and
12. At a certain instant a stationary transverse wave is its nearest antinode is 20 cm. The phase
found to have maximum kinetic energy. The difference between two particles having a
appearance of string at that instant is separation of 60 cm will be
[AIIMS 1995]
[CMEET Bihar 1995]
(a) Sinusoidal shape with amplitude A/3
(a) Zero (b) /2
(b) Sinusoidal shape with amplitude A/2
(c)  (d) 3/2
(c) Sinusoidal shape with amplitude A
19. Stationary waves of frequency 300 Hz are formed
(d) Straight line
in a medium in which the velocity of sound is 1200
13. The equation
y=0. 15 sin 5 xcos300 t
, describes a metre/sec. The distance between a node and the
stationary wave. The wavelength of the stationary neighbouring antinode is [SCRA 1994]
wave is
(a) 1 m (b) 2 m
[MP PMT 1995]
(c) 3 m (d) 4 m
(a) Zero (b) 1.256 metres
(c) 2.512 metres (d) 0.628 metre 20. Which two of the given transverse waves will give
stationary waves when get superimposed
14. In stationary waves, antinodes are the points
where there is [RPET 1997; MP PET 1993]
[MP PMT 1996] z 1=a cos( kx−ω t )
.....(A)
(a) Minimum displacement and minimum pressure
change z 2 =a cos (kx +ω t )
.....(B)
(b) Minimum displacement and maximum
pressure change
z 3 =a cos(ky−ω t )
.....(C)
 Waves and Sound 854
(a) A and B (b) A and C (a) 5 cm (b) π cm
(c) B and C (d) Any two (c) 3 cm (d) 40 cm
21. A standing wave is represented by
27. Two sinusoidal waves with same wavelengths and
Y = A sin(100 t )cos(0 . 01 x ) amplitudes travel in opposite directions along a
string with a speed 10 ms–1. If the minimum time
where Y and A are in millimetre, t is in seconds interval between two instants when the string is
and x is in metre. The velocity of wave is flat is 0.5 s, the wavelength of the waves is
[CBSE PMT 1994; AFMC 2002] [Roorkee 2000]
4 (a) 25 m (b) 20 m
(a) 10 m/ s
(c) 15 m (d) 10 m
(b)
1 m/s 28. “Stationary waves” are so called because in them
[MP PMT 2001]
(c) 10−4 m/ s
(a) The particles of the medium are not disturbed
(d) Not derivable from above data at all

22. A wave of frequency 100 Hz is sent along a string (b) The particles of the medium do not execute
SHM
towards a fixed end. When this wave travels back
after reflection, a node is formed at a distance of (c) There occurs no flow of energy along the wave
10 cm from the fixed end of the string. The speed (d) The interference effect can’t be observed
of incident (and reflected) wave are 29. Two waves are approaching each other with a
[CBSE PMT 1994] velocity of 16 m/s and frequency n. The distance
between two consecutive nodes is
(a) 40 m/s (b) 20 m/s
[CPMT 2001; Pb. PMT 1999]
(c) 10 m/s (d) 5 m/s
16 8
23.
y=a cos( kx+ωt ) superimposes on another wave (a) n (b) n
giving a stationary wave having node at x = 0. n n
What is the equation of the other wave (c) 16 (d) 8
[BHU 1998; DPMT 2000]
30. Stationary waves [Kerala (Med.) 2002]

(a)
−a cos(kx+ωt ) (b)
a cos(kx−ωt ) (a) Transport energy
(b) Does not transport energy
(c)
−a cos(kx−ωt ) (d)
−a sin (kx+ωt )
(c) Have nodes and antinodes
24. Two waves are approaching each other with a (d) Both (b) and (c)
velocity of 20 m/s and frequency n . The distance 31. In a stationary wave all the particles [KCET 2002]
between two consecutive nodes is (a) On either side of a node vibrate in same phase
[Pb. PMT 1999] (b) In the region between two nodes vibrate in
20 10 same phase
(c) In the region between two antinodes vibrate in
(a) n (b) n same phase
5 n (d) Of the medium vibrate in same phase
(c) n (d) 10 32. When a stationary wave is formed then its
frequency is
25. Energy is not carried by which of the following
waves [Kerala (Engg.) 2002]

[RPMT 1998; AIIMS 1998, 99] (a) Same as that of the individual waves
(a) Stationary (b) Progressive (b) Twice that of the individual waves
(c) Transverse (d) Electromagnetic (c) Half that of the individual waves
26. The stationary wave produced on a string is (d) None of the above

represented by the equation

y=5 cos( πx /3 )sin 40 πt . 33. In stationary waves [RPMT 1998; JIPMER
2002]
Where x and y are in cm and t is in seconds. The (a) Energy is uniformly distributed
distance between consecutive nodes is
[MP PMT 2000]
 855 Waves and Sound
(b) Energy is minimum at nodes and maximum at 1. A string fixed at both the ends is vibrating in two
antinodes segments. The wavelength of the corresponding
wave is
(c) Energy is maximum at nodes and minimum at
[SCRA 1994]
antinodes
l l
(d) Alternating maximum and minimum energy
producing at nodes and antinodes (a) 4 (b) 2
34. Equation of a stationary wave is (c) l (d) 2l
πx 2. A 1 cm long string vibrates with fundamental
y=10 sin cos 20 πt . frequency of 256 Hz. If the length is reduced to
4 Distance between two 1
consecutive nodes is cm
4 keeping the tension unaltered, the new
[MP PMT 2002]
fundamental frequency will be
(a) 4 (b) 2 [BHU 1997]
(c) 1 (d) 8 (a) 64 (b) 256
35. At nodes in stationary waves
(c) 512 (d) 1024
[SCRA 1994; UPSEAT 2000; MP PET 2003; RPET 2003]
3. Standing waves are produced in a 10 m long
(a) Change in pressure and density are maximum stretched string. If the string vibrates in 5
(b) Change in pressure and density are minimum segments and the wave velocity is 20 m/s, the
(c) Strain is zero frequency is
(d) Energy is minimum [CBSE PMT 1997; AIIMS 1998; JIPMER 2000]
z 1 , z2 z3 (a) 2 Hz (b) 4 Hz
36. Consider the three waves and as
(c) 5 Hz (d) 10 Hz
z 1= A sin(kx−ω t ) z 2 =A sin(kx +ω t )
, 4. The velocity of waves in a string fixed at both ends
z =A sin(ky −ω t ) is 2 m/s. The string forms standing waves with
and 3 . Which of the following
nodes 5.0 cm apart. The frequency of vibration of
represents a standing wave
the string in Hz is
[DCE 2004]
[SCRA 1998]
z1+ z2 z2+ z3
(a) (b) (a) 40 (b) 30
z3+ z1 z1+ z2+ z3 (c) 20 (d) 10
(c) (d)
37. The following equations represent progressive 5. Which of the following is the example of
transverse waves 1
Z = A cos(ω t−kx) , transverse wave
Z 2= A cos(ω t +kx ) , Z 3= A cos(ω t +ky ) and [CPMT 1999]

Z 4 = A cos(2ω t−2 ky) . A stationary wave will be (a) Sound waves

formed by superposing [MP PET 1993] (b) Compressional waves in a spring

Z1 Z2 Z1 Z4 (c) Vibration of string
(a) and (b) and
(d) All of these
Z2 Z3 Z3 Z4
(c) and (d) and 6. A stretched string of 1m length and mass
y 1 =A sin[ k ( x−c t )] −4
38. Two travelling waves and 5×10 kg is having tension of 20N. If it is plucked
y 2 = A sin[ k ( x +c t )] are superimposed on string. The at 25cm from one end then it will vibrate with
distance between adjacent nodes is [IIT 1992] frequency

(a) c t /π (b) c t /2 π [RPET 1999; RPMT 2002]

(a) 100 Hz (b) 200 Hz
(c) π / 2 k (d) π / k
39. A string vibrates according to the equation (c) 256 Hz (d) 400 Hz

y=5 sin ( 23πx ) cos 20 πt

, where x and y are in cm
7. Two similar sonometer wires given fundamental
frequencies of 500Hz. These have same tensions.
By what amount the tension be increased in one
and t in sec. The distance between two adjacent
nodes is wire so that the two wires produce 5 beats/sec
[RPET 1999]
[UPSEAT 2005]
(a) 3 cm (b) 4.5 cm (a) 1% (b) 2%

(c) 6 cm (d) 1.5 cm (c) 3% (d) 4%

Vibration of String
 Waves and Sound 856
8. A string is producing transverse vibration whose 15. If you set up the ninth harmonic on a string fixed
y=0. 021 sin( x+30t ) , Where x and y are at both ends, its frequency compared to the
equation is seventh harmonic
in meters and t is in seconds. If the linear density [AMU (Engg.) 2000]
−4
of the string is 1 .3×10 kg/m, then the tension in (a) Higher (b) Lower
(c) Equal (d) None of the above
the string in N will be
16. Frequency of a sonometer wire is n. Now its
[RPET 1999; RPMT 2002]
tension is increased 4 times and its length is
(a) 10 (b) 0.5 doubled then new frequency will be
(c) 1 (d) 0.117 [RPET 2000]

9. If the tension of sonometer’s wire increases four (a) n/2 (b) 4n

times then the fundamental frequency of the wire (c) 2n (d) n
will increase by
17. A device used for investigating the vibration of a
[RPMT 1999] fixed string or wire is [BHU 2000]
(a) 2 times (b) 4 times (a) Sonometer (b) barometer
(c) 1/2 times (d) None of the above (c) Hydrometer (d) None of these
10. If vibrations of a string are to be increased by a 18. A string on a musical instrument is 50 cm long and
factor of two, then tension in the string must be its fundamental frequency is 270 Hz. If the desired
frequency of 1000 Hz is to be produced, the
made
required length of the string is
[AIIMS 1999; Pb. PET 2000]
[EAMCET (Engg.) 1998; CPMT 2000; Pb. PET 2001]
(a) Half (b) Twice
(a) 13.5 cm (b) 2.7 cm
(c) Four times (d) Eight times
(c) 5.4 cm (d) 10.3 cm
11. Four wires of identical length, diameters and of
19. The tension in a piano wire is 10N. What should be
the same material are stretched on a sonometre the tension in the wire to produce a note of double
wire. If the ratio of their tensions is 1 : 4 : 9 : 16 the frequency [AIIMS 2001]
then the ratio of their fundamental frequencies are
(a) 5 N (b) 20 N
[KCET 2000]
(c) 40 N (d) 80 N
(a) 16 : 9 : 4 : 1 (b) 4 : 3 : 2 : 1
20. To increase the frequency from 100 Hz to 400 Hz
(c) 1 : 4 : 2 : 16 (d) 1 : 2 : 3 : 4 the tension in the string has to be changed by
12. A tuning fork vibrating with a sonometer having 20 [RPET 2001]
cm wire produces 5 beats per second. The beat (a) 4 times (b) 16 times
frequency does not change if the length of the (c) 20 times (d) None of these
wire is changed to 21 cm. the frequency of the
21. In order to double the frequency of the
tuning fork (in Hertz) must be
fundamental note emitted by a stretched string,
[UPSEAT 2000; Pb. PET 2004] 3
(a) 200 (b) 210 the length is reduced to 4 th of the original length
(c) 205 (d) 215 and the tension is changed. The factor by which
the tension is to be changed, is [EAMCET 2001]
13. A stretched string of length
l, fixed at both ends 3 2
can sustain stationary waves of wavelength
λ, (a) 8 (b) 3
given by 8 9
[UPSEAT 2000; Pb. PET 2004; CPMT 2005]
(c) 9 (d) 4
n2 l2 22. A string of 7 m length has a mass of 0.035 kg. If
λ= λ=
(a) 2l (b) 2n tension in the string is 60.5 N, then speed of a
wave on the string is
2l
λ=
(d) λ=2 l n
n [CBSE PMT 2001]
(c)
(a) 77 m/s (b) 102 m/s
14. If you set up the seventh harmonic on a string
fixed at both ends, how many nodes and (c) 110 m/s (d) 165 m/s
antinodes are set up in it 23. A second harmonic has to be generated in a string
of length l stretched between two rigid supports.
[AMU 2000]
(a) 8, 7 (b) 7, 7 The point where the string has to be plucked and
(c) 8, 9 (d) 9, 8 touched are
 857 Waves and Sound
[KCET 2001] frequency of 1000 Hz is to be produced, then
l l required length of string is
[AIIMS 2002]
(a) Plucked at 4 and touch at 2
(a) 62.5 cm (b) 50 cm
l 3l
(c) 40 cm (d) 37.5 cm
(b) Plucked at 4 and touch at 4
30. Two wires are in unison. If the tension in one of
l l the wires is increased by 2%, 5 beats are
2 4 produced per second. The initial frequency of each
(c) Plucked at and touched at
wire is [MP PET 2002]
l 3l (a) 200 Hz (b) 400 Hz
(d) Plucked at 2 and touched at 4
(c) 500 Hz (d) 1000 Hz
24. Transverse waves of same frequency are 31. Two uniform strings A and B made of steel are
generated in two steel wires A and B. The made to vibrate under the same tension. if the
diameter of A is twice of B and the tension in A is first overtone of A is equal to the second overtone
half that in B. The ratio of velocities of wave in A of B and if the radius of A is twice that of B, the
and B is [KCET 2001] ratio of the lengths of the strings is

(a)
1 : 3 √2 (b)
1 : 2 √2 [EAMCET 2003]
(a) 1: 2 (b) 1 : 3

(c)
1:2 (d) √2 : 1 (c) 1 : 4 (d) 1 : 6
32. If the length of a stretched string is shortened by
25. A sonometer wire resonates with a given tuning
40% and the tension is increased by 44%, then the
fork forming standing waves with five antinodes
ratio of the final and initial fundamental
between the two bridges when a mass of 9 kg is
frequencies is
suspended from the wire. When this mass is
replaced by a mass M, the wire resonates with the [EAMCET 2003]
same tuning fork forming three antinodes for the (a) 2 : 1 (b) 3 : 2
same positions of the bridges. The value of M is
(c) 3 : 4 (d) 1 : 3
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2002]
33. Two wires are fixed in a sonometer. Their tensions
(a) 25 kg (b) 5 kg are in the ratio 8 : 1. The lengths are in the ratio
(c) 12.5 kg (d) 1/25 kg 36 : 35 . The diameters are in the ratio 4 : 1.
26. The tension of a stretched string is increased by Densities of the materials are in the ratio 1 : 2. If
69%. In order to keep its frequency of vibration the lower frequency in the setting is 360 Hz. the
constant, its length must be increased by [KCET beat frequency when the two wires are sounded
2002] together is [KCET 2003]
(a) 20% (b) 30% (a) 5 (b) 8

(c) √ 69 % (d) 69%

(c) 6 (d) 10
34. The first overtone of a stretched wire of given
27. The length of a sonometer wire tuned to a length is 320 Hz. The first harmonic is :
frequency of 250 Hz is 0.60 metre. The frequency [DPMT 2004]
of tuning fork with which the vibrating wire will be
in tune when the length is made 0.40 metre is (a) 320 Hz (b) 160 Hz
[JIPMER 2002] (c) 480 Hz (d) 640 Hz
(a) 250 Hz (b) 375 Hz 35. Two perfectly identical wires are in unison. When
the tension in one wire is increased by 1%, then
(c) 256 Hz (d) 384 Hz
on sounding them together 3 beats are heard in 2
28. Length of a string tied to two rigid supports is 40 sec. The initial frequency of each wire is :
cm. Maximum length (wavelength in cm) of a [Pb. PET 2002]
stationary wave produced on it is −1 −1
[AIEEE 2002] (a) 220 s (b) 320 s
(a) 20 (b) 80 −1 −1
(c) 150 s (d) 300 s
(c) 40 (d) 120
36. A tuning fork of frequency 392 Hz, resonates with
29. A string in musical instrument is 50 cm long and 50 cm length of a string under tension (T). If
its fundamental frequency is 800 Hz. If a length of the string is decreased by 2%, keeping
 Waves and Sound 858
the tension constant, the number of beats heard (c) Stretching force
when the string and the tuning fork made to (d) Diameter of the wires
vibrate simultaneously is [BHU 2004]
43. Calculate the frequency of the second harmonic
(a) 4 (b) 6 formed on a string of length 0.5 m and mass 2 
(c) 8 (d) 12 10–4 kg when stretched with a tension of 20 N
[BHU (Med.) 2000]
37. The sound carried by air from a sitar to a listener
is a wave of the following type (a) 274.4 Hz (b) 744.2 Hz
[MP PMT 1987; RPET 2001] (c) 44.72 Hz (d) 447.2 Hz
(a) Longitudinal stationary (b) Transverse 44. The fundamental frequency of a string stretched
progressive with a weight of 4 kg is 256 Hz. The weight
required to produce its octave is
(c) Transverse stationary (d) Longitudinal
[J & K CET 2000]
progressive
(a) 4 kg wt (b) 8 kg wt
38. In Melde’s experiment in the transverse mode, the
frequency of the tuning fork and the frequency of (c) 12 kg wt (d) 16 kg wt
the waves in the strings are in the ratio 45. Two vibrating strings of the same material but
[KCET 2004] lengths L and 2L have radii 2r and r respectively.
They are stretched under the same tension. Both
the strings vibrate in their fundamental modes, the
(a) 1 : 1 (b) 1 : 2 one of length L with frequency n1 and the other
(c) 2 : 1 (d) 4 : 1 with frequency n2. The ratio n1/n2 is given by
39. The frequency of transverse vibrations in a [IIT-JEE (Screening)
2000]
stretched string is 200 Hz. If the tension is
increased four times and the length is reduced to (a) 2 (b) 4
one-fourth the original value, the frequency of (c) 8 (d) 1
vibration will be [EAMCET (Med.) 46. If the tension and diameter of a sonometer wire of
1999] fundamental frequency n are doubled and density
(a) 25 Hz (b) 200 Hz is halved then its fundamental frequency will
become
(c) 400 Hz (d) 1600 Hz
[CBSE PMT 2001]
40. Three similar wires of frequency n1, n2 and n3 are n
joined to make one wire. Its frequency will be
[CBSE PMT 2000]
(a) 4 (b) √2 n
n
1 1 1 1
(d) √ 2
= + + (c) n
n=n1 + n2 +n 3 n n1 n2 n3
(a) (b)
47. In a sonometer wire, the tension is maintained by
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 suspending a 50.7 kg mass from the free end of
= + + = 2+ 2+ 2 the wire. The suspended mass has a volume of
(c)
√ n √ n 1 √ n2 √ n 3 (d)
n 1
n1 n2 n 3 0.0075 m3. The fundamental frequency of the wire
is 260 Hz. If the suspended mass is completely
41. A steel rod 100 cm long is clamped at its mid- submerged in water, the fundamental frequency
point. The funda-mental frequency of longitudinal will become (take g = 10 ms–2)
vibrations of the rod is given to be 2.53 kHz. What [KCET 2001]
is the speed of sound in steel
(a) 240 Hz (b) 230 Hz
[AFMC 2000]
(c) 220 Hz (d) 200 Hz
(a) 5.06 km/s (b) 6.06 km/s
48. A string is rigidly tied at two ends and its equation
(c) 7.06 km/s (d) 8.06 km/s y=cos2π t sinsin πx.
of vibration is given by Then
42. Two wires are producing fundamental notes of the minimum length of string is
same frequency. Change in which of the following [RPMT 2001]
factors of one wire will not produce beats between
1
them m
[BHU (Med.) 1999] (a) 1 m (b) 2
(c) 5 m (d) 2m
(a) Amplitude of the vibrations
49. Fundamental frequency of sonometer wire is n. If
(b) Material of the wire the length, tension and diameter of wire are
 859 Waves and Sound
tripled, the new fundamental frequency is 3. A closed pipe and an open pipe have their first
[DPMT 2002] overtones identical in frequency. Their lengths are
n in the ratio
n
[Roorkee 1999]
(a) √ 3 (b) 3 (a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 3
n (c) 3 : 4 (d) 4 : 5
(c) n 3 √ (d) 3 √ 3 4. The first overtone in a closed pipe has a frequency
50. A string of length 2 m is fixed at both ends. If this [JIPMER 1999]
string vibrates in its fourth normal mode with a (a) Same as the fundamental frequency of an
frequency of 500 Hz then the waves would travel open tube of same length
on its with a velocity of (b) Twice the fundamental frequency of an open
[BCECE 2005] tube of same length
(a) 125 m/s (b) 250 m/s (c) Same as that of the first overtone of an open
tube of same length
(c) 500 m/s (d) 1000 m/s
(d) None of the above
51. The fundamental frequency of a sonometre wire is 5. An empty vessel is partially filled with water, then
n. If its radius is doubled and its tension becomes the frequency of vibration of air column in the
half, the material of the wire remains same, the vessel
new fundamental frequency will be [KCET 2000]
[BCECE 2005]
(a) Remains same
n (b) Decreases
(a) n (b) √ 2 (c) Increases
n n (d) First increases then decreases

(c) 2 (d) 2 √ 2 6. It is desired to increase the fundamental

resonance frequency in a tube which is closed at
52. In an experiment with sonometer a tuning fork of one end. This can be achieved by
frequency 256 Hz resonates with a length of 25 [Roorkee 2000]
cm and another tuning fork resonates with a
length of 16 cm. Tension of the string remaining (a) Replacing the air in the tube by hydrogen gas
constant the frequency of the second tuning fork (b) Increasing the length of the tube
is [KCET 2005] (c) Decreasing the length of the tube
(a) 163.84 Hz (b) 400 Hz (d) Opening the closed end of the tube
(c) 320 Hz (d) 204.8 Hz 7. An air column in a pipe, which is closed at one
end, will be in resonance with a vibrating body of
Organ Pipe (Vibration of Air Column) frequency 166 Hz, if the length of the air column is
[UPSEAT 2001]
1. The length of two open organ pipes are l and
(a) 2.00 m (b) 1.50 m
(l+Δl ) respectively. Neglecting end correction, the
(c) 1.00 m (d) 0.50 m
frequency of beats between them will be
approximately 8. If the velocity of sound in air is 350 m/s. Then the
[MP PET 1994; BHU 1995] fundamental frequency of an open organ pipe of
length 50 cm, will be [CPMT 1997; MH CET 2001;
v v
Pb. PMT 2001]
(a) 2l (b) l
4
(a) 350 Hz (b) 175 Hz
vΔl vΔl
2 (c) 900 Hz (d) 750 Hz
(c) 2l (d) l
9. If the length of a closed organ pipe is 1m and
(Here v is the speed of sound) velocity of sound is 330 m/s, then the frequency
2. A tube closed at one end and containing air is for the second note is
excited. It produces the fundamental note of [AFMC 2001]
frequency 512 Hz. If the same tube is open at both
the ends the fundamental frequency that can be
330 330
4× Hz 3× Hz
produced is [RPET 1999] (a) 4 (b) 4
(a) 1024 Hz (b) 512 Hz 330 4
2× Hz 2× Hz
(c) 256 Hz (d) 128 Hz (c) 4 (d) 330
 Waves and Sound 860
10. The fundamental note produced by a closed organ 17. Two closed organ pipes, when sounded
pipe is of frequency
f.
The fundamental note
simultaneously gave 4 beats per sec. If longer pipe
has a length of 1m. Then length of shorter pipe
produced by an open organ pipe of same length will be, (v = 300 m/s)
will be of frequency
[Pb. PMT 2002]
[BHU 2001]
(a) 185.5 cm (b) 94.9 cm
f (c) 90 cm (d) 80 cm
(a) 2 (b)
f 18. A source of sound placed at the open end of a
2f 4f resonance column sends an acoustic wave of
(c) (d) ρ0
11. If the velocity of sound in air is 336 m/s. The pressure amplitude inside the tube. If the
maximum length of a closed pipe that would A ρ ,
atmospheric pressure is then the ratio of
produce a just audible sound will be [KCET 2001]
maximum and minimum pressure at the closed
(a) 3.2 cm (b) 4.2 m end of the tube will be [UPSEAT 2002]
(c) 4.2 cm (d) 3.2 m ( ρ A + ρ0 ) ( ρ A+ 2 ρ 0 )
P1 ( ρ A −ρ0 ) ( ρ A −2 ρ0 )
12. An organ pipe closed at one end vibrating in its (a) (b)
P2
first overtone and another pipe open at both
ends vibrating in its third overtone are in ( ρ + 12 ρ )
A 0

resonance with a given tuning fork. The ratio of ρA

lengths of
P1
and
P2
is (c)
ρ
A (d)
( ρ − 12 ρ )
A 0

[EAMCET 1997; MH CET 1999; AFMC 2001] 19. Two closed pipe produce 10 beats per second
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 1 : 3 when emitting their fundamental nodes. If their
(c) 3 : 8 (d) 3 : 4 length are in ratio of 25 : 26. Then their
13. A resonance air column of length 20 cm resonates fundamental frequency in Hz, are
with a tuning fork of frequency 250 Hz. The speed of [MH CET 2002]
sound in air is
(a) 270, 280 (b) 260, 270
[AFMC 1999; BHU 2000; CPMT 2001]
(c) 260, 250 (d) 260, 280
(a) 300 m/s (b) 200 m/s
20. A closed organ pipe and an open organ pipe are
(c) 150 m/s (d) 75 m/s
tuned to the same fundamental frequency. What is
14. A cylindrical tube, open at both ends, has a the ratio of lengths [BHU 2003; Kerala 2005]
f
fundamental frequency 0 in air. The tube is (a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 1
dipped vertically into water such that half of its
(c) 2 : 3 (d) 4 : 3
length is inside water. The fundamental frequency
of the air column now is 21. An open pipe resonates with a tuning fork of
[RPET 1999; RPMT 1998, 2000; J & K CET 2000; frequency 500 Hz. it is observed that two
KCET 2002; BHU 2002; BCECE 2003] successive nodes are formed at distances 16 and
46 cm from the open end. The speed of sound in
3 f 0/ 4 f0 air in the pipe is [Orissa JEE 2003]
(a) (b)
f /2 2f (a) 230 m/s (b) 300 m/s
(c) 0 (d) 0
(c) 320 m/s (d) 360 m/s
15. If the length of a closed organ pipe is 1.5 m and
velocity of sound is 330 m/s, then the frequency 22. Find the fundamental frequency of a closed pipe, if
for the second note is the length of the air column is 42 m. (speed of
[CBSE PMT 2002] sound in air = 332 m/sec)
[RPET 2003]
(a) 220 Hz (b) 165 Hz
(c) 110 Hz (d) 55 Hz (a) 2 Hz (b) 4 Hz
16. A pipe 30 cm long is open at both ends. Which (c) 7 Hz (d) 9 Hz
harmonic mode of the pipe is resonantly excited 23. If v is the speed of sound in air then the shortest
by a 1.1 kHz source ? (Take speed of sound in air length of the closed pipe which resonates to a
= 330 ms–1) frequency n
[AMU 2002] [KCET 2003]
(a) First (b) Second v v
(c) Third (d) Fourth
(a) n
4 (b) 2n
 861 Waves and Sound
2n 4n 32. If the temperature increases, then what happens
to the frequency of the sound produced by the
(c) v (d) v
organ pipe
24. The frequency of fundamental tone in an open
organ pipe of length 0.48 m is 320 Hz. Speed of [RPET 1996; DPMT 2000; RPMT 2001]
sound is 320 m/sec. Frequency of fundamental (a) Increases (b) Decreases
tone in closed organ pipe will be
(c) Unchanged (d) Not definite
[MP PMT 2003]
33. Apparatus used to find out the velocity of sound in
(a) 153.8 Hz (b) 160.0 Hz
gas is
(c) 320.0 Hz (d) 143.2 Hz
[AFMC 2004]
25. If fundamental frequency of closed pipe is 50 Hz
then frequency of 2nd overtone is (a) Melde’s apparatus (b) Kundt’s tube
[AFMC 2004] (c) Quincke’s tube (d) None of these
(a) 100 Hz (b) 50 Hz 34. Standing stationary waves can be obtained in an
(c) 250 Hz (d) 150 Hz air column even if the interfering waves are [CPMT
1972]
26. Two open organ pipes of length 25 cm and 25.5
cm produce 10 beat/sec. The velocity of sound will (a) Of different pitches
be (b) Of different amplitudes
[Pb. PMT 2004]
(c) Of different qualities
(a) 255 m/s (b) 250 m/s
(d) Moving with different velocities
(c) 350 m/s (d) None of these
27. What is minimum length of a tube, open at both 35. The stationary wave
y=2asin kxcos ω t
in a closed
ends, that resonates with tuning fork of frequency organ pipe is the result of the superposition of
350 Hz ? [velocity of sound in air = 350 m/s]
[DPMT 2004] y=a sin(ω t−kx) and [Roorkee 1994]
(a) 50 cm (b) 100 cm
(a)
y=−acos(ω t+kx) (b)
y=−asin(ω t+kx )
(c) 75 cm (d) 25 cm
28. Two open organ pipes give 4 beats/sec when (c)
y=a sin(ω t +kx ) (d)
y=a cos( ω t+kx)
sounded together in their fundamental nodes. If
the length of the pipe are 100 cm and 102.5 cm 36. Stationary waves are set up in air column. Velocity
respectively, then the velocity of sound is : of sound in air is 330 m/s and frequency is 165 Hz.
[Pb. PET 2000; CPMT 2001] Then distance between the nodes is
(a) 496 m/s (b) 328 m/s [EAMCET (Engg.) 1995; CPMT 1999]
(c) 240 m/s (d) 160 m/s (a) 2 m (b) 1 m
29. The harmonics which are present in a pipe open at (c) 0.5 m (d) 4 m
one end are [UPSEAT 2000; MHCET 2004]
37. An open pipe of length l vibrates in fundamental
(a) Odd harmonics
mode. The pressure variation is maximum at
(b) Even harmonics
[EAMCET (Med.)
(c) Even as well as odd harmonics 1999]
(c) None of these (a) 1/4 from ends
30. An open pipe is suddenly closed at one end with (b) The middle of pipe
the result that the frequency of third harmonic of
the closed pipe is found to be higher by 100 Hz, (c) The ends of pipe
then the fundamental frequency of open pipe is: (d) At 1/8 from ends of pipe middle of the pipe
[UPSEAT 2001; Pb. PET 2004]
38. Fundamental frequency of pipe is 100 Hz and
(a) 480 Hz (b) 300 Hz other two frequencies are 300 Hz and 500 Hz then
(c) 240 Hz (d) 200 Hz
31. Tube A has both ends open while tube B has one [RPMT 1998, 2003; CPMT 2001]
end closed, otherwise they are identical. The ratio
(a) Pipe is open at both the ends
of fundamental frequency of tube A and B is
(b) Pipe is closed at both the ends
[AIEEE 2002; CPMT 2004]
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 1 : 4 (c) One end open and another end is closed

(c) 2 : 1 (d) 4 : 1 (d) None of the above

 Waves and Sound 862
39. Fundamental frequency of an open pipe of length 46. Two closed organ pipes of length 100 cm and 101
0.5 m is equal to the frequency of the first cm 16 beats in 20 sec. When each pipe is sounded
overtone of a closed pipe of length l. The value of in its fundamental mode calculate the velocity of
lc is (m) [KCET 1999] sound
(a) 1.5 (b) 0.75 [AFMC 2003]

(c) 2 (d) 1 (a) 303 ms–1 (b) 332 ms–1

40. In a closed organ pipe the frequency of (c) 323.2 ms–1 (d) 300 ms–1
fundamental note is 50 Hz. The note of which of 47. In open organ pipe, if fundamental frequency is n
the following frequencies will not be emitted by it then the other frequencies are
[J & K CET 2000] [BCECE 2005]
(a) 50 Hz (b) 100 Hz (a) n, 2n, 3n, 4n (b) n, 3n, 5n
(c) 150 Hz (d) None of the above (c) n, 2n, 4n, 8n (d) None of these
41. On producing the waves of frequency 1000 Hz in a 48. If in an experiment for determination of velocity of
Kundt's tube, the total distance between 6 sound by resonance tube method using a tuning
successive nodes is 85 cm. Speed of sound in the fork of 512 Hz, first resonance was observed at
gas filled in the tube is 30.7 cm and second was obtained at 63.2 cm,
[AFMC 1999] then maximum possible error in velocity of sound
(a) 330 m/s (b) 340 m/s is (consider actual speed of sound in air is 332
m/s) [IIT-JEE (Screening) 2005
(c) 350 m/s (d) 300 m/s
(a) 204 cm/sec (b) 110 cm/sec
42. What is the base frequency if a pipe gives notes of
frequencies 425, 255 and 595 and decide whether (c) 58 cm/sec (d) 80 cm/sec
it is closed at one end or open at both ends 49. An organ pipe, open from both end produces 5
[UPSEAT 2001] beats per second when vibrated with a source of
(a) 17, closed (b) 85, closed frequency 200 Hz. The second harmonic of the
same pipes produces 10 beats per second with a
(c) 17, open (d) 85, open
source of frequency 420 Hz. The frequency of
43. A student determines the velocity of sound with source is [DCE 2005]
the help of a closed organ pipe. If the observed
(a) 195 Hz (b) 205 Hz
length for fundamental frequency is 24.7 m, the
length for third harmonic will be (c) 190 Hz (d) 210 Hz

[RPET 2002] 50. In one metre long open pipe what is the harmonic
of resonance obtained with a tuning fork of
(a) 74.1 cm (b) 72.7 cm
frequency 480 Hz
(c) 75.4 cm (d) 73.1 cm
[J & K CET 2005]
44. An open pipe of length 33 cm resonates with
(a) First (b) Second
frequency of 100 Hz. If the speed of sound is 330
m/s, then this frequency is (c) Third (d) Fourth
[RPMT 2002] 51. An organ pipe open at one end is vibrating in first
(a) Fundamental frequency of the pipe overtone and is in resonance with another pipe
open at both ends and vibrating in third harmonic.
(b) Third harmonic of the pipe
The ratio of length of two pipes is
(c) Second harmonic of the pipe [DCE 2005]
(d) Fourth harmonic of the pipe (a) 1 : 2 (b) 4 : 1
45. In a resonance tube the first resonance with a (c) 8 : 3 (d) 3 : 8
tuning fork occurs at 16 cm and second at 49 cm.
52. In a resonance pipe the first and second
If the velocity of sound is 330 m/s, the frequency
resonances are obtained at depths 22.7 cm and
of tuning fork is
70.2 cm respectively. What will be the end
[DPMT 2002] correction [J & K CET 2005]
(a) 500 (b) 300
(a) 1.05 cm (b) 115.5 cm
(c) 330 (d) 165
(c) 92.5 cm (d) 113.5 cm
 863 Waves and Sound
53. An open tube is in resonance with string apparent frequency heard by the observer will be
(frequency of vibration of tube is n0). If tube is (n = frequency of sound)
dipped in water so that 75% of length of tube is [MP PMT 1989]
inside water, then the ratio of the frequency of
tube to string now will be [J & K CET 2005]
n(v + v o ) n(v −v o )
v −v o v−v s
(a) 1 (b) 2 (a) (b)
2 3 n(v −v o ) n(v + v o )
(c) 3 (d) 2
v +v s v +v s
(c) (d)
7. An observer moves towards a stationary source of
Doppler’s Effect sound of frequency n. The apparent frequency
heard by him is 2n. If the velocity of sound in air is
1. Doppler shift in frequency does not depend upon 332 m/sec, then the velocity of the observer is
[MP PMT 1993; DPMT [MP PET 1990]
2000] (a) 166 m/sec (b) 664 m/sec
(a) The frequency of the wave produced (c) 332 m/sec (d) 1328 m/sec
(b) The velocity of the source 8. An observer is moving towards the stationary
source of sound, then [MH CET 2001]
(c) The velocity of the observer
(a) Apparent frequency will be less than the real
(d) Distance from the source to the listener
frequency
2. A source of sound of frequency 450 cycles/sec is (b) Apparent frequency will be greater than the
moving towards a stationary observer with 34 real frequency
m/sec speed. If the speed of sound is 340 m/sec,
(c) Apparent frequency will be equal to real
then the apparent frequency will be
frequency
[MP PMT 1987]
(d) Only the quality of sound will change
(a) 410 cycles/sec (b) 500 cycles/sec
9. A whistle sends out 256 waves in a second. If the
(c) 550 cycles/sec (d) 450 cycles/sec whistle approaches the observer with velocity 1/3
3. The wavelength is 120 cm when the source is of the velocity of sound in air, the number of
stationary. If the source is moving with relative waves per second the observer will receive [MP
velocity of 60 m/sec towards the observer, then PET 1990; DPMT 2002]
the wavelength of the sound wave reaching to the (a) 384 (b) 192
observer will be (velocity of sound = 330 m/s)
(c) 300 (d) 200
(a) 98 cm (b) 140 cm
10. A person feels 2.5% difference of frequency of a
(c) 120 cm (d) 144 cm motor-car horn. If the motor-car is moving to the
4. The frequency of a whistle of an engine is 600 person and the velocity of sound is 320 m/sec,
cycles/sec is moving with the speed of 30 m/sec then the velocity of car will be
towards an observer. The apparent frequency will [CPMT 1981; MP PET 1989]
be (velocity of sound = 330 m/s) (a) 8 m/s (approx.) (b) 800 m/s
[MP PMT 1989]
(c) 7 m/s (d) 6 m/s (approx.)
(a) 600 cps (b) 660 cps
11. Two passenger trains moving with a speed of 108
(c) 990 cps (d) 330 cps km/hour cross each other. One of them blows a
5. A source of sound emits waves with frequency f whistle whose frequency is 750 Hz. If sound speed
Hz and speed V m/sec. Two observers move away is 330 m/s, then passengers sitting in the other
from this source in opposite directions each with a train, after trains cross each other will hear sound
speed 0.2 V relative to the source. The ratio of whose frequency will be
frequencies heard by the two observers will be [MP PMT 1991]
[MP PET 1990] (a) 900 Hz (b) 625 Hz
(a) 3 : 2 (b) 2 : 3 (c) 750 Hz (d) 800 Hz
(c) 1 : 1 (d) 4 : 10 12. With what velocity an observer should move
6. The source producing sound and an observer both relative to a stationary source so that he hears a
are moving along the direction of propagation of sound of double the frequency of source
sound waves. If the respective velocities of sound, [MP PMT 1991]
vs vo (a) Velocity of sound towards the source
source and an observer are v, and , then the
 Waves and Sound 864
(b) Velocity of sound away from the source [CPMT 1976; RPET 1999; BHU 1997, 2001]

(c) Half the velocity of sound towards the source (a) 600 (b) 1050
(d) Double the velocity of sound towards the (c) 1400 (d) 2400
source
19. Suppose that the speed of sound in air at a given
13. A source of sound emitting a note of frequency temperature is 400 m/sec. An engine blows a
200 Hz moves towards an observer with a velocity whistle at 1200 Hz frequency. It is approaching an
v equal to the velocity of sound. If the observer observer at the speed of 100 m/sec. What is the
also moves away from the source with the same apparent frequency as heard by the observer
velocity v, the apparent frequency heard by the
[CPMT 1983; DPMT 2001]
observer is [MP PMT 1990]
(a) 600 Hz (b) 1200 Hz
(a) 50 Hz (b) 100 Hz
(c) 1500 Hz (d) 1600 Hz
(c) 150 Hz (d) 200 Hz
20. A source of frequency 150 Hz is moving in the
14. Doppler's effect will not be applicable when the direction of a person with a velocity of 110 m/s.
velocity of sound source is The frequency heard by the person will be (speed
(a) Equal to that of the sound velocity of sound in medium = 330 m/s)
(b) Less than the velocity of sound [CPMT 1989; RPET 2001]

(c) Greater than the velocity of sound (a) 225 Hz (b) 200 Hz

(d) Zero (c) 150 Hz (d) 100 Hz

15. An observer while going on scooter hears sound of 21. The Doppler's effect is applicable for
two sirens of same frequencies from two opposite [AFMC 1998]
directions. If he travels along the direction of one
(a) Light waves (b) Sound waves
of the siren, then he
(c) Space waves (d) Both (a) and (b)
(a) Listens resonance
22. A source of sound is moving with constant velocity
(b) Listens beats
of 20 m/s emitting a note of frequency 1000 Hz.
(c) Will not listen sound due to destructive The ratio of frequencies observed by a stationary
interference observer while the source is approaching him and
(d) Will listen intensive sound due to constructive after it crosses him will be
interference [MP PET 1994]
16. A source of sound is travelling towards a
(a) 9 : 8 (b) 8 : 9
stationary observer. The frequency of sound heard
by the observer is of three times the original (c) 1 : 1 (d) 9 : 10
frequency. The velocity of sound is v m/sec. The (Speed of sound v = 340 m/s)
speed of source will be
23. A source of sound S is moving with a velocity
[MP PET 1991] 50m/s towards a stationary observer. The
2 observer measures the frequency of the source as
v 1000 Hz. What will be the apparent frequency of
(a) 3 (b) v the source when it is moving away from the
3 observer after crossing him ? The velocity of
v sound in the medium is 350 m/s
(c) 2 (d) 3v [MP PMT 1994]
17. A sound source is moving towards a stationary (a) 750 Hz (b) 857 Hz
observer with 1/10 of the speed of sound. The
ratio of apparent to real frequency is (c) 1143 Hz (d) 1333 Hz

[CPMT 1977; NCERT 1977; KCET 2001, 03] 24. A source and listener are both moving towards
each other with speed v/10, where v is the speed
(a) 10/9 (b) 11/10 of sound. If the frequency of the note emitted by
2
(c)
(11/10 ) (d)
(9 /10 )2 the source is f, the frequency heard by the listener
would be nearly
18. The speed of sound in air at a given temperature [MP PMT 1994; MP PET 2001]
is 350 m/s. An engine blows whistle at a frequency
(a) 1.11 f (b) 1.22 f
of 1200 cps. It is approaching the observer with
(c) f (d) 1.27 f
velocity 50 m/s. The apparent frequency in cps
heard by the observer will be
 865 Waves and Sound
25. A table is revolving on its axis at 5 revolutions per [EAMCET (Engg.) 1995; CPMT 1999]
second. A sound source of frequency 1000 Hz is (a) 90 Hz (b) 100 Hz
fixed on the table at 70 cm from the axis. The
(c) 91 Hz (d) 110 Hz
minimum frequency heard by a listener standing
at a distance from the table will be (speed of 32. An observer standing at station observes
sound = 352 m/s) [MP PET 1996] frequency 219 Hz when a train approaches and
(a) 1000 Hz (b) 1066 Hz 184 Hz when train goes away from him. If velocity
of sound in air is 340 m/s, then velocity of train
(c) 941 Hz (d) 352 Hz
and actual frequency of whistle will be
26. A source of sound S of frequency 500 Hz situated
[RPET 1997]
between a stationary observer O and a wall W,
moves towards the wall with a speed of 2 m/s. If
the velocity of sound is 332 m/s, then the number (a) 15.5 ms−1 , 200 Hz (b) 19.5 ms−1 , 205 Hz
of beats per second heard by the observer is
(approximately) (c)
29.5 ms−1 , 200 Hz (d)
32.5 ms−1 , 205 Hz
(a) 8 (b) 6 33. At what speed should a source of sound move so
(c) 4 (d) 2 that stationary observer finds the apparent
27. A motor car blowing a horn of frequency frequency equal to half of the original frequency
124vib/sec moves with a velocity 72 km/hr [RPMT 1996]
towards a tall wall. The frequency of the reflected v
sound heard by the driver will be (velocity of
sound in air is 330 m/s) [MP PET 1997] (a) 2 (b) 2v
(a) 109 vib/sec (b) 132 vib/sec v
(c) 140 vib/sec (d) 248 vib/sec (c) 4 (d) v
28. A source of sound of frequency n is moving 34. A boy is walking away from a wall towards an
towards a stationary observer with a speed S. If observer at a speed of 1 metre/sec and blows a
the speed of sound in air is V and the frequency whistle whose frequency is 680 Hz. The number of
n1 n1 / n beats heard by the observer per second is
heard by the observer is , the value of is
[MP PMT 1997] (Velocity of sound in air = 340 metres/sec

(V +S )/V V /(V +S ) [MP PMT 1995]

(a) (b)
(a) Zero (b) 2
(c)
(V −S )/V (d)
V /(V −S )
(c) 8 (d) 4
29. A vehicle with a horn of frequency n is moving
35. The driver of a car travelling with speed 30 metres
with a velocity of 30 m/s in a direction
per second towards a hill sounds a horn of
perpendicular to the straight line joining the
observer and the vehicle. The observer perceives frequency 600 Hz. If the velocity of sound in air is
n+ n1 330 metres per second, the frequency of the
the sound to have a frequency . Then (if the reflected sound as heard by the driver is
sound velocity in air is 300 m/s)
[MP PMT 1996]
[CBSE PMT 1998; AIIMS 2000]
(a) 720 Hz (b) 555.5 Hz
n1 =10 n n1 =0
(a) (b) (c) 550 Hz (d) 500 Hz
n1 =0 . 1 n n1 =−0 . 1 n 36. Two sirens situated one kilometer apart are
(c) (d)
producing sound of frequency 330 Hz. An observer
30. A whistle giving out 450 Hz approaches a
starts moving from one siren to the other with a
stationary observer at a speed of 33 m/s. The
speed of 2 m/s. If the speed of sound be 330 m/s,
frequency heard by the observer in Hz is
[IIT 1997 Cancelled] what will be the beat frequency heard by the
observer [RPMT 1996; CPMT 2002]
(a) 409 (b) 429
(a) 8 (b) 4
(c) 517 (d) 500
(c) 6 (d) 1
31. An observer is moving away from source of sound
of frequency 100 Hz. His speed is 33 m/s. If speed 37. A source of sound is travelling with a velocity 40
of sound is 330 m/s, then the observed frequency km/hour towards observer and emits sound of
is frequency 2000 Hz. If velocity of sound is 1220
 Waves and Sound 866
km/hour, then what is the apparent frequency [KCET 2000; AMU 1999; Pb. PET 2003]
heard by an observer [AFMC 1997] (a) 436 to 586 (b) 426 to 574
(a) 2210 Hz (b) 1920 Hz (c) 426 to 584 (d) 436 to 674
(c) 2068 Hz (d) 2086 Hz 44. A train moves towards a stationary observer with
speed 34 m/s. The train sounds a whistle and its
38. A source of sound and listener are approaching
each other with a speed of 40 m/s. The apparent
f
frequency registered by the observer is 1 . If the
frequency of note produced by the source is 400 train’s speed is reduced to 17 m/s, the frequency
cps. Then, its true frequency (in cps) is (velocity of f2
registered is . If the speed of sound is 340 m/s
sound in air = 360 m/s)
f 1/ f 2
[KCET 1999] then the ratio is
(a) 420 (b) 360 [IIT-JEE (Screening) 2000]

(c) 400 (d) 320 (a) 18/19 (b) 1/2

39. A siren emitting sound of frequency 500 Hz is going (c) 2 (d) 19/18
away from a static listener with a speed of 50 45. If source and observer both are relatively at rest
m/sec. The frequency of sound to be heard, directly and if speed of sound is increased then frequency
from the siren, is heard by observer will
[AIIMS 1999; Pb. PMT 2003] [RPET 2000; J & K CET 2004]
(a) 434.2 Hz (b) 589.3 Hz
(a) Increases (b) Decreases
(c) 481.2 Hz (d) 286.5 Hz
(c) Can not be predicted (d) Will not change
40. A man sitting in a moving train hears the whistle
of the engine. The frequency of the whistle is 600 46. A source and an observer move away from each
Hz other with a velocity of 10 m/s with respect to
[JIPMER 1999] ground. If the observer finds the frequency of
sound coming from the source as 1950 Hz, then
(a) The apparent frequency as heard by him is
smaller than 600 Hz actual frequency of the source is (velocity of
sound in air = 340 m/s) [EAMCET 1997;
(b) The apparent frequency is larger than 600 Hz
MH CET 2000; AFMC 2000; CBSE PMT 2001]
(c) The frequency as heard by him is 600 Hz
(d) None of the above (a) 1950 Hz (b) 2068 Hz

41. A source of sound of frequency 500 Hz is moving (c) 2132 Hz (d) 2486 Hz
towards an observer with velocity 30 m/s. The
47. A source is moving towards an observer with a
speed of sound is 330 m/s. the frequency heard by
speed of 20 m/s and having frequency of 240 Hz.
the observer will be
The observer is now moving towards the source
[MP PET 2000; Kerala PMT 2005; UPSEAT with a speed of 20 m/s. Apparent frequency heard
2005]
by observer, if velocity of sound is 340 m/s, is
(a) 550 Hz (b) 458.3 Hz [CPMT 2000; KCET 2001; MH CET 2004]
(c) 530 Hz (d) 545.5 Hz (a) 240 Hz (b) 270 Hz
42. A source of sound of frequency 90 vibrations/ sec (c) 280 Hz (d) 360 Hz
is approaching a stationary observer with a speed
48. A siren placed at a railway platform is emitting
equal to 1/10 the speed of sound. What will be the
sound of frequency 5 kHz. A passenger sitting in a
frequency heard by the observer
moving train A records a frequency of 5.5 kHz
[MP PMT 2000]
while the train approaches the siren. During his
(a) 80 vibrations/sec (b) 90 vibrations/sec return journey in a different train B he records a
(c) 100 vibrations/sec (d) 120 vibrations/sec frequency of 6.0 kHz while approaching the same
siren. The ratio of the velocity of train B to that of
43. A whistle of frequency 500 Hz tied to the end of a
train A is
string of length 1.2 m revolves at 400 rev/min. A
listener standing some distance away in the plane of [IIT-JEE (Screening) 2002]
rotation of whistle hears frequencies in the range (a) 242/252 (b) 2
(speed of sound = 340 m/s)
(c) 5/6 (d) 11/6
 867 Waves and Sound
49. A whistle revolves in a circle with an angular
when the source is at
A, B and C respectively.
speed of 20 rad/sec using a string of length 50 cm.
Then [UPSEAT 2002]
If the frequency of sound from the whistle is 385
Hz, then what is the minimum frequency heard by n1 >n2 > n3 B
(a)
an observer, which is far away from the centre in
C
the same plane ? (v = 340 m/s) n2 >n3 >n1
(b)
[CBSE PMT 2002]
A
n1 =n 2 >n3
(a) 333 Hz (b) 374 Hz (c)
(c) 385 Hz (d) 394 Hz n2 >n1 > n3
(d)
50. A Siren emitting sound of frequency 800 Hz is
55. A source and an observer approach each other
going away from a static listener with a speed of
with same velocity 50 m/s. If the apparent
30 m/s, frequency of the sound to be heard by the
frequency is 435 sec–1, then the real frequency is
listener is (take velocity of sound as 330 m/s)
[CPMT 2003]
[CPMT 1996; AIIMS 2002; Pb. PMT 2001]
(a) 320 s–1 (b) 360 sec–1
(a) 733.3 Hz (b) 644.8 Hz
(c) 390 sec–1 (d) 420 sec–1
(c) 481.2 Hz (d) 286.5 Hz
56. A source emits a sound of frequency of 400 Hz,
51. A car sounding a horn of frequency 1000 Hz but the listener hears it to be 390 Hz. Then
passes an observer. The ratio of frequencies of the
[Orissa JEE 2003]
horn noted by the observer before and after
passing of the car is 11 : 9. If the speed of sound is (a) The listener is moving towards the source
v, the speed of the car is (b) The source is moving towards the listener
[MP PET 2002] (c) The listener is moving away from the source
1 1 (d) The listener has a defective ear
v v
(a) 10 (b) 2 57. Doppler effect is applicable for
[AFMC 2003]
1
v (a) Moving bodies
(c) 5 (d) v
(b) One is moving and other are stationary
52. What should be the velocity of a sound source
(c) For relative motion
moving towards a stationary observer so that
(d) None of these
apparent frequency is double the actual frequency
(Velocity of sound is v) 58. A source and an observer are moving towards
[MP PMT 2002]
v

(a) v (b) 2v each other with a speed equal to 2 where v is

the speed of sound. The source is emitting sound
v v of frequency n. The frequency heard by the
(c) 2 (d) 4 observer will be [MP PET 2003]

53. Two trains are moving towards each other at (a) Zero (b) n
speeds of 20 m/s and 15 m/s relative to the n
ground. The first train sounds a whistle of
(c) 3 (d) 3 n
frequency 600 Hz. the frequency of the whistle
heard by a passenger in the second train before 59. When an engine passes near to a stationary
the train meets is (the speed of sound in air is 340 observer then its apparent frequencies occurs in
m/s) the ratio 5/3. If the velocity of engine is
[MP PMT 2003]
[UPSEAT 2002]
(a) 540 m/s (b) 270 m/s
(a) 600 Hz (b) 585 Hz
(c) 645 Hz (d) 666 Hz (c) 85 m/s (d) 52.5 m/s

54. A small source of sound moves on a circle as 60. A police car horn emits a sound at a frequency
shown in the figure and an observer is standing on 240 Hz when the car is at rest. If the speed of the
sound is 330 m/s, the frequency heard by an
O . Let n1 , n2 and n3 be the frequencies heard
 Waves and Sound 868
observer who is approaching the car at a speed of 2. A spherical source of power 4 W and frequency
11 m/s, is : [UPSEAT 2004] 800 Hz is emitting sound waves. The intensity of
waves at a distance 200 m is [CPMT 1999; JIPMER
(a) 248 Hz (b) 244 Hz 2000]
(c) 240 Hz (d) 230 Hz
(a) 8×10−6 W /m2 (b) 2×10−4 W /m2
61. A person carrying a whistle emitting continuously
a note of 272 Hz is running towards a reflecting (c) 1×10−4 W /m2 (d) 4 W /m2
surface with a speed of 18 km/hour. The speed of
3. If the pressure amplitude in a sound wave is
−1
sound in air is 345 ms . The number of beats tripled, then the intensity of sound is increased by
a factor of
heard by him is
[CPMT 1992; JIPMER 2000]
[Kerala (Engg.) 2002]
(a) 9 (b) 3
(a) 4 (b) 6
(c) 8 (d) 3 (c) 6 (d) √3
4. If the amplitude of sound is doubled and the
62. A bus is moving with a velocity of 5 m/s towards a
frequency reduced to one-fourth, the intensity of
huge wall. the driver sounds a horn of frequency sound at the same point will be
165 Hz. If the speed of sound in air is 355 m/s, the [CBSE PMT 1992]
number of beats heard per second by a passenger (a) Increased by a factor of 2
on the bus will be
(b) Decreased by a factor of 2
[KCET 2001; BHU 2002]
(c) Decreased by a factor of 4
(a) 6 (b) 5 (d) Unchanged
(c) 3 (d) 4 5. Intensity level of a sound of intensity I is 30 dB.
63. A source of sound of frequency 256 Hz is moving I
rapidly towards a wall with a velocity of 5m/s. The I0 I0
The ratio is (Where is the threshold of
speed of sound is 330 m/s. If the observer is
hearing)
between the wall and the source, then beats per
second heard will be [UPSEAT 2002] [KCET 1999; J & K CET 2005]
(a) 3000 (b) 1000
(a) 7.8 Hz (b) 7.7 Hz
(c) 300 (d) 30
(c) 3.9 Hz (d) Zero
6. Decibel is unit of [RPMT 2000]
64. The apparent frequency of a note, when a listener
moves towards a stationary source, with velocity (a) Intensity of light (b) X-rays radiation
of 40 m/s is 200 Hz. When he moves away from capacity
the same source with the same speed, the (c) Sound loudness (d) Energy of radiation
apparent frequency of the same note is 160 Hz.
7. Quality of a musical note depends on
The velocity of sound in air is (in m/s) [KCET 1998]
[MP PMT 1998; KCET 1999; RPET 2000]
(a) 360 (b) 330
(a) Harmonics present
(c) 320 (d) 340
(b) Amplitude of the wave
65. An observer moves towards a stationary source of (c) Fundamental frequency
sound, with a velocity one-fifth of the velocity of
sound. What is the percentage increase in the (d) Velocity of sound in the medium
apparent frequency 8. When we hear a sound, we can identify its source
[AIEEE 2005]
from

(a) 5% (b) 20% [KCET (Med.) 2001]

(c) Zero (d) 0.5% (a) Amplitude of sound

(b) Intensity of sound
Musical Sound (c) Wavelength of sound
(d) Overtones present in the sound
1. The walls of the halls built for music concerts
should 9. A man x can hear only upto 10 kHz and another
[NCERT 1979] man y upto 20 kHz. A note of frequency 500 Hz is
(a) Amplify sound (b) Transmit sound produced before them from a stretched string.
(c) Reflect sound (d) Absorb sound Then
 869 Waves and Sound
[KCET 2002] (a) 70 decibel (b) 72.9 decibel
(a) Both will hear sounds of same pitch but (c) 81 decibel (d) 60 decibel
different quality
16. A musical scale is constructed by providing
(b) Both will hear sounds of different pitch but intermediate frequencies between a note and its
same quality octave which
(c) Both will hear sounds of different pitch and [CPMT 1972; NCERT 1980]
different quality (a) Form an arithmetic progression
(d) Both will hear sounds of same pitch and same (b) Form a geometric progression
quality
(c) Bear a simple ratio with their neighbours
10. The amplitude of two waves are in ratio 5 : 2. If all
other conditions for the two waves are same, then (d) Form a harmonic progression
what is the ratio of their energy densities 17. In a harmonium the intermediate notes between a
[MH CET 2004] note and its octave form [CPMT 1973]
(a) 5 : 2 (b) 10: 4 (a) An arithmetic progression
(c) 2.5 : 1 (d) 25 : 4 (b) A geometric progression
11. A is singing a note and at the same time B is (c) A harmonic progression
singing a note with exactly one-eighth the (d) An exponential progression
frequency of the note of A. The energies of two
sounds are equal, the amplitude of the note of B is 18. The power of a sound from the speaker of a radio
[NCERT 1981; AIIMS 2001] is 20 mW. By turning the knob of the volume
control, the power of the sound is increased to 400
(a) Same that of A (b) Twice as that of A
mW. The power increase in decibels as compared
(c) Four times as that of A (d)Eight times as that
to the original power is
of A
(a) 13 dB (b) 10 dB
12. The loudness and pitch of a sound depends on
[KCET 2004; Pb. PET 2003] (c) 20 dB (d) 800 dB

(a) Intensity and velocity 19. If separation between screen and source is
increased by 2% what would be the effect on the
(b) Frequency and velocity
intensity [CPMT 2003]
(c) Intensity and frequency
(a) Increases by 4% (b) Increases by 2%
(d) Frequency and number of harmonics
(c) Decreases by 2% (d) Decreases by 4%
13. If T is the reverberation time of an auditorium of
20. The musical interval between two tones of
volume V then [KCET 2003]
frequencies 320 Hz and 240 Hz is
1 1 [MP PMT 1992; AFMC 1992]
T∝ T∝
V V2
( 43 )
(a) (b)
2
(c) T ∝V (d) T ∝V (a) 80 (b)
14. The intensity of sound from a radio at a distance (c) 560 (d) 320 × 240
−2 2
of 2 metres from its speaker is 1×0 μ W /m . 21. In an orchestra, the musical sounds of different
The
instruments are distinguished from one another by
intensity at a distance of 10 meters would be
which of the following characteristics
[CPMT 2005]
[CBSE PMT 1993]
−2 2 −2 2
(a)
0.2×10 μ W /m (b)
1×10 μ W /m (a) Pitch (b) Loudness
(c) Quality (d) Overtones
(c)
4×10−4 μ W /m2 (d)
5×10−2 μ W /m2
22. The intensity level due to two waves of the same
15. The intensity of sound wave while passing through frequency in a given medium are 1 bel and 5 bel.
an elastic medium falls down by 10% as it covers Then the ratio of amplitudes is
one metre distance through the medium. If the (a) 1 : 4 (b) 1 : 2
initial intensity of the sound wave was 100
(c) 1 : 104 (d) 1 : 102
decibels, its value after it has passed through 3
metre thickness of the medium will be [CPMT 23. It is possible to recognise a person by hearing his
1988] voice even if he is hidden behind a wall. This is
 Waves and Sound 870
due to the fact that his voice (a) Zero (b) 54 dB
[CPMT 1972] (c) 64 dB (d) 44 dB
(a) Has a definite pitch (b) Has a definite quality 30. A point source emits sound equally in all directions
(c) Has a definite loudness (d) Can penetrate the Q
wall in a non-absorbing medium. Two points P and
24. Of the following the one which emits sound of are at distances of 2 m and 3 m respectively from
higher pitch is the source. The ratio of the intensities of the
(a) Mosquito (b) Lion
waves at P and
Q is [CBSE PMT 2005]
(c) Man (d) Woman
(a) 9 : 4 (b) 2 : 3
25. In the musical octave ‘Sa’, ‘Re’, ‘Ga’
(c) 3 : 2 (d) 4 : 9
(a) The frequency of the note ‘Sa’ is greater than
that of ‘Re’, ‘Ga’ 31. Quality depends on [AFMC 2003]

(b) The frequency of the note ‘Sa’ is smaller than (a) Intensity (b) Loudness
that of ‘Re’, ‘Ga’ (c) Timbre (d) Frequency
(c) The frequency of all the notes ‘Sa’, ‘Re’, ‘Ga’ is 32. Two waves having sinusoidal waveforms have
the same
different wavelengths and different amplitude.
(d) The frequency decreases in the sequence ‘Sa’, They will be having
‘Re’, ‘Ga’
[BHU 2005]
26. Tone A has frequency of 240 Hz. Of the following
tones, the one which will sound least harmonious (a) Same pitch and different intensity
with A is (b) Same quality and different intensity
(a) 240 (b) 480 (c) Different quality and different intensity
(c) 360 (d) 450 (d) Same quality and different pitch
27. Learned Indian classical vocalists do not like the
accompaniment of a harmonium because [MP PMT
1992] C Critical Thinking
(a) Intensity of the notes of the harmonium is too T
large
Objective Questions
(b) Notes of the harmonium are too shrill
(c) Diatonic scale is used in the harmonium 1. A wave disturbance in a medium is described by

28.
(d) Tempered scale is used in the harmonium
Each of the properties of sound listed in column A
(
y ( x , t )=0 . 02cos 50 πt+
π
2)cos(10 πx )
, where x and y
primarily depends on one of the quantities in are in metres and t in seconds
column B. Choose the matching pairs from two [IIT 1995]
columns
(a) A displacement node occurs at x = 0.15 m
Column A Column B
(b) An antinode occurs at x = 0.3 m
Pitch Waveform
(c) The wavelength of the wave is 0.2 m
Quality Frequency
(d) The speed of the wave is 5.0 m/s
Loudness Intensity [IIT 1980]
2. The (x, y) coordinates of the corners of a square
(a) Pitch-waveform, Quality-frequency; Loudness- plate are (0, 0), (L, 0), (L, L) and (0, L). The edges
intensity of the plate are clamped and transverse standing
(b) Pitch-frequency, Quality-waveform; Loudness- waves are set up in it. If u(x, y) denotes the
intensity displacement of the plate at the point (x, y) at
some instant of time, the possible expression(s)
(c) Pitch-intensity, Quality-waveform; Loudness- for u is(are) (a = positive constant)
frequency [IIT 1998; Orissa PMT 2004]
(d) Pitch-waveform, Quality- intensity; Loudness- πx πy πx πy
frequency a cos cos a sin sin
(a) 2L 2L (b) L L
29. Intensity level 200 cm from a source of sound is
80 dB. If there is no loss of acoustic power in air πx 2 πy 2 πx πy
a sin sin a cos cos
−12 −2 L L L L
and intensity of threshold hearing is 10 Wm (c) (d)
then, what is the intensity level at a distance of 3. The ends of a stretched wire of length L are fixed
400 cm from source at x=0 and x=L . In one experiment, the
 871 Waves and Sound
y 1 =A sin( πx /L )sin ωt m, the same tuning fork resonates with the first
displacement of the wire is overtone. Calculate the end correction
E1
and energy is , and in another experiment its [IIT-JEE (Screening) 2003]
y 2 = A sin(2 πx /L )sin 2 ωt (a) 0.012m (b) 0.025m
displacement is and energy
E2 (c) 0.05m (d) 0.024m
is . Then
8. A closed organ pipe of length L and an open organ
[IIT-JEE (Screening)
2001] 1 and ρ ρ
2
pipe contain gases of densities
E2 =E1 E2 =2 E1 respectively. The compressibility of gases are
(a) (b)
equal in both the pipes. Both the pipes are
E2 =4 E1 E2 =16 E1 vibrating in their first overtone with same
(c) (d)
frequency. The length of the open organ pipe is
4. In a large room, a person receives direct sound
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2004]
waves from a source 120 metres away from him.
He also receives waves from the same source L 4L
which reach him, being reflected from the 25 3
metre high ceiling at a point halfway between (a) (b) 3

√ √
them. The two waves interfere constructively for ρ1 ρ2
wavelength of 4L 4L
3 ρ2 3 ρ1
[Roorkee 1982] (c) (d)
(a) 20, 20/3, 20/5 etc (b) 10, 5, 2.5 etc
(c) 10, 20, 30 etc (d) 15, 25, 35 etc
5. A train has just complicated a U-curve in a track
which is a semicircle. The engine is at the forward
end of the semi circular part of the track while the
last carriage is at the rear end of the semicircular
track. The driver blows a whistle of frequency 200
Hz. Velocity of sound is 340 m/sec. Then the
apparent frequency as observed by a passenger in
the middle of a train when the speed of the train is
30 m/sec is

Observer

v
Engine

(a) 209 Hz (b) 288 Hz

(c) 200 Hz (d) 181 Hz
6. Two identical flutes produce fundamental notes of

frequency 300 Hz at 27 o C. If the temperature of

o
air in one flute is increased to 31 C, the number
of the beats heard per second will be
[UPSEAT 2002]
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) 4
7. 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 0.1 m. when this length is changed to 0.35