834 Waves and Sound

3. Ultrasonic, Infrasonic and audible waves travel through a 11. The relation between phase difference () and path
medium with speeds Vu , Vi and Va respectively, then difference (x) is [MNR 1995; UPSEAT 1999, 2000]

[CPMT 1989] 2
(a)   x (b)   2x

(a) Vu , Vi and Va are nearly equal
2 2 x
(b) Vu  Va  Vi (c)   (d)  
x 
(c) Vu  Va  Vi 12. A hospital uses an ultrasonic scanner to locate tumours in a
tissue. The operating frequency of the scanner is 4.2 MHz.
(d) Va  Vu and Vu  Vi The speed of sound in a tissue is 1.7 km-s–1. The wavelength
4. The distance between two consecutive crests in a wave train of sound in the tissue is close to
produced in a string is 5 cm. If 2 complete waves pass [CBSE PMT 1995]
through any point per second, the velocity of the wave is (a) 4  10 4
m (b) 8  10 3
m
[CPMT 1990]
(c) 4  10 3 m (d) 8  10 4 m
(a) 10 cm/sec (b) 2.5 cm/sec
13. The minimum audible wavelength at room temperature is
(c) 5 cm/sec (d) 15 cm/sec
about [AFMC 1996]
5. A tuning fork makes 256 vibrations per second in air. When
(a) 0.2 Å (b) 5 Å
the velocity of sound is 330 m/s, then wavelength of the tone
emitted is [KCET 1994; AFMC 1998;
(c) 5 cm to 2 metre (d) 20 mm

MH CET 1999; CBSE PMT 1999]

14. The ratio of the speed of sound in nitrogen gas to that in
helium gas, at 300 K is [IIT 1999]
(a) 0.56 m (b) 0.89 m
(a) 2/7 (b) 1/7
(c) 1.11 m (d) 1.29 m
6. A man sets his watch by a whistle that is 2 km away. How (c) 3 /5 (d) 6 /5
much will his watch be in error. (speed of sound in air 330 15. In a sinusoidal wave, the time required for a particular point
m/sec) [MP PET 1991] to move from maximum displacement to zero displacement
(a) 3 seconds fast (b) 3 seconds slow is 0.170 second. The frequency of the wave is
[CBSE PMT 1998; AIIMS 2001;
(c) 6 seconds fast (d) 6 seconds slow
AFMC 2002; CPMT 2004]
7. When a sound wave of frequency 300 Hz passes through a
(a) 1.47 Hz (b) 0.36 Hz
medium the maximum displacement of a particle of the
medium is 0.1 cm. The maximum velocity of the particle is (c) 0.73 Hz (d) 2.94 Hz
equal to [MNR 1992; UPSEAT 1998, 2000; 16. The number of waves contained in unit length of the medium
RPMT 2002; Pb. PET 2004] is called [AIIMS 1998]
(a) Elastic wave (b) Wave number
(a) 60  cm/sec (b) 30  cm/sec
(c) Wave pulse (d) Electromagnetic wave
(c) 30 cm/sec (d) 60 cm/sec
17. The frequency of a rod is 200 Hz. If the velocity of sound in
8. Sound waves have the following frequencies that are audible
air is 340 ms 1 , the wavelength of the sound produced is
to human beings [CPMT 1975]
[EAMCET (Med.) 1995;
(a) 5 c/s (b) 27000 c/s
Pb. PMT 1999; CPMT 2000]
(c) 5000 c/s (d) 50,000 c/s
(a) 1.7 cm (b) 6.8 cm
9. Velocity of sound waves in air is 330 m/sec. For a particular
(c) 1.7 m (d) 6.8 m
sound in air, a path difference of 40 cm is equivalent to a
phase difference of 1.6 . The frequency of this wave is 18. Frequency range of the audible sounds is
[CBSE PMT 1990] [EAMCET (Med.) 1995; RPMT 1997]

(a) 165 Hz (b) 150 Hz (a) 0 Hz – 30 Hz (b) 20 Hz – 20 kHz

(c) 660 Hz (d) 330 Hz (c) 20 kHz – 20,000 kHz (d) 20 kHz – 20 MHz

10. The wavelength of ultrasonic waves in air is of the order of 19. In a medium sound travels 2 km in 3 sec and in air, it travels
3 km in 10 sec. The ratio of the wavelengths of sound in the
[EAMCET 1989]
two media is [NTSE 1995]
5 8
(a) 5  10 cm (b) 5  10 cm (a) 1 : 8 (b) 1 : 18
(c) 5  10 cm5
(d) 5  10 cm8 (c) 8 : 1 (d) 20 : 9
 Waves and Sound 835

20. A stone is dropped into a lake from a tower 500 metre high. 29. The wave length of light in visible part ( V ) and for sound
The sound of the splash will be heard by the man ( S ) are related as [RPMT 1999]
approximately after [CPMT 1992; JIPMER 2001, 02;
(a) V  S (b) S  V
Kerala PMT 2005]
(a) 11.5 seconds (b) 21 seconds (c) S  V (d) None of these

(c) 10 seconds (d) 14 seconds 30. Which of the following is different from others
21. When sound waves travel from air to water, which of the [AFMC 1994; CPMT 1999; Pb. PMT 2004]
following remains constant (a) Velocity (b) Wavelength
[AFMC 1993; DCE 1999; CPMT 2004] (c) Frequency (d) Amplitude

(a) Velocity (b) Frequency 31. The phase difference between two points separated by 1m in
a wave of frequency 120 Hz is 90 o . The wave velocity is
(c) Wavelength (d) All the above
[KCET 1999]
22. A stone is dropped in a well which is 19.6m deep. Echo sound (a) 180 m/s (b) 240 m/s
is heard after 2.06 sec (after dropping) then the velocity of
(c) 480 m/s (d) 720 m/s
sound is [RPMT 1999]
32. The echo of a gun shot is heard 8 sec. after the gun is fired.
(a) 332.6 m/sec (b) 326.7 m/sec How far from him is the surface that reflects the sound
(c) 300.4 m/sec (d) 290.5 m/sec (velocity of sound in air = 350 m/s) [JIPMER 1999]

23. At what temperature velocity of sound is double than that of (a) 1400 m (b) 2800 m
at 0°C [RPMT 1999] (c) 700 m (d) 350 m
(a) 819 K (b) 819°C 33. A man sets his watch by the sound of a siren placed at a
distance 1 km away. If the velocity of sound is 330 m/s
(c) 600°C (d) 600 K
[JIPMER 1999]
24. Velocity of sound is maximum in (a) His watch is set 3 sec. faster
[AFMC 1998; BCECE 2001; RPMT 1999, 02] (b) His watch is set 3 sec. slower
(a) Air (b) Water (c) His watch is set correctly
(c) Vacuum (d) Steel (d) None of the above

25. If velocity of sound in a gas is 360 m/s and the distance 34. Velocity of sound in air is
between a compression and the nearest rarefaction is 1m, [Pb. PMT 1999; UPSEAT 2000]
then the frequency of sound is [KCET 1999] (a) Faster in dry air than in moist air
(a) 90 Hz (b) 180 Hz (b) Directly proportional to pressure
(c) 360 Hz (d) 720 Hz (c) Directly proportional to temperature
26. If the density of oxygen is 16 times that of hydrogen, what (d) Independent of pressure of air
will be the ratio of their corresponding velocities of sound 35. Two monoatomic ideal gases 1 and 2 of molecular masses m1
waves [KCET 1999] and m2 respectively are enclosed in separate containers kept
(a) 1 : 4 (b) 4 : 1 at the same temperature. The ratio of the speed of sound in
gas 1 to that in gas 2 is given by
(c) 16 : 1 (d) 1 : 16
[IIT-JEE Screening 2000]
27. At which temperature the speed of sound in hydrogen will be
same as that of speed of sound in oxygen at 100oC m1 m2
(a) (b)
[UPSEAT 1999]
m2 m1

(a) – 148oC (b) – 212.5oC m1 m2

(c) (d)
(c) – 317.5oC (d) – 249.7oC m2 m1

28. A tuning fork produces waves in a medium. If the 36. A man is standing between two parallel cliffs and fires a gun.
temperature of the medium changes, then which of the If he hears first and second echoes after 1.5 s and 3.5s
following will change [EAMCET (Med.) 1998; respectively, the distance between the cliffs is (Velocity of
Pb. PMT 1999; MH CET 2001]
sound in air = 340 ms–1)
[EAMCET (Med.) 2000]
(a) Amplitude (b) Frequency
(a) 1190 m (b) 850 m
(c) Wavelength (d) Time-period
(c) 595 m (d) 510 m
 836 Waves and Sound
37. When the temperature of an ideal gas is increased by 600 K, 46. The type of waves that can be propagated through solid is
the velocity of sound in the gas becomes 3 times the initial [CPMT 2000]
velocity in it. The initial temperature of the gas is (a) Transverse (b) Longitudinal
[EAMCET (Med.) 2000] (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
(a)  73 o C (b) 27 o C 47. A man stands in front of a hillock and fires a gun. He hears an
echo after 1.5 sec. The distance of the hillock from the man is
(c) 127 C o
(d) 327 C o
(velocity of sound in air is 330 m/s)
38. The frequency of a sound wave is n and its velocity is v. If the [EAMCET (Eng.) 1998; CPMT 2000]
frequency is increased to 4n, the velocity of the wave will be
(a) 220 m (b) 247.5 m
[MP PET 2000]
(c) 268.5 m (d) 292.5 m
(a) v (b) 2v
48. Velocity of sound in air
(c) 4 v (d) v /4
I. Increases with temperature
39. The temperature at which the speed of sound in air becomes
II. Decreases with temperature
double of its value at 27 o C is
III. Increase with pressure
[CPMT 1997; UPSEAT 2000; DPMT 2003]
IV. Is independent of pressure
(a) 54 o C (b) 327 o C
V. Is independent of temperature
(c) 927 C o
(d)  123 C o
Choose the correct answer. [Kerala (Engg.) 2001]
40. The speed of a wave in a certain medium is 960 m/s. If 3600 (a) Only I and II are true (b) Only I and III are true
waves pass over a certain point of the medium in 1 minute,
(c) Only II and III are true (d) Only I and IV are true
the wavelength is [MP PMT 2000]
(a) 2 metres (b) 4 metres 49. The speed of a wave in a medium is 760 m/s. If 3600 waves
are passing through a point, in the medium in 2 minutes, then
(c) 8 metres (d) 16 metres
its wavelength is [AFMC 1998; CPMT 2001]
41. Speed of sound at constant temperature depends on
(a) 13.8 m (b) 25.3 m
[RPET 2000; AIIMS 1998]
(c) 41.5 m (d) 57.2 m
(a) Pressure (b) Density of gas
50. If at same temperature and pressure, the densities for two
(c) Above both (d) None of the above
diatomic gases are respectively d1 and d 2 , then the ratio of
42. A man standing on a cliff claps his hand hears its echo after 1
sec. If sound is reflected from another mountain and velocity velocities of sound in these gases will be
of sound in air is 340 m/sec. Then the distance between the [CPMT 2001]
man and reflection point is [RPET 2000]
d2 d1
(a) 680 m (b) 340 m (a) (b)
d1 d2
(c) 85 m (d) 170 m
43. What will be the wave velocity, if the radar gives 54 waves (c) d1d 2 (d) d1 d 2
per min and wavelength of the given wave is 10 m
51. The frequency of a tunning fork is 384 per second and
[RPET 2000] velocity of sound in air is 352 m/s. How far the sound has
(a) 4 m/sec (b) 6 m/sec traversed while fork completes 36 vibration
(c) 9 m/sec (d) 5 m/sec [KCET 2001]
44. Sound velocity is maximum in (a) 3 m (b) 13 m
[Pb. CET 2000; RPMT 2000] (c) 23 m (d) 33 m
(a) H 2 (b) N 2 52. v1 and v 2 are the velocities of sound at the same
(c) He (d) O2 temperature in two monoatomic gases of densities 1 and

45. The minimum distance of reflector surface from the source 1

 2 respectively. If 1 /  2  then the ratio of velocities
for listening the echo of sound is 4
v1 and v 2 will be [KCET 2000; AIIMS 2002; AFMC 2002]
[CPMT 1997; RPMT 1999; KCET 2000]
(a) 28 m (b) 18 m (a) 1 : 2 (b) 4 : 1

(c) 19 m (d) 16.5 m (c) 2 : 1 (d) 1 : 4

 Waves and Sound 837

53. The temperature at which the speed of sound in air becomes 62. If the temperature of the atmosphere is increased the
double of its value at 0 o C is [AIEEE 2002] following character of the sound wave is effected
(a) 273K (b) 546K [AFMC 2004]
(c) 1092K (d) 0K (a) Amplitude (b) Frequency
54. If wavelength of a wave is   6000 Å. Then wave number (c) Velocity (d) Wavelength
will be [MH CET 2002] 63. An underwater sonar source operating at a frequency of 60
(a) 166  10 3 m–1 (b) 16 . 6  10 1 m–1 KHz directs its beam towards the surface. If the velocity of
sound in air is 330 m/s, the wavelength and frequency of
(c) 1 . 66  10 6 m–1 (d) 1 . 66  10 7 m–1 waves in air are: [DPMT 2004]
55. Velocity of sound measured in hydrogen and oxygen gas at a
(a) 5.5 mm, 60 KHz (b) 330 m, 60 KHz
given temperature will be in the ratio
[RPET 2001; UPSEAT 2001; KCET 2002, 05] (c) 5.5 mm, 20 KHz (d) 5.5 mm, 80 KHz
(a) 1 : 4 (b) 4 : 1 64. Two sound waves having a phase difference of 60° have path
(c) 2 : 1 (d) 1 : 1 difference of [CBSE PMT 1996; AIIMS 2001]

56. Find the frequency of minimum distance between (a) 2 (b) /2
compression & rarefaction of a wire. If the length of the wire
(c) /6 (d) /3
is 1m & velocity of sound in air is 360 m/s [CPMT 2003]
(a) 90 sec–1 (b) 180s–1 65. It is possible to distinguish between the transverse and
longitudinal waves by studying the property of
(c) 120 sec–1 (d) 360 sec–1
[CPMT 1976; EAMCET 1994]
57. The velocity of sound is vs in air. If the density of air is
(a) Interference (b) Diffraction
increased to 4 times, then the new velocity of sound will be
[BHU 2003] (c) Reflection (d) Polarisation

vs vs 66. Water waves are [EAMCET 1979; AIIMS 2004]

(a) (b)
2 12 (a) Longitudinal
3 2 (b) Transverse
(c) 12 v s (d) vs
2 (c) Both longitudinal and transverse
58. It takes 2.0 seconds for a sound wave to travel between two (d) Neither longitudinal nor transverse
fixed points when the day temperature is 10 o C. If the 67. Sound travels in rocks in the form of
temperature rise to 30 o C the sound wave travels between [NCERT 1968]
the same fixed parts in [Orissa JEE 2003]
(a) Longitudinal elastic waves only
(a) 1.9 sec (b) 2.0 sec
(b) Transverse elastic waves only
(c) 2.1 sec (d) 2.2 sec
(c) Both longitudinal and transverse elastic waves
59. If vm is the velocity of sound in moist air, vd is the velocity of
sound in dry air, under identical conditions of pressure and (d) Non-elastic waves
temperature [KCET 2002, 03] 68. The waves in which the particles of the medium vibrate in a
(a) vm > vd (b) vm < vd direction perpendicular to the direction of wave motion is
known as
(c) vm = vd (d) vmvd = 1
[EAMCT 1981; AIIMS 1998; DPMT 2000]
60. A man, standing between two cliffs, claps his hands and
starts hearing a series of echoes at intervals of one second. If (a) Transverse wave (b) Longitudinal waves
the speed of sound in air is 340 ms-1, the distance between (c) Propagated waves (d) None of these
the cliffs is [KCET 2004]
69. A medium can carry a longitudinal wave because it has the
(a) 340 m (b) 1620 m property of [KCET 1994]
(c) 680 m (d) 1700 m (a) Mass (b) Density
61. A source of sound of frequency 600 Hz is placed inside water. (c) Compressibility (d) Elasticity
The speed of sound in water is 1500 m/s and in air is 300
70. Which of the following is the longitudinal wave
m/s. The frequency of sound recorded by an observer who is
standing in air is [IIT-JEE Screening 2004] [AFMC 1997]

(a) 200 Hz (b) 3000 Hz (a) Sound waves (b) Waves on plucked string

(c) 120 Hz (d) 600 Hz (c) Water waves (d) Light waves
71. The nature of sound waves in gases is
 838 Waves and Sound
[RPMT 1999; RPET 2000; J & K CET 2004] (a) Seismic waves (b) Sonic waves
(a) Transverse (b) Longitudinal (c) Ultrasonic waves (d) Infrasonic waves
(c) Stationary (d) Electromagnetic
82. ‘SONAR’ emits which of the following waves
72. Transverse waves can propagate in
[AIIMS 1999]
[CPMT 1984; KCET 2000; RPET 2001]
(a) Radio waves (b) Ultrasonic waves
(a) Liquids (b) Solids
(c) Light waves (d) Magnetic waves
(c) Gases (d) None of these
73. Sound waves in air are [RPET 2000; AFMC 2001]
83. Which of the following do not require medium for
transmission [RPMT 2000]
(a) Transverse (b) Longitudinal
(a) Cathode ray (b) Electromagnetic wave
(c) De-Broglie waves (d) All the above
(c) Sound wave (d) None of the above
74. Which of the following is not the transverse wave
[AFMC 1999; BHU 2001] 84. Consider the following
(a) X-rays (b)  -rays I. Waves created on the surfaces of a water pond by a
vibrating sources.
(c) Visible light wave (d) Sound wave in a gas
II. Wave created by an oscillating electric field in air.
75. What is the phase difference between two successive crests
in the wave [RPMT 2001, 02; MH CET 2004] III. Sound waves travelling under water.
(a)  (b) /2 Which of these can be polarized [AMU 2001]
(c) 2 (d) 4 (a) I and II (b) II only
76. A wave of frequency 500 Hz has velocity 360 m/sec. The (c) II and III (d) I, II and III
distance between two nearest points 60° out of phase, is
[NCERT 1979; MP PET 1989; JIPMER 1997;
85. Mechanical waves on the surface of a liquid are
RPMT 2002, 03; CPMT 1979, 90, 2003; BCECE 2005] [SCRA 1996]
(a) 0.6 cm (b) 12 cm (a) Transverse
(c) 60 cm (d) 120 cm (b) Longitudinal
77. The following phenomenon cannot be observed for sound (c) Torsional
waves [NCERT 1982; CPMT 1985, 97;
(d) Both transverse and longitudinal
AFMC 2002; RPMT 2003]
86. The ratio of densities of nitrogen and oxygen is 14:16. The
(a) Refraction (b) Interference
temperature at which the speed of sound in nitrogen will be
(c) Diffraction (d) Polarisation same at that in oxygen at 55oC is
78. When an aeroplane attains a speed higher than the velocity [EAMCET (Engg.) 1999]
of sound in air, a loud bang is heard. This is because
(a) 35°C (b) 48°C
[NCERT 1972; J & K CET 2002]
(a) It explodes (c) 65°C (d) 14°C

(b) It produces a shock wave which is received as the bang 87. The intensity of sound increases at night due to
(c) Its wings vibrate so violently that the bang is heard [CPMT 2000]

(d) The normal engine noises undergo a Doppler shift to (a) Increase in density of air (b) Decreases in density of air
generate the bang (c) Low temperature (d) None of these
79. Ultrasonic waves are those waves [CPMT 1979]
88. A wavelength 0.60 cm is produced in air and it travels at a
(a) To which man can hear (b) Man can't hear speed of 300 ms–1. It will be an [UPSEAT 2000]
(c) Are of high velocity (d) Of high amplitude (a) Audible wave (b) Infrasonic wave
80. A big explosion on the moon cannot be heard on the earth (c) Ultrasonic wave (d) None of the above
because [CPMT 1972; AFMC 2005]
89. Speed of sound in mercury at a certain temperature is 1450
(a) The explosion produces high frequency sound waves m/s. Given the density of mercury as 13.6  103 kg / m3, the
which are inaudible
bulk modulus for mercury is [JIPMER 2000]
(b) Sound waves required a material medium for
propagation (a) 2.86 1010 N/m3 (b) 3.86 1010 N/m3
(c) Sound waves are absorbed in the moon's atmosphere (c) 4.86 1010 N/m3 (d) 5.86 1010 N/m3
(d) Sound waves are absorbed in the earth's atmosphere 90. A micro-wave and an ultrasonic sound wave have the same
81. Sound waves of wavelength greater than that of audible wavelength. Their frequencies are in the ratio
sound are called [KCET 1999] (approximately) [Kerala (Engg.) 2002]
 Waves and Sound 839

(a) 106 : 1 (b) 104 : 1 (a) 10 sec 1 (b) 2 sec 1

(c) 102 : 1 (d) 10 : 1
(c) 1 sec 1 (d) 0 . 01 sec 1
91. A point source emits sound equally in all directions in a non-
5. At a moment in a progressive wave, the phase of a particle
absorbing medium, Two points P and Q are at distance of 2m

and 3m respectively from the source. The ratio of the executing S.H.M. is . Then the phase of the particle 15 cm
intensities of the waves at P and Q is [CBSE PMT 2005] 3
T
(a) 9 : 4 (b) 2 : 3 ahead and at the time will be, if the wavelength is 60 cm
2
(c) 3 : 2 (d) 4 : 9 2

(a) (b)
92. A wave has velocity u in medium P and velocity 2u in medium 2 3
Q. If the wave is incident in medium P at an angle of 30° then 5
the angle of refraction will be [J & K CET 2005] (c) Zero (d)
6
(a) 30° (b) 45° 6. The equation of a wave travelling on a string is
(c) 60° (d) 90°  x
y  4 sin  8 t   . If x and y are in cm, then velocity of
93. An observer standing near the sea shore observes 54 waves 2 8
per minute. If the wavelength of the water wave is 10m then wave is [MP PET 1990]
the velocity of water wave is [Kerala (Engg.) 2005] (a) 64 cm/sec in – x direction
(a) 540 ms-1 (b) 5.4 ms-1 (b) 32 cm/sec in – x direction
(c) 32 cm/sec in + x direction
(c) 0.184 ms-1 (d) 9 ms-1
(d) 64 cm/sec in + x direction
94. Ultrasonic signal sent from SONAR returns to it after 7. The equation of a progressive wave is given by
reflection from a rock after a lapse of 1 sec. If the velocity of
y  a sin(628 t  31 . 4 x )
ultrasound in water is 1600 ms–1, the depth of the rock in
water is [JIPMER 2000] If the distances are expressed in cms and time in seconds,
then the wave velocity will be [DPMT 1999]
(a) 300 m (b) 400 m
(a) 314 cm/sec (b) 628 cm/sec
(c) 500 m (d) 800 m
(c) 20 cm/sec (d) 400 cm/sec
Progressive Waves 8. Two waves are given by y1  a sin(t  kx ) and
y 2  a cos( t  kx ) The phase difference between the two
1. The equation of a wave is y  2 sin  (0 . 5 x  200 t) , where x waves is [MP PMT 1993; SCRA 1996; CET 1998;
and y are expressed in cm and t in sec. The wave velocity is EAMCET 1991; Orissa JEE 2002]
[MP PMT 1986]

(a) 100 cm/sec (b) 200 cm/sec (a) (b) 
4
(c) 300 cm/sec (d) 400 cm/sec
 
2. Equation of a progressive wave is given by (c) (d)
8 2
  9. If amplitude of waves at distance r from a point source is A,
y  0 . 2 cos   0 . 04 t  . 02 x  
 6 the amplitude at a distance 2r will be
The distance is expressed in cm and time in second. What will [MP PMT 1985]
be the minimum distance between two particles having the (a) 2A (b) A
phase difference of /2 (c) A/2 (d) A/4
(a) 4 cm (b) 8 cm 10. The relation between time and displacement for two
(c) 25 cm (d) 12.5 cm particles is given by
3. A travelling wave passes a point of observation. At this point, y1  0 . 06 sin 2 (0 . 04 t  1 ) , y 2  0 . 03 sin 2 (1 . 04 t   2 )
the time interval between successive crests is 0.2 seconds
The ratio of the intensity of the waves produced by the
and [MP PMT 1990]
vibrations of the two particles will be [MP PMT 1991]
(a) The wavelength is 5 m
(a) 2 : 1 (b) 1 : 2
(b) The frequency is 5 Hz
(c) 4 : 1 (d) 1 : 4
(c) The velocity of propagation is 5 m/s
11. A wave is reflected from a rigid support. The change in phase
(d) The wavelength is 0.2 m
on reflection will be
4. The equation of a transverse wave is given by
[MP PMT 1990; RPMT 2002]
y  10 sin  (0 . 01 x  2 t)
where x and y are in cm and t is in second. Its frequency is (a)  / 4 (b)  / 2
[MP PET 1990; MNR 1986; RPET 2003]
 840 Waves and Sound
(c)  (d) 2 (b) y(x , t)  0 . 5 cos( 2x  4t)
12. A plane wave is represented by (c) y(x , t)  0 . 5 sin(x  2t)
x  1 . 2 sin(314 t  12 . 56 y ) (d) y(x , t)  0 . 5 cos( 2x  2t)
Where x and y are distances measured along in x and y 18. The displacement of a particle is given by
direction in meters and t is time in seconds. This wave has y  5  10 4 sin(100 t  50 x ) , where x is in meter and t in sec,
[MP PET 1991] find out the velocity of the wave [CPMT 1982]
(a) A wavelength of 0.25 m and travels in + ve x direction (a) 5000 m/sec (b) 2 m/sec
(b) A wavelength of 0.25 m and travels in + ve y direction (c) 0.5 m/sec (d) 300 m/sec
(c) A wavelength of 0.5 m and travels in – ve y direction 19. Which one of the following does not represent a travelling
(d) A wavelength of 0.5 m and travels in – ve x direction wave [NCERT 1984]
13. The displacement y (in cm) produced by a simple harmonic (a) y  sin( x  v t) (b) y  y m sin k (x  v t)
10  x  (c) y  y m log(x  v t) (d) y  f (x 2  v t 2 )
wave is y  sin 2000 t   . The periodic time and
  17 
20. A wave represented by the given equation
maximum velocity of the particles in the medium will
respectively be   
[CPMT 1986] Y  A sin 10  x  15  t   , where x is in meter and t is in
 3
(a) 10 3 sec and 330 m/sec (b) 10 4 sec and 20 m/sec
second. The expression represents [IIT 1990]
(c) 10 3 sec and 200 m/sec (d) 10 2 sec and 2000 m/sec (a) A wave travelling in the positive X direction with a
14. The equation of a wave travelling in a string can be written velocity of 1.5 m/sec
as y  3 cos  (100 t  x ) . Its wavelength is (b) A wave travelling in the negative X direction with a
velocity of 1.5 m/sec
[MNR 1985; CPMT 1991; MP PMT 1994, 97; Pb. PET 2004]
(c) A wave travelling in the negative X direction with a
(a) 100 cm (b) 2 cm wavelength of 0.2 m
(c) 5 cm (d) None of the above (d) A wave travelling in the positive X direction with a
wavelength of 0.2 m
15. A transverse wave is described by the equation
21. A plane wave is described by the equation
 x
Y  Y0 sin 2  ft   . The maximum particle velocity is x 
  y  3 cos   10 t   . The maximum velocity of the
4 2
four times the wave velocity if
particles of the medium due to this wave is [MP PMT 1994]
[IIT 1984; MP PMT 1997; EAMCET; 1998;
3
CBSE PMT 2000; AFMC 2000; MP PMT/PET 1998; 01; (a) 30 (b)
2
KCET 1999, 04; Pb. PET 2001; DPMT 2005]
(c) 3/4 (d) 40
Y0 Y0 22. The path difference between the two waves
(a)   (b)  
4 2  2x   2x 
y1  a1 sin  t   and y 2  a2 cos  t     is
(c)   Y0 (d)   2Y0      
[MP PMT 1994]
16. A wave equation which gives the displacement along the Y
   
direction is given by the equation y  10 4 sin(60 t  2 x ) , (a)  (b)   
2 2  2
where x and y are in metres and t is time in seconds. This
represents a wave 2   2
(c)    (d) 
[MNR 1983; IIT 1982; RPMT 1998; MP PET 2001]
  2 

(a) Travelling with a velocity of 30 m/sec in the negative X 23. Wave equations of two particles are given by
direction y1  a sin( t  kx ) , y 2  a sin(kx   t) , then [BHU 1995]

(b) Of wavelength  metre (a) They are moving in opposite direction

(c) Of frequency 30/ Hz (b) Phase between them is 90°
(d) Of amplitude 10 metre travelling along the negative X
4 (c) Phase between them is 180°
direction (d) Phase between them is 0°
17. A transverse wave of amplitude 0.5 m and wavelength 1 m 24. A wave is represented by the equation y  0 . 5 sin(10 t  x )m
and frequency 2 Hz is propagating in a string in the negative . It is a travelling wave propagating along the + x direction
x-direction. The expression for this wave is with velocity [Roorkee 1995]
[AIIMS 1980]
(a) 10 m/s (b) 20 m/s
(a) y(x , t)  0 . 5 sin(2x  4t)
(c) 5 m/s (d) None of these
 Waves and Sound 841

25. A wave is represented by the equation (c) Varies with time as well as distance
  (d) Is always zero
y  7 sin 7t  0 . 04 x   
 3  t x 
32. A wave is given by y  3 sin 2    , where y is in
x is in metres and t is in seconds. The speed of the wave is  0 . 04 0 . 01 
[MP PET 1996; AMU (Engg.) 1999] cm. Frequency of wave and maximum acceleration of particle
will be [RPET 1997]
(a) 175 m/sec (b) 49 m/sec
(a) 100 Hz , 4 . 7  10 3 cm / s 2 (b) 50 Hz , 7 . 5  10 3 cm / s 2
(c) 49 m/sec (d) 0.28 m/sec
26. The equation of a transverse wave travelling on a rope is (c) 25 Hz , 4 . 7  10 4 cm / s 2 (d) 25 Hz , 7 . 4  10 4 cm / s 2
given by y  10 sin  (0 . 01 x  2 . 00 t) where y and x are in cm 33. Equation of a progressive wave is given by
and t in seconds. The maximum transverse speed of a particle
 t x 
in the rope is about y  4 sin      
[MP PET 1999; AIIMS 2000]  5 9 6
(a) 63 cm/s (b) 75 cm/s Then which of the following is correct [CBSE PMT 1993]

(c) 100 cm/s (d) 121 cm/s (a) v  5 m / sec (b)   18 m

27. As a wave propagates [IIT-JEE 1999] (c) a  0 . 04 m (d) n  50 Hz
(a) The wave intensity remains constant for a plane wave 34. With the propagation of a longitudinal wave through a
(b) The wave intensity decreases as the inverse of the material medium, the quantities transmitted in the
distance from the source for a spherical wave propagation direction are [CBSE PMT 1992; Roorkee 2000]
(c) The wave intensity decreases as the inverse square of (a) Energy, momentum and mass
the distance from the source for a spherical wave (b) Energy
(d) Total intensity of the spherical wave over the spherical (c) Energy and mass
surface centered at the source remains constant at all (d) Energy and linear momentum
times
35. The frequency of the sinusoidal wave
28. A transverse wave is represented by the equation y  0 . 40 cos[ 2000 t  0 . 80 x ] would be [CBSE PMT 1992]
2 (a) 1000  Hz (b) 2000 Hz
y  y 0 sin (vt  x )

1000
(c) 20 Hz (d) Hz
For what value of , the maximum particle velocity equal to 
two times the wave velocity
36. Which of the following equations represents a wave
[CBSE PMT 1998; JIPMER 2001, 02; AFMC 2002]
[CBSE PMT 1994; JIPMER 2000]
(a)   2y 0 (b)   y 0 / 3 (a) Y  A( t  kx ) (b) Y  A sin  t
(c)   y 0 / 2 (d)   y 0 (c) Y  A cos kx (d) Y  A sin(at  bx  c)
29. A travelling wave in a stretched string is described by the 37. The equation of a transverse wave is given by
equation y  A sin(kx  t) . The maximum particle velocity is y  100 sin  (0 . 04 z  2 t)
[IIT 1997 Re-Exam; UPSEAT 2004] where y and z are in cm ant t is in seconds. The frequency of
(a) A (b) /k the wave in Hz is [SCRA 1998]

(c) d/dk (d) x/t (a) 1 (b) 2

30. A wave travels in a medium according to the equation of (c) 25 (d) 100
displacement given by 38. The equation of a plane progressive wave is given by
y(x , t)  0 . 03 sin  (2 t  0 . 01 x ) y  0 . 025 sin(100 t  0 . 25 x ) . The frequency of this wave
would be [CPMT 1993; JIPMER 2001, 02]
where y and x are in metres and t in seconds. The wavelength
of the wave is [EAMCET 1994; CPMT 2004] 50 100
(a) Hz (b) Hz
(a) 200 m (b) 100 m  
(c) 20 m (d) 10 m (c) 100 Hz (d) 50 Hz
31. The particles of a medium vibrate about their mean positions 39. The equation of a sound wave is
whenever a wave travels through that medium. The phase y  0 . 0015 sin(62 . 4 x  316 t)
difference between the vibrations of two such
particles [SCRA 1994]
The wavelength of this wave is
[CBSE PMT 1996; AFMC 2002; AIIMS 2002]
(a) Varies with time
(a) 0.2 unit (b) 0.1 unit
(b) Varies with distance separating them
(c) 0.3 unit (d) Cannot be calculated
 842 Waves and Sound
40. In the given progressive wave equation, what is the 48. The equation of progressive wave is
maximum velocity of particle Y  0 . 5 sin(10 t  5 x ) cm  t x 
y  0 . 2 sin 2    , where x and y are in metre
[BHU 1997]  0 . 01 0 . 3 
(a) 5 cm/s (b) 5 cm/s and t is in second. The velocity of propagation of the wave
(c) 10 cm/s (d) 10.5 cm/s is [KCET 2000]

41. A pulse or a wave train travels along a stretched string and (a) 30 m/s (b) 40 m/s
reaches the fixed end of the string. It will be reflected back (c) 300 m/s (d) 400 m/s
with 49. If the equation of transverse wave is
[CBSE PMT 1997]
 t x 
(a) The same phase as the incident pulse but with velocity y  5 sin 2    , where distance is in cm and time
reversed  0 . 04 40 
in second, then the wavelength of the wave is
(b) A phase change of 180° with no reversal of velocity
[MH CET 2000; DPMT 2003]
(c) The same phase as the incident pulse with no reversal of
(a) 60 cm (b) 40 cm
velocity
(c) 35 cm (d) 25 cm
(d) A phase change of 180° with velocity reversed
42. The equation of a travelling wave is 50. A wave is represented by the equation : y  a sin(0 . 01 x  2 t)
where a and x are in cm. velocity of propagation of wave is
y  60 cos(1800 t  6 x )
[EAMCET 1994; AIIMS 2000; Pb. PMT 2003]
where y is in microns, t in seconds and x in metres. The ratio (a) 10 cm/s (b) 50 cm/s
of maximum particle velocity to velocity of wave propagation
is [CBSE PMT 1997; JIPMER 2001, 02] (c) 100 cm/s (d) 200 cm/s
51. A simple harmonic progressive wave is represented by the
(a) 3 . 6  10 11 (b) 3 . 6  10 6
equation : y  8 sin 2 (0 . 1 x  2 t) where x and y are in cm
(c) 3 . 6  10 4 (d) 3.6 and t is in seconds. At any instant the phase difference
43. The wave equation is y  0 . 30 sin(314 t  1 . 57 x ) where t, x between two particles separated by 2.0 cm in the x-direction
and y are in second, meter and centimeter respectively. The is
speed of the wave is [MP PMT 2000]
[CPMT 1997; AFMC 1999; CPMT 2001] (a) 18o (b) 36o
(a) 100 m/s (b) 200 m/s (c) 54o (d) 72o
(c) 300 m/s (d) 400 m/s 52. The intensity of a progressing plane wave in loss-free
44. Equation of the progressive wave is given by : medium is [Roorkee 2000]
y  a sin  (40 t  x ) where a and x are in metre and t in (a) Directly proportional to the square of amplitude of the
second. The velocity of the wave is [KCET 1999] wave
(a) 80 m/s (b) 10 m/s (b) Directly proportional to the velocity of the wave
(c) 40 m/s (d) 20 m/s (c) Directly proportional to the square of frequency of the
wave
45. Progressive wave of sound is represented by
y  a sin[400  t  x / 6 . 85 ] where x is in m and t is in sec. (d) Inversely proportional to the density of the medium
Frequency of the wave will be [RPMT 1999] 53. The equation of progressive wave is y  a sin(200 t  x ) .
(a) 200 Hz (b) 400 Hz where x is in meter and t is in second. The velocity of wave
is [RPMT 2000]
(c) 500 Hz (d) 600 Hz
(a) 200 m/sec (b) 100 m/sec
46. Two waves of frequencies 20 Hz and 30 Hz. Travels out from
a common point. The phase difference between them after (c) 50 m/sec (d) None of these
0.6 sec is [JIPMER 1999] 54. A wave is represented by the equation y  7 sin{ (2 t  2 x )}
 where x is in metres and t in seconds. The velocity of the
(a) Zero (b) wave is
2
[CPMT 2000; CBSE PMT 2000; Pb. PET 2000]
3
(c)  (d) (a) 1 m/s (b) 2 m/s
4 (c) 5 m/s (d) 10 m/s
47. The phase difference between two points separated by 0.8 m 55. The equation of a longitudinal wave is represented as
in a wave of frequency 120 Hz is 90 o . Then the velocity of y  20 cos  (50 t  x ) . Its wavelength is
wave will be [MH CET 1999]
[UPSEAT 2001; Orissa PMT 2004]
(a) 192 m/s (b) 360 m/s
(a) 5 cm (b) 2 cm
(c) 710 m/s (d) 384 m/s
(c) 50 cm (d) 20 cm
 Waves and Sound 843

56. A wave equation which gives the displacement along y- (a) 1 : 2 (b) 1 : 4
direction is given by y  0 . 001 sin(100 t  x ) where x and y (c) 1 : 8 (d) 1 : 16
are in meterand t is time in second. This represented a wave 62. The equation of a progressive wave is
[UPSEAT 2001]   t x 
y  8 sin       . The wavelength of the wave is
100   10 4  3 
(a) Of frequency Hz
 [MH CET 2002]
(b) Of wavelength one metre (a) 8 m (b) 4 m

(c) Travelling with a velocity of

50
ms–1 in the positive X- (c) 2 m (d) 10 m
 63. Which of the following is not true for this progressive wave
direction
 t x 
(d) Travelling with a velocity of 100 ms–1 in the negative X- y  4 sin 2    where y and x are in cm & t in
 0 . 02 100 
direction
sec [CPMT 2003]
 t x
57. A transverse wave is given by y  A sin 2    . The (a) Its amplitude is 4 cm
T 
(b) Its wavelength is 100 cm
maximum particle velocity is equal to 4 times the wave
velocity when [MP PMT 2001] (c) Its frequency is 50 cycles/sec
1 (d) Its propagation velocity is 50  10 3 cm/sec
(a)   2A (b)   A
2 64. The equation of a wave is given as
1 y  0 . 07 sin(12x  3000 t) . Where x is in metre and t in
(c)   A (d)   A
4 sec, then the correct statement is [UPSEAT 2003]

58. The equation of a wave is represented by (a)   1 / 6 m , v  250 m / s (b) a  0 . 07 m , v  300 m / s

 x 
(c) n  1500 , v  200 m / s
y  10  4 sin 100 t  . The velocity of the wave will be (d) None
 10 
65. The equation of the propagating wave is
[CBSE PMT 2001]
y  25 sin(20 t  5 x ), where y is displacement. Which of the
(a) 100 m/s (b) 250 m/s
following statement is not true [MP PET 2003]
(c) 750 m/s (d) 1000 m/s
(a) The amplitude of the wave is 25 units
59. A wave travelling in positive X-direction with A  0 . 2m has
(b) The wave is propagating in positive x -direction
a velocity of 360 m/sec. if   60m , then correct expression
for the wave is [CBSE PMT 2002; KCET 2003] (c) The velocity of the wave is 4 units
(d) The maximum velocity of the particles is 500 units
  x    x 
(a) y  0 . 2 sin  2  6 t   (b) y  0 . 2 sin   6 t   66. In a plane progressive wave given by y  25 cos( 2t  x ) ,
  60    60 
the amplitude and frequency are respectively
  x    x  [BCECE 2003]
(c) y  0 . 2 sin  2  6 t   (d) y  0 . 2 sin   6 t  
  60    60  (a) 25,100 (b) 25, 1
60. The equation of a wave motion (with t in seconds and x in (c) 25, 2 (d) 50  , 2
 
metres) is given by y  7 sin 7t  0 . 4 x   . The velocity 67. The displacement y of a wave travelling in the x-direction is
 3
of the wave will be given by y  10  4 sin  600 t  2 x    metres, where x is
 3
[BHU 2002]
expressed in metres and t in seconds. The speed of the
(a) 17.5 m/s (b) 49  m/s wave-motion, in ms–1, is [AIEEE 2003]

49 2 (a) 200 (b) 300

(c) m/s (d) m/s
2 49 (c) 600 (d) 1200
61. Two waves represented by the following equations are 68. The displacement y of a particle in a medium can be
travelling in the same medium y1  5 sin 2 (75 t  0 . 25 x ) , expressed as: y  10 6 sin(100 t  20 x   / 4 )m , where t is
y 2  10 sin 2 (150 t  0 . 50 x ) in second and x in meter. The speed of wave is
The intensity ratio I1 / I 2 of the two waves is [AIEEE 2004]

[UPSEAT 2002] (a) 2000 m/s (b) 5 m/s

 844 Waves and Sound
(c) 20 m/s (d) 5 m / s (b) Potential energy
2 (c) Sum of kinetic energy and potential energy
69. If the wave equation y  0 . 08 sin (200 t  x ) then the
 (d) Difference between kinetic energy and potential energy
velocity of the wave will be [BCECE 2004] 76. Equation of a progressive wave is given by
(a) 400 2 (b) 200 2 t x
y  a sin     , where t is in seconds and x is in meters.
2 4 
(c) 400 (d) 200
The distance through which the wave moves in 8 sec is (in
70. The phase difference between two points separated by 0.8 m meter) [KCET 1998]
 (a) 8 (b) 16
in a wave of frequency is 120 Hz is . The velocity of wave
2 (c) 2 (d) 4
is [Pb. PET 2000]
77. The phase difference between two waves represented by
(a) 720 m/s (b) 384 m/s y1  10 6 sin[100 t  (x / 50 )  0 . 5]m
(c) 250 m/s (d) 1 m/s
y 2  10 6 cos [100 t  (x / 50 )]m
71. A plane progressive wave is represented by the equation
where x is expressed in metres and t is expressed in seconds,
 20 x  is approximately [CBSE PMT 2004]
y  0 . 1 sin 200 t   where y is displacement in m, t in
 17  (a) 1.5 rad (b) 1.07 rad
second and x is distance from a fixed origin in meter. The (c) 2.07 rad (d) 0.5 rad
frequency, wavelength and speed of the wave respectively 78. Equation of motion in the same direction are given by
are [Pb. PET 2001]
y1  2a sin(t  kx ) and y 2  2a sin(t  kx   )
(a) 100 Hz, 1.7 m, 170 m/s (b) 150 Hz, 2.4 m, 200 m/s
The amplitude of the medium particle will be [CPMT 2004]
(c) 80 Hz, 1.1 m, 90 m/s (d) 120 Hz, 1.25 m, 207 m/s
(a) 2a cos  (b) 2a cos 
72. The equation of a travelling wave is given by
(c) 4 a cos  / 2 (d) 2 a cos  / 2
y  0 . 5 sin(20 x  400 t) where x and y are in meter and t is in
79. A particle on the trough of a wave at any instant will come to
second. The velocity of the wave is [UPSEAT 2004]
the mean position after a time (T = time period)
(a) 10 m/s (b) 20 m/s [KCET 2005]
(c) 200 m/s (d) 400 m/s (a) T / 2 (b) T / 4
73. A transverse progressive wave on a stretched string has a (c) T (d) 2 T
velocity of 10 ms 1 and a frequency of 100 Hz. The phase 80. If the equation of transverse wave is Y  2 sin(kx  2 t), then
difference between two particles of the string which are 2.5 the maximum particle velocity is [Orissa JEE 2005]
cm apart will be [MP PMT 1994]
(a) 4 units (b) 2 units
  (c) 0 (d) 6 units
(a) (b)
8 4
3  Interference and Superposition of Waves
(c) (d)
8 2
1. There is a destructive interference between the two waves of
74. A transverse sinusoidal wave of amplitude a, wavelength  wavelength  coming from two different paths at a point. To
and frequency n is travelling on a stretched string. The get maximum sound or constructive interference at that
maximum speed of any point on the string is v/10, where v is point, the path of one wave is to be increased by
the speed of propagation of the wave. If a  10 3 m and [MP PET 1985]
1
v  10 ms , then  and n are given by [IIT 1998]  
(a) (b)
4 2
(a)   2  10 2 m (b)   10 3 m
3
10 3 (c) (d) 
(c) n  Hz (d) n  10 Hz 4 4
2
2. When two sound waves with a phase difference of  / 2 , and
75. When a longitudinal wave propagates through a medium, the each having amplitude A and frequency  , are
particles of the medium execute simple harmonic superimposed on each other, then the maximum amplitude
oscillations about their mean positions. These oscillations of and frequency of resultant wave is [MP PMT 1989]
a particle are characterised by an invariant
A  A
[SCRA 1998] (a) : (b) :
2 2 2
(a) Kinetic energy
 Waves and Sound 845

 (d) Both the sources are in the same phase

(c) 2 A: (d) 2 A :
2 10. Two sound waves (expressed in CGS units) given by
3. If the phase difference between the two wave is 2  during 2 2
y1  0 . 3 sin (vt  x ) and y 2  0 . 4 sin (vt  x   )
superposition, then the resultant amplitude is  
[DPMT 2001] interfere. The resultant amplitude at a place where phase
difference is  / 2 will be [MP PET 1991]
(a) Maximum (b) Minimum
(a) 0.7 cm (b) 0.1 cm
(c) Maximum or minimum (d) None of the above
4. The superposition takes place between two waves of 1
(c) 0.5 cm (d) 7 cm
frequency f and amplitude a. The total intensity is directly 10
proportional to [MP PMT 1986] 11. If two waves having amplitudes 2A and A and same
(a) a (b) 2a frequency and velocity, propagate in the same direction in
the same phase, the resulting amplitude will be
(c) 2a 2
(d) 4a 2
[MP PET 1991; DPMT 1999]
5. If two waves of same frequency and same amplitude
respectively, on superimposition produced a resultant (a) 3A (b) 5A
disturbance of the same amplitude, the waves differ in phase
by [MP PMT 1990; MP PET 2000] (c) 2A (d) A
(a)  (b) 2 / 3 12. The intensity ratio of two waves is 1 : 16. The ratio of their
amplitudes is [EAMCET 1983]
(c)  / 2 (d) Zero
(a) 1 : 16 (b) 1 : 4
6. Two sources of sound A and B produces the wave of 350 Hz,
they vibrate in the same phase. The particle P is vibrating (c) 4 : 1 (d) 2 : 1
under the influence of these two waves, if the amplitudes at 13. Out of the given four waves (1), (2), (3) and (4)
the point P produced by the two waves is 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm,
y  a sin(kx  t) ......(1)
then the resultant amplitude of the point P will be when AP –
BP = 25 cm and the velocity of sound is 350 m/sec y  a sin(t  kx ) ......(2)
(a) 0.7 mm (b) 0.1 mm y  a cos(kx  t) ......(3)
(c) 0.2 mm (d) 0.5 mm
y  a cos(t  kx ) ......(4)
7. Two waves are propagating to the point P along a straight
line produced by two sources A and B of simple harmonic and emitted by four different sources S 1 , S 2 , S 3 and S 4
of equal frequency. The amplitude of every wave at P is ‘a’ respectively, interference phenomena would be observed in
 space under appropriate conditions when [CPMT 1988]
and the phase of A is ahead by than that of B and the
3 (a) Source S 1 emits wave (1) and S 2 emits wave (2)
distance AP is greater than BP by 50 cm. Then the resultant (b) Source S 3 emits wave (3) and S 4 emits wave (4)
amplitude at the point P will be, if the wavelength is 1 meter
[BVP 2003] (c) Source S 2 emits wave (2) and S 4 emits wave (4)

(a) 2a (b) a 3 (d) S 4 emits waves (4) and S 3 emits waves (3)
14. Two waves of same frequency and intensity superimpose
(c) a 2 (d) a
with each other in opposite phases, then after superposition
8. Coherent sources are characterized by the same the [AFMC 1995]
[KCET 1993]
(a) Intensity increases by 4 times
(a) Phase and phase velocity
(b) Intensity increases by two times
(b) Wavelength, amplitude and phase velocity
(c) Frequency increases by 4 times
(c) Wavelength, amplitude and frequency
(d) None of these
(d) Wavelength and phase
15. The superposing waves are represented by the following
9. The minimum intensity of sound is zero at a point due to two
equations :
sources of nearly equal frequencies, when
y1  5 sin 2 (10 t  0 . 1 x ) , y 2  10 sin 2 (20 t  0 . 2 x )
(a) Two sources are vibrating in opposite phase
Imax
(b) The amplitude of two sources are equal Ratio of intensities will be
Imin
(c) At the point of observation, the amplitudes of two S.H.M. [AIIMS 1995; KCET 2001]
produced by two sources are equal and both the S.H.M.
(a) 1 (b) 9
are along the same straight line
(c) 4 (d) 16
 846 Waves and Sound
16. The displacement of a particle is given by  
24. Two waves are represented by y1  a sin  t   and
x  3 sin(5 t)  4 cos(5 t)  6
The amplitude of the particle is [MP PMT 1999] y 2  a cos  t . What will be their resultant amplitude
(a) 3 (b) 4 [RPMT 1996]
(c) 5 (d) 7
17. Two waves (a) a (b) 2a
y1  A1 sin(t  1 ) , y 2  A 2 sin(t   2 )
(c) 3a (d) 2a
Superimpose to form a resultant wave whose amplitude is
25. The amplitude of a wave represented by displacement
[CPMT 1999]
1 1
equation y  sin t  cos t will be
(a) A12  A 22  2 A1 A 2 cos(  1   2 ) a b

(b) A12  A 22  2 A1 A 2 sin( 1   2 ) [BVP 2003]

(c) A1  A 2 ab a b
(a) (b)
ab ab
(d) | A1  A 2 |
18. If the ratio of amplitude of wave is 2 : 1, then the ratio of a b ab
(c) (d)
maximum and minimum intensity is [MH CET 1999] ab ab
(a) 9 : 1 (b) 1 : 9 26. Two waves having equations
(c) 4 : 1 (d) 1 : 4 x 1  a sin( t  1 ) , x 2  a sin ( t   2 )
19. The two interfering waves have intensities in the ratio 9 : 4.
If in the resultant wave the frequency and amplitude remain
The ratio of intensities of maxima and minima in the
equal to those of superimposing waves. Then phase
interference pattern will be [AMU 2000]
difference between them is [CBSE PMT 2001]
(a) 1 : 25 (b) 25 : 1
 2
(c) 9 : 4 (d) 4 : 9 (a) (b)
6 3
20. If the ratio of amplitude of two waves is 4 : 3. Then the ratio
 
of maximum and minimum intensity will be (c) (d)
4 3
[MHCET 2000]
(a) 16 : 18 (b) 18 : 16
Beats
(c) 49 : 1 (d) 1 : 49
21. Equation of motion in the same direction is given by 1. Two tuning forks when sounded together produced 4
y 1  A sin(t  kx ) , y 2  A sin(t  kx   ) . The amplitude of beats/sec. The frequency of one fork is 256. The number of
the medium particle will be [BHU 2003] beats heard increases when the fork of frequency 256 is
 loaded with wax. The frequency of the other fork is
(a) 2 A cos (b) 2 A cos 
2 [CPMT 1976; MP PMT 1993]
 (a) 504 (b) 520
(c) 2 A cos (d) 1 . 2 f , 1 . 2 
2 (c) 260 (d) 252
22. Two waves having the intensities in the ratio of 9 : 1 produce 2. Beats are the result of
interference. The ratio of maximum to the minimum
[CPMT 1971; J & K CET 2002]
intensity, is equal to
(a) Diffraction
[CPMT 2001; Pb. PET 2004]
(b) Destructive interference
(a) 2 : 1 (b) 4 : 1
(c) Constructive and destructive interference
(c) 9 : 1 (d) 10 : 8
(d) Superposition of two waves of nearly equal frequency
23. The displacement of the interfering light waves are
  3. Two adjacent piano keys are struck simultaneously. The
y1  4 sin  t and y 2  3 sin  t   . What is the
 2 notes emitted by them have frequencies n1 and n2 . The
amplitude of the resultant wave number of beats heard per second is
[RPMT 1996; Orissa JEE 2005] [CPMT 1974, 78; CBSE PMT 1993]
(a) 5 (b) 7 1 1
(a) (n1  n2 ) (b) (n1  n2 )
(c) 1 (d) 0 2 2
(c) n1 ~ n2 (d) 2 (n1  n2 )
 Waves and Sound 847

4. A tuning fork of frequency 100 when sounded together with [MP PMT 1985]
another tuning fork of unknown frequency produces 2 beats (a) 95 Hz (b) 100 Hz
per second. On loading the tuning fork whose frequency is
(c) 105 Hz (d) 110 Hz
not known and sounded together with a tuning fork of
frequency 100 produces one beat, then the frequency of the 12. Tuning fork F1 has a frequency of 256 Hz and it is observed
other tuning fork is [NCERT 1977] to produce 6 beats/second with another tuning fork F2 .
(a) 102 (b) 98 When F2 is loaded with wax, it still produces 6 beats/second

(c) 99 (d) 101 with F1 . The frequency of F2 before loading was

[MP PET 1990]
5. A tuning fork sounded together with a tuning fork of
frequency 256 emits two beats. On loading the tuning fork of (a) 253 Hz (b) 262 Hz
frequency 256, the number of beats heard are 1 per second. (c) 250 Hz (d) 259 Hz
The frequency of tuning fork is 13. A tuning fork and a sonometer wire were sounded together
[NCERT 1975, 81; MP PET 1985] and produce 4 beats per second. When the length of
sonometer wire is 95 cm or 100 cm, the frequency of the
(a) 257 (b) 258 tuning fork is [MP PMT 1990]
(c) 256 (d) 254 (a) 156 Hz (b) 152 Hz
6. If two tuning forks A and B are sounded together, they (c) 148 Hz (d) 160 Hz
produce 4 beats per second. A is then slightly loaded with
14. Two tuning forks A and B vibrating simultaneously produce
wax, they produce 2 beats when sounded again. The 5 beats. Frequency of B is 512. It is seen that if one arm of A
frequency of A is 256. The frequency of B will be is filed, then the number of beats increases. Frequency of A
[CPMT 1976; RPET 1998] will be [MP PMT 1991]

(a) 250 (b) 252 (a) 502 (b) 507

(c) 260 (d) 262 (c) 517 (d) 522

7. The frequencies of two sound sources are 256 Hz and 260 Hz. 15. The beats are produced by two sound sources of same
At t = 0, the intensity of sound is maximum. Then the phase amplitude and of nearly equal frequencies. The maximum
difference at the time t = 1/16 sec will be intensity of beats will be ...... that of one source
[CPMT 1999]
(a) Zero (b) 
(a) Same (b) Double
(c) /2 (d) /4
(c) Four times (d) Eight times
8. Two tuning forks have frequencies 450 Hz and 454 Hz
16. Beats are produced by two waves given by y1  a sin 2000 t
respectively. On sounding these forks together, the time
interval between successive maximum intensities will be and y 2  a sin 2008 t . The number of beats heard per
[MP PET 1989; MP PMT 2003] second is [CPMT 1990; DCE 1999]

(a) 1/4 sec (b) 1/2 sec (a) Zero (b) One
(c) Four (d) Eight
(c) 1 sec (d) 2 sec
17. A tuning fork whose frequency as given by manufacturer is
9. When a tuning fork of frequency 341 is sounded with 512 Hz is being tested with an accurate oscillator. It is found
another tuning fork, six beats per second are heard. When that the fork produces a beat of 2 Hz when oscillator reads
the second tuning fork is loaded with wax and sounded with 514 Hz but produces a beat of 6 Hz when oscillator reads 510
the first tuning fork, the number of beats is two per second. Hz. The actual frequency of fork is
The natural frequency of the second tuning fork is [MNR 1979; RPMT 1999]
[MP PET 1989] (a) 508 Hz (b) 512 Hz
(a) 334 (b) 339 (c) 516 Hz (d) 518 Hz
(c) 343 (d) 347 18. A tuning fork of frequency 480 Hz produces 10 beats per
10. Two tuning forks of frequencies 256 and 258 vibrations/sec second when sounded with a vibrating sonometer string.
are sounded together, then time interval between What must have been the frequency of the string if a slight
consecutive maxima heard by the observer is increase in tension produces lesser beats per second than
[MP PET/PMT 1988] before [NCERT 1984]
(a) 2 sec (b) 0.5 sec (a) 460 Hz (b) 470 Hz
(c) 250 sec (d) 252 sec (c) 480 Hz (d) 490 Hz
11. A tuning fork gives 5 beats with another tuning fork of
19. When a tuning fork A of unknown frequency is sounded with
frequency 100 Hz. When the first tuning fork is loaded with
another tuning fork B of frequency 256 Hz, then 3 beats per
wax, then the number of beats remains unchanged, then
second are observed. After that A is loaded with wax and
what will be the frequency of the first tuning fork
 848 Waves and Sound
sounded, the again 3 beats per second are observed. The 26. Beats are produced with the help of two sound waves of
frequency of the tuning fork A is amplitudes 3 and 5 units. The ratio of maximum to minimum
[MP PMT 1994] intensity in the beats is [MP PMT 1999]

(a) 250 Hz (b) 253 Hz (a) 2 : 1 (b) 5 : 3

(c) 259 Hz (d) 262 Hz (c) 4 : 1 (d) 16 : 1
20. A source of sound gives five beats per second when sounded 27. Two waves of lengths 50 cm and 51 cm produced 12 beats
with another source of frequency 100 s 1 . The second per second. The velocity of sound is
harmonic of the source together with a source of frequency [CBSE PMT 1999; Pb. PET 2001; AFMC 2003]
205 s 1 gives five beats per second. What is the frequency of (a) 306 m/s (b) 331 m/s
the source [CBSE PMT 1995]
(c) 340 m/s (d) 360 m/s
(a) 105 s 1 (b) 205 s 1 28. Two waves y  0 . 25 sin 316 t and y  0 . 25 sin 310 t are
(c) 95 s 1
(d) 100 s 1 travelling in same direction. The number of beats produced
per second will be
21. When two sound waves are superimposed, beats are [CPMT 1993; JIPMER 2000]
produced when they have [MP PET 1995;
(a) 6 (b) 3
CBSE PMT 1992, 99; DCE 2000; DPMT 2000, 01]
(c) 3/ (d) 3
(a) Different amplitudes and phases
29. The couple of tuning forks produces 2 beats in the time
(b) Different velocities interval of 0.4 seconds. So the beat frequency is
(c) Different phases [CPMT 1996]
(d) Different frequencies (a) 8 Hz (b) 5 Hz
22. Two tuning forks A and B give 4 beats per second. The (c) 2 Hz (d) 10 Hz
frequency of A is 256 Hz. On loading B slightly, we get 5 beats 30. An unknown frequency x produces 8 beats per seconds with
in 2 seconds. The frequency of B after loading is a frequency of 250 Hz and 12 beats with 270 Hz source, then
[Haryana CEE 1996] x is [CPMT 1997; KCET 2000]

(a) 253.5 Hz (b) 258.5 Hz (a) 258 Hz (b) 242 Hz

(c) 260 Hz (d) 252 Hz (c) 262 Hz (d) 282 Hz
23. A tuning fork A of frequency 200 Hz is sounded with fork B, 31. Beats are produced by two waves
the number of beats per second is 5. By putting some wax on y1  a sin 1000 t, y 2  a sin 998 t
A, the number of beats increases to 8. The frequency of fork
B is [MP PMT 1996] The number of beats heard/sec is [KCET 1998]

(a) 200 Hz (b) 195 Hz (a) 0 (b) 2

(c) 192 Hz (d) 205 Hz (c) 1 (d) 4
24. Two tuning forks, A and B, give 4 beats per second when 32. The wavelengths of two waves are 50 and 51 cm respectively.
sounded together. The frequency of A is 320 Hz. When some If the temperature of the room is 20oC, then what will be the
wax is added to B and it is sounded with A, 4 beats per second number of beats produced per second by these waves, when
are again heard. The frequency of B is the speed of sound at 0oC is 332 m/sec
[MP PMT 1997] [UPSEAT 1999]

(a) 312 Hz (b) 316 Hz (a) 14 (b) 10

(c) 324 Hz (d) 328 Hz (c) 24 (d) None of these
25. Two tuning forks have frequencies 380 and 384 Hz 33. Maximum number of beats frequency heard by a human
respectively. When they are sounded together, they produce being is [RPMT 2000]
4 beats. After hearing the maximum sound, how long will it (a) 10 (b) 4
take to hear the minimum sound
(c) 20 (d) 6
[MP PMT/PET 1998]
34. Two sound waves of slightly different frequencies
1 1 propagating in the same direction produce beats due to
(a) sec (b) sec
2 4 [MP PET 2000]

1 1 (a) Interference (b) Diffraction

(c) sec (d) sec
8 16 (c) Polarization (d) Refraction
35. On sounding tuning fork A with another tuning fork B of
frequency 384 Hz, 6 beats are produced per second. After
 Waves and Sound 849

loading the prongs of A with some wax and then sounding it (c) 256 – 2 Hz (d) 256 – 5Hz
again with B, 4 beats are produced per second. What is the 44. When temperature increases, the frequency of a tuning fork
frequency of the tuning fork A
[AIEEE 2002]
[MP PMT 2000]
(a) Increases
(a) 388 Hz (b) 380 Hz
(b) Decreases
(c) 378 Hz (d) 390 Hz
(c) Remains same
36. It is possible to hear beats from the two vibrating sources of
frequency [UPSEAT 2001] (d) Increases or decreases depending on the material

(a) 100 Hz and 150 Hz (b) 20 Hz and 25 Hz 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
(c) 400 Hz and 500 Hz (d) 1000 Hz and 1500 Hz
frequency is found to be 2 Hz. If the frequency of X is 300 Hz,
37. A tuning fork gives 4 beats with 50 cm length of a sonometer then the original frequency of Y was
wire. If the length of the wire is shortened by 1 cm, the
[UPSEAT 2000]
number of beats is still the same. The frequency of the fork is
[MP PMT 2001] (a) 296 Hz (b) 298 Hz
(a) 396 (b) 400 (c) 302 Hz (d) 304 Hz
(c) 404 (d) 384 46. The frequency of tuning forks A and B are respectively 3%
38. Two sound waves of wavelengths 5m and 6m formed 30 more and 2% less than the frequency of tuning fork C. When
beats in 3 seconds. The velocity of sound is A and B are simultaneously excited, 5 beats per second are
[EAMCET 2001] produced. Then the frequency of the tuning fork 'A' (in Hz) is
[EAMCET 2001]
(a) 300 ms–1 (b) 310 ms–1
(c) 320 ms–1 (d) 330 ms–1 (a) 98 (b) 100
(c) 103 (d) 105
39. The wavelength of a particle is 99 cm and that of other is 100
cm. Speed of sound is 396 m/s. The number of beats heard is 47. When a tuning fork vibrates, the waves produced in the fork
[DCE 2001] are [AFMC 2001]
(a) 4 (b) 5 (a) Longitudinal (b) Transverse
(c) 1 (d) 8 (c) Progressive (d) Stationary
40. A tuning fork arrangement (pair) produces 4 beats/sec with 48. Two vibrating tuning forks produce progressive waves given
one fork of frequency 288 cps. A little wax is placed on the by Y1  4 sin 500 t and Y 2  2 sin 506 t. Number of beats
unknown fork and it then produces 2 beats/sec. The produced per minute is [CBSE PMT 2005]
frequency of the unknown fork is
(a) 360 (b) 180
[KCET 1998; AIEEE 2002]
(c) 3 (d) 60
(a) 286 cps (b) 292 cps
49. When a tuning fork produces sound waves in air, which one
(c) 294 cps (d) 288 cps of the following is same in the material of tuning fork as well
41. A tuning fork vibrates with 2 beats in 0.04 second. The as in air [AFMC 2005]
frequency of the fork is [AFMC 2003] (a) Wavelength (b) Frequency
(a) 50 Hz (b) 100 Hz (c) Velocity (d) Amplitude
(c) 80 Hz (d) None of these 50. The disc of a siren containing 60 holes rotates at a constant
42. Two sound sources when sounded simultaneously produce speed of 360 rpm. The emitted sound is in unison with a
tuning fork of frequency [KCET 2005]
four beats in 0.25 second. the difference in their frequencies
must be [BCECE 2003] (a) 10 Hz (b) 360 Hz
(a) 4 (b) 8 (c) 216 Hz (d) 6 Hz

(c) 16 (d) 1 51. A sound source of frequency 170 Hz is placed near a wall. A
man walking from a source towards the wall finds that there
43. A tuning fork of known frequency 256 Hz makes 5 beats per is a periodic rise and fall of sound intensity. If the speed of
second with the vibrating string of a piano. The beat sound in air is 340 m/s the distance (in metres) separating
frequency decreases to 2 beats per second when the tension the two adjacent positions of minimum intensity is
in the piano string is slightly increased. The frequency of the
[MNR 1992; UPSEAT 2000; CPMT 2002]
piano string before increasing the tension was
[AIEEE 2003]
(a) 1/2 (b) 1

(a) 256 + 5 Hz (b) 256 + 2Hz (c) 3/2 (d) 2

 850 Waves and Sound
Stationary Waves (d) Transverse stationary wave
9. The equation of a stationary wave is
1. The distance between the nearest node and antinode in a  x 
stationary wave is y  0 . 8 cos   sin 200 t , where x is in cm and t is in sec.
 20 
[MP PET 1984; CBSE PMT 1993; AFMC 1996; RPET 2002]
The separation between consecutive nodes will be

(a)  (b) [MP PET 1994]
2
(a) 20 cm (b) 10 cm

(c) (d) 2 (c) 40 cm (d) 30 cm
4
2. In stationary wave [MP PET 1987; BHU 1995] 10. In a stationary wave, all particles are
(a) Strain is maximum at nodes [MP PMT 1994]

(b) Strain is maximum at antinodes (a) At rest at the same time twice in every period of oscillation
(c) Strain is minimum at nodes (b) At rest at the same time only once in every period of
oscillation
(d) Amplitude is zero at all the points
(c) Never at rest at the same time
3. The phase difference between the two particles situated on
both the sides of a node is [MP PET 2002]
(d) Never at rest at all
(a) 0° (b) 90° 11. A wave represented by the given equation y  a cos(kx   t)
(c) 180° (d) 360° is superposed with another wave to form a stationary wave
such that the point x = 0 is a node. The equation for the other
4. Which of the property makes difference between
wave is [IIT 1988; MP PMT 1994, 97;
progressive and stationary
waves [MP PMT 1987] AIIMS 1998; SCRA 1998; MP PET 2001; KCET 2001;

(a) Amplitude (b) Frequency AIEEE 2002; UPSEAT 2004]

(c) Propagation of energy (d) Phase of the wave (a) y  a sin(kx   t) (b) y  a cos(kx   t)
5. Stationary waves are formed when (c) y  a cos(kx   t) (d) y  a sin(kx   t)
[NCERT 1983]
(a) Two waves of equal amplitude and equal frequency 12. At a certain instant a stationary transverse wave is found to
travel along the same path in opposite directions have maximum kinetic energy. The appearance of string at
(b) Two waves of equal wavelength and equal amplitude that instant is [AIIMS 1995]
travel along the same path with equal speeds in opposite (a) Sinusoidal shape with amplitude A/3
directions
(b) Sinusoidal shape with amplitude A/2
(c) Two waves of equal wavelength and equal phase travel
along the same path with equal speed (c) Sinusoidal shape with amplitude A
(d) Two waves of equal amplitude and equal speed travel (d) Straight line
along the same path in opposite direction 13. The equation y  0 . 15 sin 5 x cos 300 t , describes a
 x  stationary wave. The wavelength of the stationary wave is
6. For the stationary wave y  4 sin   cos(96 t) , the
 15  [MP PMT 1995]
distance between a node and the next antinode is (a) Zero (b) 1.256 metres
[MP PMT 1987]
(c) 2.512 metres (d) 0.628 metre
(a) 7.5 (b) 15
14. In stationary waves, antinodes are the points where there is
(c) 22.5 (d) 30
[MP PMT 1996]
7. The equation of stationary wave along a stretched string is
x (a) Minimum displacement and minimum pressure change
given by y  5 sin cos 40 t , where x and y are in cm and t
3 (b) Minimum displacement and maximum pressure change
in second. The separation between two adjacent nodes (c) Maximum displacement and maximum pressure change
is [CPMT 1990; MP PET 1999; AMU 1999;
DPMT 2004; BHU 2005]
(d) Maximum displacement and minimum pressure change
(a) 1.5 cm (b) 3 cm 15. In stationary waves all particles between two nodes pass
through the mean position
(c) 6 cm (d) 4 cm
[MP PMT 1999; KCET 2001]
 2   2 
8. The equation  (x , t)  j sin  v t  cos  x  represents
      (a) At different times with different velocities
[MNR 1994] (b) At different times with the same velocity
(a) Transverse progressive wave (c) At the same time with equal velocity
(b) Longitudinal progressive wave (d) At the same time with different velocities
(c) Longitudinal stationary wave
 Waves and Sound 851

16. Standing waves can be produced [IIT-JEE 1999] [CBSE PMT 1994]

(a) On a string clamped at both the ends (a) 40 m/s (b) 20 m/s
(b) On a string clamped at one end and free at the other (c) 10 m/s (d) 5 m/s
(c) When incident wave gets reflected from a wall 23. y  a cos(kx  t) superimposes on another wave giving a
(d) When two identical waves with a phase difference of  stationary wave having node at x = 0. What is the equation of
are moving in the same direction the other wave [BHU 1998; DPMT 2000]
17. A standing wave having 3 nodes and 2 antinodes is formed (a) a cos(kx  t) (b) a cos(kx  t)
between two atoms having a distance 1.21 Å between them.
The wavelength of the standing wave is (c) a cos(kx  t) (d) a sin(kx  t)
[CBSE PMT 1998; MH CET 2002; AIIMS 2000; BHU 2001] 24. Two waves are approaching each other with a velocity of 20
(a) 1.21 Å (b) 2.42 Å m/s and frequency n . The distance between two consecutive
(c) 6.05 Å (d) 3.63 Å nodes is [Pb. PMT 1999]

18. In stationary waves, distance between a node and its nearest (a)
20
(b)
10
antinode is 20 cm. The phase difference between two n n
particles having a separation of 60 cm will be
5 n
[CMEET Bihar 1995] (c) (d)
n 10
(a) Zero (b) /2 25. Energy is not carried by which of the following waves
(c)  (d) 3/2 [RPMT 1998; AIIMS 1998, 99]
19. Stationary waves of frequency 300 Hz are formed in a (a) Stationary (b) Progressive
medium in which the velocity of sound is 1200 metre/sec. (c) Transverse (d) Electromagnetic
The distance between a node and the neighbouring antinode
26. The stationary wave produced on a string is represented by
is [SCRA 1994]
the equation y  5 cos(x / 3) sin 40 t . Where x and y are in
(a) 1 m (b) 2 m cm and t is in seconds. The distance between consecutive
(c) 3 m (d) 4 m nodes is [MP PMT 2000]

20. Which two of the given transverse waves will give stationary (a) 5 cm (b)  cm
waves when get superimposed (c) 3 cm (d) 40 cm
[RPET 1997; MP PET 1993] 27. Two sinusoidal waves with same wavelengths and
z1  a cos(kx   t) .....(A) amplitudes travel in opposite directions along a string with a
speed 10 ms–1. If the minimum time interval between two
z 2  a cos(kx   t) .....(B) instants when the string is flat is 0.5 s, the wavelength of the
z 3  a cos(ky   t) .....(C) waves is [Roorkee 2000]
(a) 25 m (b) 20 m
(a) A and B (b) A and C
(c) 15 m (d) 10 m
(c) B and C (d) Any two
21. A standing wave is represented by 28. “Stationary waves” are so called because in them
[MP PMT 2001]
Y  A sin(100 t) cos(0 . 01 x )
(a) The particles of the medium are not disturbed at all
where Y and A are in millimetre, t is in seconds and x is in
(b) The particles of the medium do not execute SHM
metre. The velocity of wave is
(c) There occurs no flow of energy along the wave
[CBSE PMT 1994; AFMC 2002]
(d) The interference effect can’t be observed
(a) 10 4 m / s
29. Two waves are approaching each other with a velocity of 16
(b) 1 m / s m/s and frequency n. The distance between two consecutive
nodes is [CPMT 2001; Pb. PMT 1999]
(c) 10 4 m / s 16 8
(a) (b)
n n
(d) Not derivable from above data
n n
22. A wave of frequency 100 Hz is sent along a string towards a (c) (d)
16 8
fixed end. When this wave travels back after reflection, a
node is formed at a distance of 10 cm from the fixed end of 30. Stationary waves [Kerala (Med.) 2002]
the string. The speed of incident (and reflected) wave are (a) Transport energy
 852 Waves and Sound
(b) Does not transport energy (a) c t /  (b) c t / 2
(c) Have nodes and antinodes (c)  / 2k (d)  / k
(d) Both (b) and (c) 39. A string vibrates according to the equation
31. In a stationary wave all the particles [KCET 2002]  2x 
y  5 sin   cos 20 t , where x and y are in cm and t in
 3 
(a) On either side of a node vibrate in same phase
sec. The distance between two adjacent nodes is
(b) In the region between two nodes vibrate in same phase
[UPSEAT 2005]
(c) In the region between two antinodes vibrate in same
(a) 3 cm (b) 4.5 cm
phase
(c) 6 cm (d) 1.5 cm
(d) Of the medium vibrate in same phase
32. When a stationary wave is formed then its frequency is Vibration of String
[Kerala (Engg.) 2002]
1. A string fixed at both the ends is vibrating in two segments.
(a) Same as that of the individual waves The wavelength of the corresponding wave is
(b) Twice that of the individual waves [SCRA 1994]
l l
(c) Half that of the individual waves (a) (b)
4 2
(d) None of the above (c) l (d) 2l
33. In stationary waves [RPMT 1998; JIPMER 2002] 2. A 1 cm long string vibrates with fundamental frequency of
(a) Energy is uniformly distributed 1
256 Hz. If the length is reduced to cm keeping the tension
4
(b) Energy is minimum at nodes and maximum at antinodes
unaltered, the new fundamental frequency will be
(c) Energy is maximum at nodes and minimum at antinodes [BHU 1997]
(d) Alternating maximum and minimum energy producing (a) 64 (b) 256
at nodes and antinodes (c) 512 (d) 1024
x 3. Standing waves are produced in a 10 m long stretched string.
34. Equation of a stationary wave is y  10 sin cos 20 t.
4 If the string vibrates in 5 segments and the wave velocity is
Distance between two consecutive nodes is 20 m/s, the frequency is
[MP PMT 2002]
[CBSE PMT 1997; AIIMS 1998; JIPMER 2000]
(a) 4 (b) 2
(a) 2 Hz (b) 4 Hz
(c) 1 (d) 8
(c) 5 Hz (d) 10 Hz
35. At nodes in stationary waves
[SCRA 1994; UPSEAT 2000; MP PET 2003; RPET 2003]
4. The velocity of waves in a string fixed at both ends is 2 m/s.
The string forms standing waves with nodes 5.0 cm apart.
(a) Change in pressure and density are maximum The frequency of vibration of the string in Hz is
(b) Change in pressure and density are minimum [SCRA 1998]
(c) Strain is zero (a) 40 (b) 30
(d) Energy is minimum (c) 20 (d) 10
36. Consider the three waves z 1 , z 2 and z 3 as 5. Which of the following is the example of transverse wave
z1  A sin(kx   t) , z 2  A sin(kx   t) [CPMT 1999]
and z 3  A sin(ky   t) . Which of the following represents (a) Sound waves
a standing wave [DCE 2004] (b) Compressional waves in a spring
(a) z 1  z 2 (b) z 2  z 3 (c) Vibration of string
(c) z 3  z 1 (d) z 1  z 2  z 3 (d) All of these
37. The following equations represent progressive transverse 6. A stretched string of 1m length and mass 5  10 4 kg is
waves Z1  A cos( t  kx ) , Z 2  A cos( t  kx ) ,
having tension of 20N. If it is plucked at 25cm from one end
Z3  A cos( t  ky ) and Z4  A cos( 2 t  2ky ) . A then it will vibrate with frequency
stationary wave will be formed by superposing [MP PET 1993] [RPET 1999; RPMT 2002]
(a) Z1 and Z 2 (b) Z1 and Z4
(a) 100 Hz (b) 200 Hz
(c) Z 2 and Z3 (d) Z3 and Z4
(c) 256 Hz (d) 400 Hz
38. Two travelling waves y1  A sin[k (x  c t)] and
7. Two similar sonometer wires given fundamental frequencies
y 2  A sin[k (x  c t)] are superimposed on string. The of 500Hz. These have same tensions. By what amount the
distance between adjacent nodes is [IIT 1992]
 Waves and Sound 853

tension be increased in one wire so that the two wires (c) Equal (d) None of the above
produce 5 beats/sec [RPET 1999] 16. Frequency of a sonometer wire is n. Now its tension is
(a) 1% (b) 2% increased 4 times and its length is doubled then new
frequency will be [RPET 2000]
(c) 3% (d) 4%
(a) n/2 (b) 4n
8. A string is producing transverse vibration whose equation is
y  0 . 021 sin( x  30 t) , Where x and y are in meters and t is (c) 2n (d) n

in seconds. If the linear density of the string is 1 . 3  10 4 17. A device used for investigating the vibration of a fixed string
or wire is [BHU 2000]
kg/m, then the tension in the string in N will be
(a) Sonometer (b) barometer
[RPET 1999; RPMT 2002]
(c) Hydrometer (d) None of these
(a) 10 (b) 0.5
18. A string on a musical instrument is 50 cm long and its
(c) 1 (d) 0.117 fundamental frequency is 270 Hz. If the desired frequency of
9. If the tension of sonometer’s wire increases four times then 1000 Hz is to be produced, the required length of the string
the fundamental frequency of the wire will increase by is
[EAMCET (Engg.) 1998; CPMT 2000; Pb. PET 2001]
[RPMT 1999]
(a) 2 times (b) 4 times (a) 13.5 cm (b) 2.7 cm

(c) 1/2 times (d) None of the above (c) 5.4 cm (d) 10.3 cm

10. If vibrations of a string are to be increased by a factor of two, 19. The tension in a piano wire is 10N. What should be the
tension in the wire to produce a note of double the frequency
then tension in the string must be made [AIIMS 2001]
[AIIMS 1999; Pb. PET 2000]
(a) 5 N (b) 20 N
(a) Half (b) Twice
(c) 40 N (d) 80 N
(c) Four times (d) Eight times
20. To increase the frequency from 100 Hz to 400 Hz the tension
11. Four wires of identical length, diameters and of the same in the string has to be changed by [RPET 2001]
material are stretched on a sonometre wire. If the ratio of (a) 4 times (b) 16 times
their tensions is 1 : 4 : 9 : 16 then the ratio of their
fundamental frequencies are [KCET 2000]
(c) 20 times (d) None of these
21. In order to double the frequency of the fundamental note
(a) 16 : 9 : 4 : 1 (b) 4 : 3 : 2 : 1
3
emitted by a stretched string, the length is reduced to th
(c) 1 : 4 : 2 : 16 (d) 1 : 2 : 3 : 4 4
12. A tuning fork vibrating with a sonometer having 20 cm wire of the original length and the tension is changed. The factor
produces 5 beats per second. The beat frequency does not by which the tension is to be changed, is [EAMCET 2001]
change if the length of the wire is changed to 21 cm. the (a)
3
(b)
2
frequency of the tuning fork (in Hertz) must be 8 3
[UPSEAT 2000; Pb. PET 2004] 8 9
(c) (d)
9 4
(a) 200 (b) 210
22. A string of 7 m length has a mass of 0.035 kg. If tension in the
(c) 205 (d) 215
string is 60.5 N, then speed of a wave on the string is
13. A stretched string of length l, fixed at both ends can sustain [CBSE PMT 2001]
stationary waves of wavelength , given by
(a) 77 m/s (b) 102 m/s
[UPSEAT 2000; Pb. PET 2004; CPMT 2005]
(c) 110 m/s (d) 165 m/s
n2 l2
(a)   (b)   23. A second harmonic has to be generated in a string of length
2l 2n l stretched between two rigid supports. The point where the
(c)  
2l
(d)   2l n string has to be plucked and touched are
n [KCET 2001]
14. If you set up the seventh harmonic on a string fixed at both
l l
ends, how many nodes and antinodes are set up in it (a) Plucked at and touch at
4 2
[AMU 2000]
(a) 8, 7 (b) 7, 7 l 3l
(b) Plucked at and touch at
4 4
(c) 8, 9 (d) 9, 8
15. If you set up the ninth harmonic on a string fixed at both l l
(c) Plucked at and touched at
ends, its frequency compared to the seventh harmonic 2 4
[AMU (Engg.) 2000] l 3l
(d) Plucked at and touched at
(a) Higher (b) Lower 2 4
 854 Waves and Sound
24. Transverse waves of same frequency are generated in two 32. If the length of a stretched string is shortened by 40% and
steel wires A and B. The diameter of A is twice of B and the the tension is increased by 44%, then the ratio of the final
tension in A is half that in B. The ratio of velocities of wave in and initial fundamental frequencies is
A and B is [KCET 2001] [EAMCET 2003]

(a) 1 : 3 2 (b) 1 : 2 2 (a) 2 : 1 (b) 3 : 2

(c) 3 : 4 (d) 1 : 3
(c) 1 : 2 (d) 2 :1
33. Two wires are fixed in a sonometer. Their tensions are in the
25. A sonometer wire resonates with a given tuning fork forming ratio 8 : 1. The lengths are in the ratio 36 : 35 . The diameters
standing waves with five antinodes between the two bridges are in the ratio 4 : 1. Densities of the materials are in the ratio
when a mass of 9 kg is suspended from the wire. When this 1 : 2. If the lower frequency in the setting is 360 Hz. the beat
mass is replaced by a mass M, the wire resonates with the frequency when the two wires are sounded together is
same tuning fork forming three antinodes for the same [KCET 2003]
positions of the bridges. The value of M is
(a) 5 (b) 8
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2002]
(c) 6 (d) 10
(a) 25 kg (b) 5 kg
34. The first overtone of a stretched wire of given length is 320
(c) 12.5 kg (d) 1/25 kg Hz. The first harmonic is : [DPMT 2004]
26. The tension of a stretched string is increased by 69%. In (a) 320 Hz (b) 160 Hz
order to keep its frequency of vibration constant, its length
must be increased by [KCET 2002] (c) 480 Hz (d) 640 Hz
35. Two perfectly identical wires are in unison. When the
(a) 20% (b) 30%
tension in one wire is increased by 1%, then on sounding
(c) 69 % (d) 69% them together 3 beats are heard in 2 sec. The initial frequency
of each wire is : [Pb. PET 2002]
27. The length of a sonometer wire tuned to a frequency of 250
Hz is 0.60 metre. The frequency of tuning fork with which the (a) 220 s 1 (b) 320 s 1
vibrating wire will be in tune when the length is made 0.40 (c) 150 s 1 (d) 300 s 1
metre is [JIPMER 2002]
36. A tuning fork of frequency 392 Hz, resonates with 50 cm
(a) 250 Hz (b) 375 Hz length of a string under tension (T). If length of the string is
(c) 256 Hz (d) 384 Hz decreased by 2%, keeping the tension constant, the number
of beats heard when the string and the tuning fork made to
28. Length of a string tied to two rigid supports is 40 cm. vibrate simultaneously is [BHU 2004]
Maximum length (wavelength in cm) of a stationary wave
produced on it is [AIEEE 2002] (a) 4 (b) 6
(a) 20 (b) 80 (c) 8 (d) 12
(c) 40 (d) 120 37. The sound carried by air from a sitar to a listener is a wave
29. A string in musical instrument is 50 cm long and its of the following type [MP PMT 1987; RPET 2001]
fundamental frequency is 800 Hz. If a frequency of 1000 Hz (a) Longitudinal stationary (b) Transverse progressive
is to be produced, then required length of string is
(c) Transverse stationary (d) Longitudinal progressive
[AIIMS 2002]
(a) 62.5 cm (b) 50 cm 38. In Melde’s experiment in the transverse mode, the frequency
of the tuning fork and the frequency of the waves in the
(c) 40 cm (d) 37.5 cm
strings are in the ratio [KCET
30. Two wires are in unison. If the tension in one of the wires is
2004]
increased by 2%, 5 beats are produced per second. The initial
frequency of each wire is [MP PET 2002]
(a) 1 : 1 (b) 1 : 2
(a) 200 Hz (b) 400 Hz
(c) 500 Hz (d) 1000 Hz (c) 2 : 1 (d) 4 : 1

31. Two uniform strings A and B made of steel are made to 39. The frequency of transverse vibrations in a stretched string
vibrate under the same tension. if the first overtone of A is is 200 Hz. If the tension is increased four times and the length
equal to the second overtone of B and if the radius of A is is reduced to one-fourth the original value, the frequency of
twice that of B, the ratio of the lengths of the strings is vibration will be [EAMCET (Med.) 1999]

[EAMCET 2003] (a) 25 Hz (b) 200 Hz

(a) 1: 2 (b) 1 : 3 (c) 400 Hz (d) 1600 Hz
(c) 1 : 4 (d) 1 : 6
 Waves and Sound 855

40. Three similar wires of frequency n1, n2 and n3 are joined to suspended mass has a volume of 0.0075 m3. The fundamental
make one wire. Its frequency will be frequency of the wire is 260 Hz. If the suspended mass is
completely submerged in water, the fundamental frequency
[CBSE PMT 2000]
will become (take g = 10 ms–2)
1 1 1 1 [KCET 2001]
(a) n  n1  n2  n3 (b)   
n n1 n 2 n 3 (a) 240 Hz (b) 230 Hz
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 (c) 220 Hz (d) 200 Hz
(c)    (d)   
n n1 n2 n3 n1 n12 n 22 n 32 48. A string is rigidly tied at two ends and its equation of
vibration is given by y  cos 2 t sin sin x . Then minimum
41. A steel rod 100 cm long is clamped at its mid-point. The
length of string is [RPMT 2001]
funda-mental frequency of longitudinal vibrations of the rod
is given to be 2.53 kHz. What is the speed of sound in steel 1
(a) 1 m (b) m
2
[AFMC 2000]
(c) 5 m (d) 2m
(a) 5.06 km/s (b) 6.06 km/s
49. Fundamental frequency of sonometer wire is n. If the length,
(c) 7.06 km/s (d) 8.06 km/s tension and diameter of wire are tripled, the new
42. Two wires are producing fundamental notes of the same fundamental frequency is [DPMT 2002]
frequency. Change in which of the following factors of one n n
(a) (b)
wire will not produce beats between them 3 3
[BHU (Med.) 1999] n
(c) n 3 (d)
(a) Amplitude of the vibrations 3 3
(b) Material of the wire 50. A string of length 2 m is fixed at both ends. If this string
(c) Stretching force vibrates in its fourth normal mode with a frequency of 500
Hz then the waves would travel on its with a velocity of
(d) Diameter of the wires [BCECE 2005]
43. Calculate the frequency of the second harmonic formed on a (a) 125 m/s (b) 250 m/s
string of length 0.5 m and mass 2  10–4 kg when stretched (c) 500 m/s (d) 1000 m/s
with a tension of 20 N [BHU (Med.) 2000]
51. The fundamental frequency of a sonometre wire is n. If its
(a) 274.4 Hz (b) 744.2 Hz radius is doubled and its tension becomes half, the material
(c) 44.72 Hz (d) 447.2 Hz of the wire remains same, the new fundamental frequency
will be [BCECE 2005]
44. The fundamental frequency of a string stretched with a
weight of 4 kg is 256 Hz. The weight required to produce its (a) n (b)
n
octave is [J & K CET 2000] 2
(a) 4 kg wt (b) 8 kg wt (c)
n
(d)
n
(c) 12 kg wt (d) 16 kg wt 2 2 2

45. Two vibrating strings of the same material but lengths L and 52. In an experiment with sonometer a tuning fork of frequency
256 Hz resonates with a length of 25 cm and another tuning
2L have radii 2r and r respectively. They are stretched under
fork resonates with a length of 16 cm. Tension of the string
the same tension. Both the strings vibrate in their fundamental
remaining constant the frequency of the second tuning fork
modes, the one of length L with frequency n1 and the other is [KCET 2005]
with frequency n2. The ratio n1/n2 is given by
(a) 163.84 Hz (b) 400 Hz
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2000]
(c) 320 Hz (d) 204.8 Hz
(a) 2 (b) 4
(c) 8 (d) 1 Organ Pipe (Vibration of Air Column)
46. If the tension and diameter of a sonometer wire of
fundamental frequency n are doubled and density is halved 1. The length of two open organ pipes are l and (l  l)
then its fundamental frequency will become respectively. Neglecting end correction, the frequency of
[CBSE PMT 2001] beats between them will be approximately
n [MP PET 1994; BHU 1995]
(a) (b) 2n
4 v v
(a) (b)
n 2l 4l
(c) n (d)
2 vl vl
(c) (d)
47. In a sonometer wire, the tension is maintained by 2l 2 l
suspending a 50.7 kg mass from the free end of the wire. The (Here v is the speed of sound)
 856 Waves and Sound
2. A tube closed at one end and containing air is excited. It 10. The fundamental note produced by a closed organ pipe is of
produces the fundamental note of frequency 512 Hz. If the frequency f . The fundamental note produced by an open
same tube is open at both the ends the fundamental organ pipe of same length will be of frequency
frequency that can be produced is [RPET 1999] [BHU 2001]
(a) 1024 Hz (b) 512 Hz f
(a) (b) f
(c) 256 Hz (d) 128 Hz 2
3. A closed pipe and an open pipe have their first overtones (c) 2 f (d) 4 f
identical in frequency. Their lengths are in the ratio
11. If the velocity of sound in air is 336 m/s. The maximum length
[Roorkee 1999]
of a closed pipe that would produce a just audible sound will
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 3 be [KCET 2001]
(c) 3 : 4 (d) 4 : 5 (a) 3.2 cm (b) 4.2 m
4. The first overtone in a closed pipe has a frequency (c) 4.2 cm (d) 3.2 m
[JIPMER 1999]
12. An organ pipe P1 closed at one end vibrating in its first
(a) Same as the fundamental frequency of an open tube of
same length overtone and another pipe P2 open at both ends vibrating in
(b) Twice the fundamental frequency of an open tube of its third overtone are in resonance with a given tuning fork.
same length The ratio of lengths of P1 and P2 is
(c) Same as that of the first overtone of an open tube of same [EAMCET 1997; MH CET 1999; AFMC 2001]
length
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 1 : 3
(d) None of the above
(c) 3 : 8 (d) 3 : 4
5. An empty vessel is partially filled with water, then the
frequency of vibration of air column in the vessel 13. A resonance air column of length 20 cm resonates with a tuning
[KCET 2000]
fork of frequency 250 Hz. The speed of sound in air is
[AFMC 1999; BHU 2000; CPMT 2001]
(a) Remains same
(b) Decreases (a) 300 m/s (b) 200 m/s

(c) Increases (c) 150 m/s (d) 75 m/s

(d) First increases then decreases 14. A cylindrical tube, open at both ends, has a fundamental
frequency f0 in air. The tube is dipped vertically into water
6. It is desired to increase the fundamental resonance
frequency in a tube which is closed at one end. This can be such that half of its length is inside water. The fundamental
achieved by [Roorkee 2000] frequency of the air column now is
[RPET 1999; RPMT 1998, 2000; J & K CET 2000;
(a) Replacing the air in the tube by hydrogen gas
KCET 2002; BHU 2002; BCECE 2003]
(b) Increasing the length of the tube
(c) Decreasing the length of the tube (a) 3 f0 / 4 (b) f0
(d) Opening the closed end of the tube (c) f0 / 2 (d) 2 f0
7. An air column in a pipe, which is closed at one end, will be in 15. If the length of a closed organ pipe is 1.5 m and velocity of
resonance with a vibrating body of frequency 166 Hz, if the sound is 330 m/s, then the frequency for the second note is
length of the air column is [UPSEAT 2001] [CBSE PMT 2002]
(a) 2.00 m (b) 1.50 m (a) 220 Hz (b) 165 Hz
(c) 1.00 m (d) 0.50 m (c) 110 Hz (d) 55 Hz
8. If the velocity of sound in air is 350 m/s. Then the 16. A pipe 30 cm long is open at both ends. Which harmonic
mode of the pipe is resonantly excited by a 1.1 kHz source ?
fundamental frequency of an open organ pipe of length 50
(Take speed of sound in air = 330 ms–1)
cm, will be [CPMT 1997; MH CET 2001; Pb. PMT 2001]
[AMU 2002]
(a) 350 Hz (b) 175 Hz (a) First (b) Second
(c) 900 Hz (d) 750 Hz (c) Third (d) Fourth
9. If the length of a closed organ pipe is 1m and velocity of 17. Two closed organ pipes, when sounded simultaneously gave
sound is 330 m/s, then the frequency for the second note is 4 beats per sec. If longer pipe has a length of 1m. Then length
of shorter pipe will be, (v = 300 m/s)
[AFMC 2001]
[Pb. PMT 2002]
330 330
(a) 4  Hz (b) 3  Hz (a) 185.5 cm (b) 94.9 cm
4 4
(c) 90 cm (d) 80 cm
330 4
(c) 2  Hz (d) 2  Hz 18. A source of sound placed at the open end of a resonance
4 330
column sends an acoustic wave of pressure amplitude  0
 Waves and Sound 857

inside the tube. If the atmospheric pressure is  A , then the (a) 255 m/s (b) 250 m/s
ratio of maximum and minimum pressure at the closed end (c) 350 m/s (d) None of these
of the tube will be [UPSEAT 2002] 27. What is minimum length of a tube, open at both ends, that
( A  0 ) ( A  2 0 ) resonates with tuning fork of frequency 350 Hz ? [velocity of
(a) (b) sound in air = 350 m/s] [DPMT 2004]
( A  0 ) ( A  2 0 )
(a) 50 cm (b) 100 cm
 1 
  A  0  (c) 75 cm (d) 25 cm
A  2 
(c) (d) 28. Two open organ pipes give 4 beats/sec when sounded
A  1 
  A  0  together in their fundamental nodes. If the length of the pipe
 2  are 100 cm and 102.5 cm respectively, then the velocity of
19. Two closed pipe produce 10 beats per second when emitting sound is : [Pb. PET 2000; CPMT 2001]
their fundamental nodes. If their length are in ratio of 25 : 26. (a) 496 m/s (b) 328 m/s
Then their fundamental frequency in Hz, are
(c) 240 m/s (d) 160 m/s
[MH CET 2002]
29. The harmonics which are present in a pipe open at one end
(a) 270, 280 (b) 260, 270 are [UPSEAT 2000; MHCET 2004]
(c) 260, 250 (d) 260, 280 (a) Odd harmonics
20. A closed organ pipe and an open organ pipe are tuned to the (b) Even harmonics
same fundamental frequency. What is the ratio of (c) Even as well as odd harmonics
lengths [BHU 2003; Kerala 2005] (c) None of these
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 1 30. An open pipe is suddenly closed at one end with the result
(c) 2 : 3 (d) 4 : 3 that the frequency of third harmonic of the closed pipe is
found to be higher by 100 Hz, then the fundamental
21. An open pipe resonates with a tuning fork of frequency 500
frequency of open pipe is: [UPSEAT 2001; Pb. PET 2004]
Hz. it is observed that two successive nodes are formed at
distances 16 and 46 cm from the open end. The speed of (a) 480 Hz (b) 300 Hz
sound in air in the pipe is [Orissa JEE 2003] (c) 240 Hz (d) 200 Hz
(a) 230 m/s (b) 300 m/s 31. Tube A has both ends open while tube B has one end closed,
(c) 320 m/s (d) 360 m/s otherwise they are identical. The ratio of fundamental
frequency of tube A and B is
22. Find the fundamental frequency of a closed pipe, if the length
[AIEEE 2002; CPMT 2004]
of the air column is 42 m. (speed of sound in air = 332 m/sec)
[RPET 2003] (a) 1 : 2 (b) 1 : 4
(a) 2 Hz (b) 4 Hz (c) 2 : 1 (d) 4 : 1
(c) 7 Hz (d) 9 Hz 32. If the temperature increases, then what happens to the
23. If v is the speed of sound in air then the shortest length of the frequency of the sound produced by the organ pipe
closed pipe which resonates to a frequency n [RPET 1996; DPMT 2000; RPMT 2001]
[KCET 2003] (a) Increases (b) Decreases
v v
(a) (b) (c) Unchanged (d) Not definite
4n 2n
33. Apparatus used to find out the velocity of sound in gas is
2n 4n
(c) (d) [AFMC 2004]
v v
24. The frequency of fundamental tone in an open organ pipe of (a) Melde’s apparatus (b) Kundt’s tube
length 0.48 m is 320 Hz. Speed of sound is 320 m/sec. (c) Quincke’s tube (d) None of these
Frequency of fundamental tone in closed organ pipe will be
34. Standing stationary waves can be obtained in an air column
[MP PMT 2003]
even if the interfering waves are [CPMT 1972]
(a) 153.8 Hz (b) 160.0 Hz
(a) Of different pitches
(c) 320.0 Hz (d) 143.2 Hz
(b) Of different amplitudes
25. If fundamental frequency of closed pipe is 50 Hz then
frequency of 2nd overtone is [AFMC 2004] (c) Of different qualities
(a) 100 Hz (b) 50 Hz (d) Moving with different velocities
(c) 250 Hz (d) 150 Hz 35. The stationary wave y  2a sin kx cos  t in a closed organ
26. Two open organ pipes of length 25 cm and 25.5 cm produce pipe is the result of the superposition of y  a sin( t  kx )
10 beat/sec. The velocity of sound will be and [Roorkee 1994]
[Pb. PMT 2004]
 858 Waves and Sound
(a) y  a cos( t  kx ) (b) y  a sin( t  kx ) [RPET 2002]

(c) y  a sin( t  kx ) (d) y  a cos( t  kx ) (a) 74.1 cm (b) 72.7 cm

(c) 75.4 cm (d) 73.1 cm
36. Stationary waves are set up in air column. Velocity of sound
in air is 330 m/s and frequency is 165 Hz. Then distance 44. An open pipe of length 33 cm resonates with frequency of
between the nodes is 100 Hz. If the speed of sound is 330 m/s, then this frequency
[EAMCET (Engg.) 1995; CPMT 1999]
is [RPMT 2002]

(a) 2 m (b) 1 m (a) Fundamental frequency of the pipe

(c) 0.5 m (d) 4 m (b) Third harmonic of the pipe

37. An open pipe of length l vibrates in fundamental mode. The (c) Second harmonic of the pipe
pressure variation is maximum at (d) Fourth harmonic of the pipe
[EAMCET (Med.) 1999] 45. In a resonance tube the first resonance with a tuning fork
(a) 1/4 from ends occurs at 16 cm and second at 49 cm. If the velocity of sound
is 330 m/s, the frequency of tuning fork is
(b) The middle of pipe
[DPMT 2002]
(c) The ends of pipe
(a) 500 (b) 300
(d) At 1/8 from ends of pipe middle of the pipe
(c) 330 (d) 165
38. Fundamental frequency of pipe is 100 Hz and other two
frequencies are 300 Hz and 500 Hz then 46. Two closed organ pipes of length 100 cm and 101 cm 16
beats in 20 sec. When each pipe is sounded in its fundamental
[RPMT 1998, 2003; CPMT 2001]
mode calculate the velocity of sound
(a) Pipe is open at both the ends [AFMC 2003]
(b) Pipe is closed at both the ends (a) 303 ms–1 (b) 332 ms–1
(c) One end open and another end is closed
(c) 323.2 ms–1 (d) 300 ms–1
(d) None of the above
47. In open organ pipe, if fundamental frequency is n then the
39. Fundamental frequency of an open pipe of length 0.5 m is other frequencies are [BCECE 2005]
equal to the frequency of the first overtone of a closed pipe
of length l. The value of lc is (m) [KCET 1999] (a) n, 2n, 3n, 4n (b) n, 3n, 5n

(a) 1.5 (b) 0.75 (c) n, 2n, 4n, 8n (d) None of these

(c) 2 (d) 1 48. If in an experiment for determination of velocity of sound by

resonance tube method using a tuning fork of 512 Hz, first
40. In a closed organ pipe the frequency of fundamental note is
resonance was observed at 30.7 cm and second was obtained
50 Hz. The note of which of the following frequencies will not
be emitted by it [J & K CET 2000]
at 63.2 cm, then maximum possible error in velocity of sound
is (consider actual speed of sound in air is 332
(a) 50 Hz (b) 100 Hz m/s) [IIT-JEE (Screening) 2005
(c) 150 Hz (d) None of the above (a) 204 cm/sec (b) 110 cm/sec
41. On producing the waves of frequency 1000 Hz in a Kundt's (c) 58 cm/sec (d) 80 cm/sec
tube, the total distance between 6 successive nodes is 85 cm.
49. An organ pipe, open from both end produces 5 beats per
Speed of sound in the gas filled in the tube is
second when vibrated with a source of frequency 200 Hz. The
[AFMC 1999]
second harmonic of the same pipes produces 10 beats per
(a) 330 m/s (b) 340 m/s second with a source of frequency 420 Hz. The frequency of
(c) 350 m/s (d) 300 m/s source is [DCE 2005]

42. What is the base frequency if a pipe gives notes of (a) 195 Hz (b) 205 Hz
frequencies 425, 255 and 595 and decide whether it is closed (c) 190 Hz (d) 210 Hz
at one end or open at both ends [UPSEAT 2001]
50. In one metre long open pipe what is the harmonic of
(a) 17, closed (b) 85, closed resonance obtained with a tuning fork of frequency 480 Hz
(c) 17, open (d) 85, open [J & K CET 2005]

43. A student determines the velocity of sound with the help of a (a) First (b) Second
closed organ pipe. If the observed length for fundamental (c) Third (d) Fourth
frequency is 24.7 m, the length for third harmonic will be
 Waves and Sound 859

51. An organ pipe open at one end is vibrating in first overtone source. The ratio of frequencies heard by the two observers
and is in resonance with another pipe open at both ends and will be [MP PET 1990]
vibrating in third harmonic. The ratio of length of two pipes (a) 3 : 2 (b) 2 : 3
is [DCE 2005]
(c) 1 : 1 (d) 4 : 10
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 4 : 1
6. The source producing sound and an observer both are
(c) 8 : 3 (d) 3 : 8 moving along the direction of propagation of sound waves. If
52. In a resonance pipe the first and second resonances are the respective velocities of sound, source and an observer
obtained at depths 22.7 cm and 70.2 cm respectively. What are v, v s and vo , then the apparent frequency heard by the
will be the end correction [J & K CET 2005] observer will be (n = frequency of sound)
(a) 1.05 cm (b) 115.5 cm [MP PMT 1989]
(c) 92.5 cm (d) 113.5 cm n(v  vo ) n(v  vo )
(a) (b)
53. An open tube is in resonance with string (frequency of v  vo v  vs
vibration of tube is n0). If tube is dipped in water so that 75%
n(v  vo ) n(v  vo )
of length of tube is inside water, then the ratio of the (c) (d)
v  vs v  vs
frequency of tube to string now will be [J & K CET 2005]
(a) 1 (b) 2 7. An observer moves towards a stationary source of sound of
frequency n. The apparent frequency heard by him is 2n. If
2 3 the velocity of sound in air is 332 m/sec, then the velocity of
(c) (d)
3 2 the observer is [MP PET 1990]
(a) 166 m/sec (b) 664 m/sec
Doppler’s Effect (c) 332 m/sec (d) 1328 m/sec
8. An observer is moving towards the stationary source of
1. Doppler shift in frequency does not depend upon
sound, then [MH CET 2001]
[MP PMT 1993; DPMT 2000]
(a) Apparent frequency will be less than the real frequency
(a) The frequency of the wave produced
(b) Apparent frequency will be greater than the real
(b) The velocity of the source frequency
(c) The velocity of the observer (c) Apparent frequency will be equal to real frequency
(d) Distance from the source to the listener (d) Only the quality of sound will change

2. A source of sound of frequency 450 cycles/sec is moving 9. A whistle sends out 256 waves in a second. If the whistle
towards a stationary observer with 34 m/sec speed. If the approaches the observer with velocity 1/3 of the velocity of
speed of sound is 340 m/sec, then the apparent frequency sound in air, the number of waves per second the observer
will be [MP PMT 1987] will receive [MP PET 1990; DPMT 2002]

(a) 410 cycles/sec (b) 500 cycles/sec (a) 384 (b) 192

(c) 550 cycles/sec (d) 450 cycles/sec (c) 300 (d) 200

3. The wavelength is 120 cm when the source is stationary. If 10. A person feels 2.5% difference of frequency of a motor-car
the source is moving with relative velocity of 60 m/sec horn. If the motor-car is moving to the person and the
towards the observer, then the wavelength of the sound velocity of sound is 320 m/sec, then the velocity of car will be
[CPMT 1981; MP PET 1989]
wave reaching to the observer will be (velocity of sound =
330 m/s) (a) 8 m/s (approx.) (b) 800 m/s
(a) 98 cm (b) 140 cm (c) 7 m/s (d) 6 m/s (approx.)
(c) 120 cm (d) 144 cm 11. Two passenger trains moving with a speed of 108 km/hour
cross each other. One of them blows a whistle whose
4. The frequency of a whistle of an engine is 600 cycles/sec is
frequency is 750 Hz. If sound speed is 330 m/s, then
moving with the speed of 30 m/sec towards an observer. The
passengers sitting in the other train, after trains cross each
apparent frequency will be (velocity of sound = 330
other will hear sound whose frequency will be
m/s)
[MP PMT 1989] [MP PMT 1991]

(a) 600 cps (b) 660 cps (a) 900 Hz (b) 625 Hz
(c) 990 cps (d) 330 cps (c) 750 Hz (d) 800 Hz
5. A source of sound emits waves with frequency f Hz and 12. With what velocity an observer should move relative to a
speed V m/sec. Two observers move away from this source stationary source so that he hears a sound of double the
in opposite directions each with a speed 0.2 V relative to the frequency of source [MP PMT 1991]
 860 Waves and Sound
(a) Velocity of sound towards the source 19. Suppose that the speed of sound in air at a given
(b) Velocity of sound away from the source temperature is 400 m/sec. An engine blows a whistle at 1200
Hz frequency. It is approaching an observer at the speed of
(c) Half the velocity of sound towards the source
100 m/sec. What is the apparent frequency as heard by the
(d) Double the velocity of sound towards the source observer [CPMT 1983; DPMT 2001]
13. A source of sound emitting a note of frequency 200 Hz moves (a) 600 Hz (b) 1200 Hz
towards an observer with a velocity v equal to the velocity of
(c) 1500 Hz (d) 1600 Hz
sound. If the observer also moves away from the source with
the same velocity v, the apparent frequency heard by the 20. A source of frequency 150 Hz is moving in the direction of a
observer is [MP PMT 1990] person with a velocity of 110 m/s. The frequency heard by
the person will be (speed of sound in medium = 330
(a) 50 Hz (b) 100 Hz
m/s)
(c) 150 Hz (d) 200 Hz [CPMT 1989; RPET 2001]

14. Doppler's effect will not be applicable when the velocity of (a) 225 Hz (b) 200 Hz
sound source is (c) 150 Hz (d) 100 Hz
(a) Equal to that of the sound velocity 21. The Doppler's effect is applicable for
(b) Less than the velocity of sound [AFMC 1998]
(c) Greater than the velocity of sound (a) Light waves (b) Sound waves
(d) Zero (c) Space waves (d) Both (a) and (b)
15. An observer while going on scooter hears sound of two 22. A source of sound is moving with constant velocity of 20 m/s
sirens of same frequencies from two opposite directions. If emitting a note of frequency 1000 Hz. The ratio of
he travels along the direction of one of the siren, then he
frequencies observed by a stationary observer while the
(a) Listens resonance source is approaching him and after it crosses him will be
(b) Listens beats [MP PET 1994]
(c) Will not listen sound due to destructive interference (a) 9 : 8 (b) 8 : 9
(d) Will listen intensive sound due to constructive (c) 1 : 1 (d) 9 : 10
interference
(Speed of sound v = 340 m/s)
16. A source of sound is travelling towards a stationary observer.
23. A source of sound S is moving with a velocity 50m/s towards
The frequency of sound heard by the observer is of three
a stationary observer. The observer measures the frequency
times the original frequency. The velocity of sound is v m/sec.
of the source as 1000 Hz. What will be the apparent
The speed of source will be
frequency of the source when it is moving away from the
[MP PET 1991] observer after crossing him ? The velocity of sound in the
2 medium is 350 m/s [MP PMT 1994]
(a) v (b) v
3 (a) 750 Hz (b) 857 Hz
3 (c) 1143 Hz (d) 1333 Hz
(c) v (d) 3v
2 24. A source and listener are both moving towards each other
17. A sound source is moving towards a stationary observer with with speed v/10, where v is the speed of sound. If the
1/10 of the speed of sound. The ratio of apparent to real frequency of the note emitted by the source is f, the
frequency is frequency heard by the listener would be nearly
[CPMT 1977; NCERT 1977; KCET 2001, 03] [MP PMT 1994; MP PET 2001]

(a) 10/9 (b) 11/10 (a) 1.11 f (b) 1.22 f

(c) f (d) 1.27 f
(c) (11 / 10 )2 (d) (9 / 10 )2
25. A table is revolving on its axis at 5 revolutions per second. A
18. The speed of sound in air at a given temperature is 350 m/s. sound source of frequency 1000 Hz is fixed on the table at 70
An engine blows whistle at a frequency of 1200 cps. It is cm from the axis. The minimum frequency heard by a listener
approaching the observer with velocity 50 m/s. The apparent standing at a distance from the table will be (speed of sound
frequency in cps heard by the observer will be = 352 m/s) [MP PET 1996]
[CPMT 1976; RPET 1999; BHU 1997, 2001] (a) 1000 Hz (b) 1066 Hz
(a) 600 (b) 1050 (c) 941 Hz (d) 352 Hz
(c) 1400 (d) 2400 26. A source of sound S of frequency 500 Hz situated between a
stationary observer O and a wall W, moves towards the wall
 Waves and Sound 861

with a speed of 2 m/s. If the velocity of sound is 332 m/s, then v

(c) (d) v
the number of beats per second heard by the observer is 4
(approximately)
34. A boy is walking away from a wall towards an observer at a
(a) 8 (b) 6 speed of 1 metre/sec and blows a whistle whose frequency is
(c) 4 (d) 2 680 Hz. The number of beats heard by the observer per
27. A motor car blowing a horn of frequency 124vib/sec moves second is (Velocity of sound in air = 340 metres/sec
with a velocity 72 km/hr towards a tall wall. The frequency [MP PMT 1995]
of the reflected sound heard by the driver will be (velocity of
sound in air is 330 m/s) [MP PET 1997] (a) Zero (b) 2

(a) 109 vib/sec (b) 132 vib/sec (c) 8 (d) 4

(c) 140 vib/sec (d) 248 vib/sec 35. The driver of a car travelling with speed 30 metres per second
28. A source of sound of frequency n is moving towards a towards a hill sounds a horn of frequency 600 Hz. If the
stationary observer with a speed S. If the speed of sound in velocity of sound in air is 330 metres per second, the
air is V and the frequency heard by the observer is n1 , the frequency of the reflected sound as heard by the driver is
value of n1 / n is [MP PMT 1997] [MP PMT 1996]

(a) (V  S ) / V (b) V /(V  S ) (a) 720 Hz (b) 555.5 Hz

(c) (V  S ) / V (d) V /(V  S ) (c) 550 Hz (d) 500 Hz

29. A vehicle with a horn of frequency n is moving with a velocity 36. Two sirens situated one kilometer apart are producing
of 30 m/s in a direction perpendicular to the straight line sound of frequency 330 Hz. An observer starts moving from
joining the observer and the vehicle. The observer perceives one siren to the other with a speed of 2 m/s. If the speed of
the sound to have a frequency n  n1 . Then (if the sound sound be 330 m/s, what will be the beat frequency heard by
velocity in air is 300 m/s) the observer [RPMT 1996; CPMT 2002]

[CBSE PMT 1998; AIIMS 2000] (a) 8 (b) 4

(a) n1  10 n (b) n1  0 (c) 6 (d) 1
(c) n1  0 . 1 n (d) n1  0 . 1 n 37. A source of sound is travelling with a velocity 40 km/hour
towards observer and emits sound of frequency 2000 Hz. If
30. A whistle giving out 450 Hz approaches a stationary observer
at a speed of 33 m/s. The frequency heard by the observer in velocity of sound is 1220 km/hour, then what is the apparent
Hz is [IIT 1997 Cancelled] frequency heard by an observer [AFMC 1997]

(a) 409 (b) 429 (a) 2210 Hz (b) 1920 Hz

(c) 517 (d) 500 (c) 2068 Hz (d) 2086 Hz
31. An observer is moving away from source of sound of 38. A source of sound and listener are approaching each other
frequency 100 Hz. His speed is 33 m/s. If speed of sound is with a speed of 40 m/s. The apparent frequency of note
330 m/s, then the observed frequency is produced by the source is 400 cps. Then, its true frequency
[EAMCET (Engg.) 1995; CPMT 1999] (in cps) is (velocity of sound in air = 360 m/s)
(a) 90 Hz (b) 100 Hz [KCET 1999]
(c) 91 Hz (d) 110 Hz (a) 420 (b) 360
32. An observer standing at station observes frequency 219 Hz (c) 400 (d) 320
when a train approaches and 184 Hz when train goes away 39. A siren emitting sound of frequency 500 Hz is going away from
from him. If velocity of sound in air is 340 m/s, then velocity a static listener with a speed of 50 m/sec. The frequency of
of train and actual frequency of whistle will be sound to be heard, directly from the siren, is
[RPET 1997] [AIIMS 1999; Pb. PMT 2003]

(a) 15 . 5 ms 1 , 200 Hz (b) 19 . 5 ms 1 , 205 Hz (a) 434.2 Hz (b) 589.3 Hz

(c) 481.2 Hz (d) 286.5 Hz
(c) 29 . 5 ms 1 , 200 Hz (d) 32 . 5 ms 1 , 205 Hz
40. A man sitting in a moving train hears the whistle of the
33. At what speed should a source of sound move so that engine. The frequency of the whistle is 600 Hz
stationary observer finds the apparent frequency equal to [JIPMER 1999]
half of the original frequency [RPMT 1996]
(a) The apparent frequency as heard by him is smaller than
v 600 Hz
(a) (b) 2v
2
 862 Waves and Sound
(b) The apparent frequency is larger than 600 Hz moving towards the source with a speed of 20 m/s. Apparent
(c) The frequency as heard by him is 600 Hz frequency heard by observer, if velocity of sound is 340 m/s,
is [CPMT 2000; KCET 2001; MH CET 2004]
(d) None of the above
41. A source of sound of frequency 500 Hz is moving towards an (a) 240 Hz (b) 270 Hz
observer with velocity 30 m/s. The speed of sound is 330 (c) 280 Hz (d) 360 Hz
m/s. the frequency heard by the observer will be
48. A siren placed at a railway platform is emitting sound of
[MP PET 2000; Kerala PMT 2005; UPSEAT 2005] frequency 5 kHz. A passenger sitting in a moving train A
(a) 550 Hz (b) 458.3 Hz records a frequency of 5.5 kHz while the train approaches the
siren. During his return journey in a different train B he
(c) 530 Hz (d) 545.5 Hz
records a frequency of 6.0 kHz while approaching the same
42. A source of sound of frequency 90 vibrations/ sec is siren. The ratio of the velocity of train B to that of train A is
approaching a stationary observer with a speed equal to
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2002]
1/10 the speed of sound. What will be the frequency heard
by the observer [MP PMT 2000] (a) 242/252 (b) 2

(a) 80 vibrations/sec (b) 90 vibrations/sec (c) 5/6 (d) 11/6

(c) 100 vibrations/sec (d) 120 vibrations/sec 49. A whistle revolves in a circle with an angular speed of 20
rad/sec using a string of length 50 cm. If the frequency of
43. A whistle of frequency 500 Hz tied to the end of a string of
sound from the whistle is 385 Hz, then what is the minimum
length 1.2 m revolves at 400 rev/min. A listener standing some
frequency heard by an observer, which is far away from the
distance away in the plane of rotation of whistle hears
centre in the same plane ? (v = 340 m/s)
frequencies in the range (speed of sound = 340 m/s)
[CBSE PMT 2002]
[KCET 2000; AMU 1999; Pb. PET 2003]
(a) 333 Hz (b) 374 Hz
(a) 436 to 586 (b) 426 to 574
(c) 385 Hz (d) 394 Hz
(c) 426 to 584 (d) 436 to 674
50. A Siren emitting sound of frequency 800 Hz is going away
44. A train moves towards a stationary observer with speed 34
from a static listener with a speed of 30 m/s, frequency of the
m/s. The train sounds a whistle and its frequency registered
by the observer is f1 . If the train’s speed is reduced to 17 sound to be heard by the listener is (take velocity of sound as
330 m/s)
m/s, the frequency registered is f2 . If the speed of sound is
[CPMT 1996; AIIMS 2002; Pb. PMT 2001]
340 m/s then the ratio f1 / f2 is
(a) 733.3 Hz (b) 644.8 Hz
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2000]
(c) 481.2 Hz (d) 286.5 Hz
(a) 18/19 (b) 1/2
51. A car sounding a horn of frequency 1000 Hz passes an
(c) 2 (d) 19/18
observer. The ratio of frequencies of the horn noted by the
45. If source and observer both are relatively at rest and if speed observer before and after passing of the car is 11 : 9. If the
of sound is increased then frequency heard by observer will
speed of sound is v, the speed of the car is
[RPET 2000; J & K CET 2004] [MP PET 2002]
(a) Increases (b) Decreases 1 1
(a) v (b) v
(c) Can not be predicted (d) Will not change 10 2

46. A source and an observer move away from each other with a 1
(c) v (d) v
velocity of 10 m/s with respect to ground. If the observer 5
finds the frequency of sound coming from the source as 1950 52. What should be the velocity of a sound source moving
Hz, then actual frequency of the source is (velocity of sound towards a stationary observer so that apparent frequency is
in air = 340 m/s) [EAMCET 1997; double the actual frequency (Velocity of sound is v)
MH CET 2000; AFMC 2000; CBSE PMT 2001] [MP PMT 2002]

(a) 1950 Hz (b) 2068 Hz (a) v (b) 2v

(c) 2132 Hz (d) 2486 Hz v v

(c) (d)
2 4
47. A source is moving towards an observer with a speed of 20
53. Two trains are moving towards each other at speeds of 20
m/s and having frequency of 240 Hz. The observer is now
m/s and 15 m/s relative to the ground. The first train sounds
 Waves and Sound 863

a whistle of frequency 600 Hz. the frequency of the whistle 60. A police car horn emits a sound at a frequency 240 Hz when
heard by a passenger in the second train before the train the car is at rest. If the speed of the sound is 330 m/s, the
meets is (the speed of sound in air is 340 m/s) frequency heard by an observer who is approaching the car
[UPSEAT 2002] at a speed of 11 m/s, is : [UPSEAT 2004]

(a) 600 Hz (b) 585 Hz (a) 248 Hz (b) 244 Hz

(c) 645 Hz (d) 666 Hz (c) 240 Hz (d) 230 Hz
54. A small source of sound moves on a circle as shown in the 61. A person carrying a whistle emitting continuously a note of
figure and an observer is standing on O . Let n1 , n 2 and n 3 272 Hz is running towards a reflecting surface with a speed
be the frequencies heard when the source is at A, B and C of 18 km/hour. The speed of sound in air is 345 ms 1 . The
respectively. Then [UPSEAT 2002]
number of beats heard by him is
[Kerala (Engg.) 2002]
(a) n1  n 2  n 3 B
(a) 4 (b) 6
(b) n 2  n 3  n1 C
(c) 8 (d) 3
(c) n1  n 2  n 3 62. A bus is moving with a velocity of 5 m/s towards a huge wall.
A
(d) n 2  n1  n 3 the driver sounds a horn of frequency 165 Hz. If the speed of
sound in air is 355 m/s, the number of beats heard per
55. A source and an observer approach each other with same second by a passenger on the bus will be
velocity 50 m/s. If the apparent frequency is 435 sec–1, then
[KCET 2001; BHU 2002]
the real frequency is [CPMT 2003]
(a) 6 (b) 5
(a) 320 s–1 (b) 360 sec–1
(c) 3 (d) 4
(c) 390 sec–1 (d) 420 sec–1
63. A source of sound of frequency 256 Hz is moving rapidly
56. A source emits a sound of frequency of 400 Hz, but the towards a wall with a velocity of 5m/s. The speed of sound is
listener hears it to be 390 Hz. Then 330 m/s. If the observer is between the wall and the source,
[Orissa JEE 2003] then beats per second heard will be [UPSEAT 2002]

(a) The listener is moving towards the source (a) 7.8 Hz (b) 7.7 Hz

(b) The source is moving towards the listener (c) 3.9 Hz (d) Zero
(c) The listener is moving away from the source 64. The apparent frequency of a note, when a listener moves
towards a stationary source, with velocity of 40 m/s is 200
(d) The listener has a defective ear
Hz. When he moves away from the same source with the
57. Doppler effect is applicable for [AFMC 2003] same speed, the apparent frequency of the same note is 160
(a) Moving bodies Hz. The velocity of sound in air is (in m/s) [KCET 1998]

(b) One is moving and other are stationary (a) 360 (b) 330

(c) For relative motion (c) 320 (d) 340

(d) None of these 65. An observer moves towards a stationary source of sound,
with a velocity one-fifth of the velocity of sound. What is the
58. A source and an observer are moving towards each other
percentage increase in the apparent frequency
v
with a speed equal to where v is the speed of sound. The [AIEEE 2005]
2
source is emitting sound of frequency n. The frequency heard (a) 5% (b) 20%
by the observer will be [MP PET 2003] (c) Zero (d) 0.5%
(a) Zero (b) n
Musical Sound
n
(c) (d) 3 n
3 1. The walls of the halls built for music concerts should
59. When an engine passes near to a stationary observer then its [NCERT 1979]
apparent frequencies occurs in the ratio 5/3. If the velocity (a) Amplify sound (b) Transmit sound
of engine is [MP PMT 2003] (c) Reflect sound (d) Absorb sound
(a) 540 m/s (b) 270 m/s 2. A spherical source of power 4 W and frequency 800 Hz is
emitting sound waves. The intensity of waves at a distance
(c) 85 m/s (d) 52.5 m/s 200 m is [CPMT 1999; JIPMER 2000]
 864 Waves and Sound

(a) 8  10 6 W / m 2 (b) 2  10 4 W / m 2 (a) 5 : 2 (b) 10: 4

(c) 2.5 : 1 (d) 25 : 4
(c) 1  10 4 W / m 2 (d) 4 W / m 2
11. A is singing a note and at the same time B is singing a note
3. If the pressure amplitude in a sound wave is tripled, then the with exactly one-eighth the frequency of the note of A. The
intensity of sound is increased by a factor of energies of two sounds are equal, the amplitude of the note
[CPMT 1992; JIPMER 2000] of B is [NCERT 1981; AIIMS 2001]
(a) 9 (b) 3 (a) Same that of A (b) Twice as that of A
(c) 6 (d) 3 (c) Four times as that of A (d) Eight times as that of A
4. If the amplitude of sound is doubled and the frequency 12. The loudness and pitch of a sound depends on
reduced to one-fourth, the intensity of sound at the same
[KCET 2004; Pb. PET 2003]
point will be [CBSE PMT 1992]
(a) Intensity and velocity
(a) Increased by a factor of 2
(b) Decreased by a factor of 2 (b) Frequency and velocity

(c) Decreased by a factor of 4 (c) Intensity and frequency

(d) Unchanged (d) Frequency and number of harmonics
I 13. If T is the reverberation time of an auditorium of volume V
5. Intensity level of a sound of intensity I is 30 dB. The ratio then [KCET 2003]
I0
is (Where I0 is the threshold of hearing) 1 1
(a) T  (b) T 
V V2
[KCET 1999; J & K CET 2005]
(a) 3000 (b) 1000 (c) T  V 2 (d) T  V
(c) 300 (d) 30 14. The intensity of sound from a radio at a distance of 2 metres
6. Decibel is unit of [RPMT 2000] from its speaker is 1  0 2  W /m 2 . The intensity at a
(a) Intensity of light (b) X-rays radiation capacity distance of 10 meters would be [CPMT 2005]
2 2
(c) Sound loudness (d) Energy of radiation (a) 0 . 2  10  W /m 2
(b) 1  10  W /m 2
7. Quality of a musical note depends on
(c) 4  10 4  W /m 2 (d) 5  10 2  W /m 2
[MP PMT 1998; KCET 1999; RPET 2000]
15. The intensity of sound wave while passing through an elastic
(a) Harmonics present
medium falls down by 10% as it covers one metre distance
(b) Amplitude of the wave through the medium. If the initial intensity of the sound wave
(c) Fundamental frequency was 100 decibels, its value after it has passed through 3 metre
(d) Velocity of sound in the medium thickness of the medium will be [CPMT 1988]
8. When we hear a sound, we can identify its source from (a) 70 decibel (b) 72.9 decibel
[KCET (Med.) 2001] (c) 81 decibel (d) 60 decibel
(a) Amplitude of sound 16. A musical scale is constructed by providing intermediate
(b) Intensity of sound frequencies between a note and its octave which

(c) Wavelength of sound [CPMT 1972; NCERT 1980]

(d) Overtones present in the sound (a) Form an arithmetic progression

9. A man x can hear only upto 10 kHz and another man y upto (b) Form a geometric progression
20 kHz. A note of frequency 500 Hz is produced before them (c) Bear a simple ratio with their neighbours
from a stretched string. Then
(d) Form a harmonic progression
[KCET 2002]
17. In a harmonium the intermediate notes between a note and
(a) Both will hear sounds of same pitch but different quality its octave form [CPMT 1973]
(b) Both will hear sounds of different pitch but same quality (a) An arithmetic progression
(c) Both will hear sounds of different pitch and different (b) A geometric progression
quality
(c) A harmonic progression
(d) Both will hear sounds of same pitch and same quality
(d) An exponential progression
10. The amplitude of two waves are in ratio 5 : 2. If all other
18. The power of a sound from the speaker of a radio is 20 mW.
conditions for the two waves are same, then what is the ratio
By turning the knob of the volume control, the power of the
of their energy densities [MH CET 2004]
 Waves and Sound 865

sound is increased to 400 mW. The power increase in 28. Each of the properties of sound listed in column A primarily
decibels as compared to the original power is depends on one of the quantities in column B. Choose the
matching pairs from two columns
(a) 13 dB (b) 10 dB
Column A Column B
(c) 20 dB (d) 800 dB Pitch Waveform
19. If separation between screen and source is increased by 2% Quality Frequency
what would be the effect on the intensity [CPMT 2003]
Loudness Intensity [IIT 1980]
(a) Increases by 4% (b) Increases by 2% (a) Pitch-waveform, Quality-frequency; Loudness-intensity
(c) Decreases by 2% (d) Decreases by 4% (b) Pitch-frequency, Quality-waveform; Loudness-intensity
20. The musical interval between two tones of frequencies 320 (c) Pitch-intensity, Quality-waveform; Loudness- frequency
Hz and 240 Hz is [MP PMT 1992; AFMC 1992]
(d) Pitch-waveform, Quality- intensity; Loudness-frequency
4
(a) 80 (b)   29. Intensity level 200 cm from a source of sound is 80 dB. If
3 there is no loss of acoustic power in air and intensity of
(c) 560 (d) 320 × 240 threshold hearing is 10 12 Wm 2 then, what is the intensity
21. In an orchestra, the musical sounds of different instruments level at a distance of 400 cm from source
are distinguished from one another by which of the following (a) Zero (b) 54 dB
characteristics [CBSE PMT 1993]
(c) 64 dB (d) 44 dB
(a) Pitch (b) Loudness
30. A point source emits sound equally in all directions in a non-
(c) Quality (d) Overtones absorbing medium. Two points P and Q are at distances of
22. The intensity level due to two waves of the same frequency 2m and 3 m respectively from the source. The ratio of the
in a given medium are 1 bel and 5 bel. Then the ratio of intensities of the waves at P and Q is [CBSE PMT 2005]
amplitudes is
(a) 9 : 4 (b) 2 : 3
(a) 1 : 4 (b) 1 : 2
(c) 3 : 2 (d) 4 : 9
(c) 1 : 104 (d) 1 : 102
31. Quality depends on [AFMC 2003]
23. It is possible to recognise a person by hearing his voice even
(a) Intensity (b) Loudness
if he is hidden behind a wall. This is due to the fact that his
voice [CPMT 1972] (c) Timbre (d) Frequency
(a) Has a definite pitch (b) Has a definite quality 32. Two waves having sinusoidal waveforms have different
(c) Has a definite loudness (d) Can penetrate the wall wavelengths and different amplitude. They will be having

24. Of the following the one which emits sound of higher pitch is [BHU 2005]

(a) Mosquito (b) Lion (a) Same pitch and different intensity
(c) Man (d) Woman (b) Same quality and different intensity
25. In the musical octave ‘Sa’, ‘Re’, ‘Ga’ (c) Different quality and different intensity
(a) The frequency of the note ‘Sa’ is greater than that of ‘Re’, (d) Same quality and different pitch
‘Ga’
(b) The frequency of the note ‘Sa’ is smaller than that of ‘Re’,
‘Ga’
(c) The frequency of all the notes ‘Sa’, ‘Re’, ‘Ga’ is the same
(d) The frequency decreases in the sequence ‘Sa’, ‘Re’, ‘Ga’
26. Tone A has frequency of 240 Hz. Of the following tones, the
1. A wave disturbance in a medium is described by
one which will sound least harmonious with A is
 
(a) 240 (b) 480 y(x , t)  0 . 02 cos  50 t   cos(10 x ) , where x and y are in
 2
(c) 360 (d) 450 metres and t in seconds [IIT 1995]
27. Learned Indian classical vocalists do not like the (a) A displacement node occurs at x = 0.15 m
accompaniment of a harmonium because [MP PMT 1992]
(b) An antinode occurs at x = 0.3 m
(a) Intensity of the notes of the harmonium is too large
(c) The wavelength of the wave is 0.2 m
(b) Notes of the harmonium are too shrill
(d) The speed of the wave is 5.0 m/s
(c) Diatonic scale is used in the harmonium
2. The (x, y) coordinates of the corners of a square plate are (0,
(d) Tempered scale is used in the harmonium 0), (L, 0), (L, L) and (0, L). The edges of the plate are clamped
 866 Waves and Sound
and transverse standing waves are set up in it. If u(x, y) with a tuning fork is 0.1 m. when this length is changed to
denotes the displacement of the plate at the point (x, y) at 0.35 m, the same tuning fork resonates with the first
some instant of time, the possible expression(s) for u is(are) overtone. Calculate the end correction
(a = positive constant)
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2003]
[IIT 1998; Orissa PMT 2004]
(a) 0.012m (b) 0.025m
x y x y
(a) a cos cos (b) a sin sin (c) 0.05m (d) 0.024m
2L 2L L L
8. A closed organ pipe of length L and an open organ pipe
x 2y 2x y
(c) a sin sin (d) a cos cos contain gases of densities  1 and  2 respectively. The
L L L L
compressibility of gases are equal in both the pipes. Both the
3. The ends of a stretched wire of length L are fixed at x  0 pipes are vibrating in their first overtone with same
and x  L. In one experiment, the displacement of the wire frequency. The length of the open organ pipe is
is y 1  A sin(x / L) sin t and energy is E1 , and in another
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2004]
experiment its displacement is y 2  A sin(2x / L) sin 2t
L 4L
and energy is E 2 . Then (a) (b)
3 3
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2001]
4L 1 4L 2
(a) E 2  E1 (b) E 2  2E1 (c) (d)
3 2 3 1
(c) E 2  4 E1 (d) E 2  16 E1
4. In a large room, a person receives direct sound waves from a
source 120 metres away from him. He also receives waves
from the same source which reach him, being reflected from
the 25 metre high ceiling at a point halfway between them.
The two waves interfere constructively for wavelength of
[Roorkee 1982]
(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 air in one flute is
increased to 31 o 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,