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NCERT · Class 11 · Physics

Chapter 14: Waves

Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.

Textbook exercises

27 questions
Q11Written answer

The transverse displacement of a string (clamped at its both ends) is given by \[y(x,t)=0.06\sin \frac{2\pi x}{3}\cos (120\pi t)\] Where x and y are in m and t in s. The length of the string is \[\mathbf{1}.\mathbf{5}\text{ }\mathbf{m}\] and its mass is \[\mathbf{3}.\mathbf{0}\text{ }\times \text{ }\mathbf{1}{{\mathbf{0}}^{-\mathbf{2}}}\mathbf{kg}\].

Answer the following:

(a) Does the function represent a travelling wave or a stationary wave?

(b) Interpret the wave as a superposition of two waves travelling in opposite directions. What is the wavelength, frequency, and speed of each wave?

(c) Determine the tension in the string.

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Worked solution

Ans: The general equation of stationary wave is given by:

\[y(x,t)=Asin(kx)cos(\omega t)\]

This given equation is similar to the equation of stationary wave:

\[y(x,t)=0.06\sin \frac{2\pi x}{3}\cos (120\pi t)\]

Hence, the given function is a stationary wave. 

Ans: The transverse displacement of the string is given as:

\[y(x,t)=0.06\sin \left( \frac{2\pi }{3}x \right)\cos (120\pi t)\] 

From above equation, $k=\frac{2\pi }{3}$

\[\therefore \] Wavelength, $\lambda =\frac{2\pi }{k}=\frac{2\pi }{\frac{2\pi }{3}}=3m$

It is given that:

\[120\pi =2\pi \nu \]

Frequency, \[\nu =60\]Hz

Wave speed, \[v=\nu \lambda =60\times 3=180m{{s}^{-1}}\]

Ans: The transverse wave’s velocity travelling in a string is given by the relation:

\[v=\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu }}\]    ……(i)

Where, Velocity of the transverse wave, \[v=180m{{s}^{-1}}\]

Mass of the string, \[m=3.0\times {{10}^{-2}}kg\]

Length of the string, \[l\text{ }=\text{ }1.5\text{ }m\]

Mass per unit length of the string, \[\mu =\frac{m}{l}=\frac{3.0}{1.5}\times {{10}^{-2}}=2\times {{10}^{-2}}kg{{m}^{-1}}\]

Tension in the string \[=\text{ }T\]

From equation (i), tension can be obtained as:

\[T={{v}^{2}}\mu \]

\[\Rightarrow T={{(180)}^{2}}\times 2\times {{10}^{-2}}\]

\[\Rightarrow T=648N\]

The tension in string is $648N$.


Q12Written answer

(i) For the wave on a string described in Question 11, do all the points on the string oscillate with the same 

(a) frequency, 

(b) phase,

(c) amplitude? Explain your answers. 

(ii) What is the amplitude of a point \[\mathbf{0}.\mathbf{375}\text{ }\mathbf{m}\] away from one end?

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Ans: Yes, all the points on the string vibrate with the same frequency, except at the nodes which are having zero frequency.

Ans: Yes, all the points in any oscillating loop have the same phase, except at the nodes.

Ans: No, all the points in any oscillating loop have different vibration amplitudes.

Ans: The given equation is:

\[y(x,t)=0.06\sin \left( \frac{2\pi }{3}x \right)\cos \left( 120\pi t \right)\]

For x = 0.375 m and t = 0

Amplitude\[=0.06\sin \left( \frac{2\pi }{3}x \right)\cos 0\]

\[\Rightarrow a=0.06\sin \left( \frac{2\pi }{3}\times 0.375 \right)\times 1\]

\[\Rightarrow a=0.06\sin \left( 0.25\pi  \right)=0.06\sin \left( \frac{\pi }{4} \right)\]

\[\Rightarrow a=0.06\times \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}=0.042m\]

The value of amplitude is \[0.042m\].


Q13Multiple choice

Given below are some functions of x and t to represent the displacement (transverse or longitudinal) of an elastic wave. State which of these represent, (i) a travelling wave, (ii) a stationary wave or (iii) none at all:

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Worked solution

Ans: This equation demonstrates a stationary wave because the harmonic terms \[kx\] and \[wt\] seem separately in the equation.

Ans: This equation is not having any harmonic term. Therefore, it is not representing either a stationary wave or travelling wave.

Ans: This equation demonstrates a travelling wave as it is having harmonic terms \[kx\] and \[wt\] are in \[kx~wt\] combination.

Ans: This equation demonstrates a stationary wave because it is having harmonic terms \[kx\] and \[wt\] separately in the equation. It is the superposition of two stationary waves.


Q14Written answer

A wire stretched between two rigid supports vibrates in its fundamental mode with a frequency of \[\mathbf{45}\text{ }\mathbf{Hz}\]. The mass of the wire is \[\mathbf{3}.\mathbf{5}\text{ }\times \text{ }\mathbf{1}{{\mathbf{0}}^{-\mathbf{2}}}\mathbf{kg}\] and its linear mass density is \[\mathbf{4}.\mathbf{0}\text{ }\mathbf{x}\text{ }\mathbf{1}{{\mathbf{0}}^{-\mathbf{2}}}\mathbf{kg}\text{ }{{\mathbf{m}}^{-\mathbf{1}}}\]. What is 

(a) the speed of a transverse wave on the string, and 

(b) the tension in the string?

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Ans: Provided that,

Mass of the wire, \[m=3.5\times {{10}^{-2}}kg\]

Linear mass density, \[\mu =\frac{m}{l}=4.0\times {{10}^{-2}}kg{{m}^{-1}}\]

Frequency of vibration, \[\nu =45Hz\]

 Length of the wire, \[l=\frac{m}{\mu }=\frac{3.5\times {{10}^{-2}}}{4.0\times {{10}^{-2}}}=0.875m\]

The wavelength of the stationary wave \[(\lambda )\] is given by: 

\[\lambda =\frac{2l}{n}\] where, \[n=\]number of nodes

 For fundamental node, \[n=1\]: 

\[\lambda =2l\]

\[\lambda =2\times 0.875=1.75m\]

The speed of the transverse wave in the string is given as: 

\[v=\nu \lambda =45\times 1.75=78.75m{{s}^{-1}}\]

The speed of transverse wave is \[78.75m{{s}^{-1}}\].

Ans: The tension produced in the string is given by the relation: 

\[T={{v}^{2}}\mu \]

\[\Rightarrow T={{(78.75)}^{2}}\times 4.0\times {{10}^{-2}}=248.06N\]

The tension in the string is $248.06N$.


Q15Written answer

A metre-long tube open at one end, with a movable piston at the other end, shows resonance with a fixed frequency source (a tuning fork of frequency \[\mathbf{340}\text{ }\mathbf{Hz}\]) when the tube length is \[\mathbf{25}.\mathbf{5}\text{ }\mathbf{cm}\text{ }\mathbf{or}\text{ }\mathbf{79}.\mathbf{3}\text{ }\mathbf{cm}\]. Estimate the speed of sound in air at the temperature of the experiment. The edge effects may be neglected.

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Ans: It is provided that,

Frequency of the turning fork, \[\nu =340\text{ }Hz\]

Since the given pipe is attached with a movable piston at one end, it will behave as a pipe with one end closed and the other end open, as shown in the given figure.



Such a system gives odd harmonics. The relation of fundamental note in a closed pipe is given by:

\[{{l}_{1}}=\frac{\lambda }{4}\]

Where, length of the pipe \[{{l}_{1}}=25.5cm=0.255m\]

\[\Rightarrow \lambda =4{{l}_{1}}=4\times 0.255=1.02m\]

The relation of sound speed is given by:

\[v=\nu \lambda =340\times 1.02=346.8m{{s}^{-1}}\]


Q16Written answer

A steel rod \[\mathbf{100}\text{ }\mathbf{cm}\] long is clamped at its middle. The fundamental frequency of longitudinal vibrations of the rod is given to be \[\mathbf{2}.\mathbf{53}\text{ }\mathbf{kHz}.\] What is the speed of sound in steel? 

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Ans: We have,

Length of the steel rod, \[l\text{ }=\text{ }100\text{ }cm\text{ }=\text{ }1\text{ }m\]

Fundamental frequency of vibration, \[\nu =2.53kHz=2.53\times {{10}^{3}}Hz\]

An antinode (A) is formed at its centre, and nodes (N) are formed at its two ends when the rod is plucked at its middle, as shown in the given figure.



The distance between two successive nodes is \[\frac{\lambda }{2}\]

\[\therefore l=\frac{\lambda }{2}\]

\[\lambda =2l=2\times 1=2m\]

The sound speed in steel is given by:

\[v=\nu \lambda \]

\[\Rightarrow v=2.53\times {{10}^{3}}\times 2\]

\[\Rightarrow v=5.06\times {{10}^{3}}m{{s}^{-1}}\]

\[\Rightarrow v=5.06km{{s}^{-1}}\]

The speed of sound in steel is \[5.06km{{s}^{-1}}\].


Q17Written answer

A pipe \[\mathbf{20}\text{ }\mathbf{cm}\] long is closed at one end. Which harmonic mode of the pipe is resonantly excited by a \[\mathbf{430}\text{ }\mathbf{Hz}\] source? Will the same source be in resonance with the pipe if both ends are open? (Speed of sound in air is  \[\mathbf{340}\text{ }\mathbf{m}{{\mathbf{s}}^{-\mathbf{1}}}\]).

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Ans: Provided that,

Length of the pipe, \[l=20\text{ }cm=0.2\text{ }m\]

Source frequency \[=\text{ }{{n}^{th}}\] normal mode of frequency, \[{{\nu }_{n}}=\text{ }430\text{ }Hz\]

Speed of sound, \[v=340\text{ }m/s\]

In a closed pipe, the nth normal mode of frequency is given by the relation:\[{{\nu }_{n}}=(2n-1)\frac{v}{4l}\]

Where, n is an integer \[=\text{ }0,1,2,3\ldots ..\]

\[\Rightarrow 430=\frac{(2n-1)340}{4\times 0.2}\]

\[\Rightarrow 2n-1=\frac{430\times 4\times 0.2}{340}\]

\[\Rightarrow 2n-1=1.01\]

\[\Rightarrow n\approx 1\]

Clearly, the vibration frequency’s first mode is resonantly excited by the given source. In a pipe open at both ends, the \[{{n}^{th}}\] mode of vibration frequency is given by:

\[{{\nu }_{n}}=\frac{nv}{2l}\]

\[\Rightarrow n=\frac{2l{{v}_{n}}}{v}\]

\[\Rightarrow n=\frac{2\times 0.2\times 430}{340}=0.5\]

Since the number of the vibration mode has to be an integer, the given source does not generate a resonant vibration in an open pipe.


Q18Written answer

Two sitar strings A and B playing the note ‘Ga’ are slightly out of tune and produce beats of frequency \[\mathbf{6}\text{ }\mathbf{Hz}\]. The tension in the string A is slightly reduced and the beat frequency is found to reduce to \[\mathbf{3}\text{ }\mathbf{Hz}\]. If the original frequency of A is \[\mathbf{324}\text{ }\mathbf{Hz}\], what is the frequency of B?

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Ans: It is provided that,

Frequency of string A, \[{{f}_{A}}=324Hz\]

 Frequency of string B \[={{f}_{B}}\]

Beat’s frequency, \[n=6\text{ }Hz\]

Beat’s frequency is given as:

\[n=\left| {{f}_{A}}\pm {{f}_{B}} \right|\]

 \[\Rightarrow 6=324\pm {{f}_{B}}\]

\[\Rightarrow {{f}_{n}}=\text{ }330\text{ }Hz\text{ }or\text{ }318\text{ }Hz\]

Frequency decreases with a reduction in the tension in a string because frequency is directly proportional to the tension’s square root. It is given as: 

\[\nu \propto \sqrt{T}\]

 Hence, the beat frequency cannot be \[330\text{ }Hz\]

\[\therefore {{f}_{B}}=318Hz\]


Q19Multiple choice

Explain why (or how): 

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Correct option: A
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Worked solution

Ans: A node is a point where the vibration amplitude is the minimum and pressure is the greatest. An antinode is a point where the maximum vibration amplitude and pressure are the lowest. Therefore, a displacement node is a pressure antinode and vice versa.

Ans: Bats emit powerful high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves. These waves get reflected toward them by obstructions. A bat takes a reflected wave and measures the distance, size, direction, and nature of an obstacle with the aid of its brain senses.

Ans: The overtones generated by a sitar and a violin, and the powers of these overtones, are different. Hence, one can differentiate between the notes produced by a sitar and a violin even if they have a similar vibration frequency.

Ans: Solids have a shear modulus. They can provide shearing stress. Since fluids do not hold any definite shape, they produce shearing stress. The transverse wave propagation is such that it provides shearing stress in a medium. The propagation of such a wave is probable only in solids and not in gases. Both solids and fluids have their respective bulk moduli. They can provide compressive stress. Hence, longitudinal waves can pass through solids and fluids.

(e) the shape of a pulse gets distorted during propagation in a dispersive medium. 

Ans: A pulse is a combination of waves having various wavelengths. These waves move in a dispersive medium with varying velocities, depending on the medium's nature. This results in the shape distortion of a wave pulse.


Q20Written answer

A train, standing at the outer signal of a railway station blows a whistle of frequency \[\mathbf{400}\text{ }\mathbf{Hz}\] in still air. 

(i) What is the frequency of the whistle for a platform observer when the train 

(a) approaches the platform with a speed of \[\mathbf{10}\text{ }\mathbf{m}{{\mathbf{s}}^{-\mathbf{1}}}\], 

(b) recedes from the platform with a speed of \[\mathbf{10}\text{ }\mathbf{m}{{\mathbf{s}}^{-\mathbf{1}}}\]?

(ii) What is the speed of sound in each case? The speed of sound in still air can be taken as \[\mathbf{340}\text{ }\mathbf{m}{{\mathbf{s}}^{-\mathbf{1}}}\].

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Ans: Provided that,

Frequency of the whistle, \[\nu =400\text{ }Hz\]

Speed of the train, \[{{v}_{T}}=10\text{ }m/s\]

Speed of sound, \[v=340\text{ }m/s\]

The whistle’s apparent frequency \[\left( \nu  \right)\] as the train approaches the platform is given by: 

\[\nu '=\left( \frac{v}{v-{{v}_{T}}} \right)\nu \]

\[\Rightarrow \nu '=\left( \frac{340}{340-10} \right)\times 400=412.12Hz\]

Ans: The apparent frequency (\[\nu ''\]) of the whistle as the train recedes from the platform is given by the relation: 

\[\nu ''=\left( \frac{v}{v+{{v}_{T}}} \right)\nu \]

\[\Rightarrow \nu ''=\left( \frac{340}{340+10} \right)\times 400=388.57Hz\]

The apparent frequency of the whistle is $388.57Hz$.

Ans: The apparent change in sound frequency is caused by the relative motions of the source and the observer. These relative motions generate no effect on the sound speed. Therefore, the sound speed in the air in both cases remains the same, i.e., \[340\text{ }m/s.\]