SOUND WAVES 3.

SOUND WAVES
Section A - Equation of pressure wave, When Prong B moves outward towards right it
Velocity, Newton's and laplace compresses the air in front of it, causing the pressure
formula, Loudness and to rise slightly. The region of increased pressure is
intensity, Energy in sound
called a compression pulse and it travels away from
waves
the prong with the speed of sound.
1. SOUND WAVES A B
Sound is type of longitudnal wave. In general . . . . . . . . .
majority of longitudinal waves are termed as sound . . . . . . . . .
. ............. . . v. . . . .
. ..... . . . . . . .
waves. Sound is produced by a vibrating source, . ..... . . . . . . .
like when a gong of a bell is struck with a hammer, normal atmospheric
sound is produced. The vibrations produced by gong pressure
Undisturbed tuning fork
are propagated through air, Through air these
vibrations reach to the ear and ear drum is set into After producing the compression pulse, the prong
vibrations and these vibrations are communicated B reverses its motion and moves inward. This
to human brain. By touching the gong of bell by drages away some air from the region in front of it,
hand, we can feel the vibrations. causing the pressure to dip slightly below the normal
pressure. This region of decreased pressure is called
2. PROPAGATION OF SOUND WAVES rarefaction pulse. Following immediately behind the
Sound is a mechanical three dimensional and compression pulse, the rarefaction pulse also travels
longitudinal wave that is created by a vibrating source away from the prong with the speed of sound.
such a guitar string, the human vocal cords, the A B
prongs of a tuning fork or the diaphragm of a
loudspeaker. Being a mechanical wavs, sound needs . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
a medium having properties of inetia and elasticity . . . .v. . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
for its propagation. Sound waves propagate in any . . . . . . . . .
medium through a series of periodic compressions rarefaction compression
pulse pulse
and rarefactions of presure, which is produced by
the vibrating source. A longitudinal wave in a fluid is described either in
Consider a tuning fork producing sound waves. tems of the longitudal displacements suffered by the
particles of the medium.
A B
y  A sin t y  A sin ( t – x / v)
. .
. . . . . . .
. .
. . . . . . .
. .
. . . . . . .
. .
. . . . . . . –A (0,0) A y A
. .
. . . . . . .
. .
. . . . . . . v
normal atmospheric
x
pressure
Undisturbed tuning fork
Consider a wave going in the x-direction in a fluid.
Suppose that at a time t, the particle at the
 undistrubed position x suffers a displacement y in
the x-direction.
 x
y = A sin   t – v 
 
Position of any particle from origin at any time = x
+y
x = Distance of the mean position of the particle
from the origin.
y = Displacement of the particle from its mean
position.
General Equation :
(0,0)  y = A sin (t + )
(0,x)  y = A sin [(t – x/v ) + 
Displacement wave y = A sin (t – kx + )
• If we fix x = x0 then we are dealing with the particle
whose mean position at distance x0 from origin &
this particle is performin SHM of amp. A with time
period T phase difference = – kx + 
3. COMPRESSION WAVES
When a longitudinal wave propagated in a gaseous
medium, it produces compression and rarefaction
in the medium periodically. The region where
compression occurs, the pressure is more than the
normal pressure of the medium. Thus we can also
describe longitudinal waves in a gaseous medium
as pressure waves and these are also termed as
compression waves in which the pressure at
different point of medium also varies periodically
with their displacements. Let us discuss the
propagation of excess pressure in a medium in
longitudinal wave analytically.
y y+dy
A A' B B'
dx
x=x x=x+dx
Consider a longitudinal wave propagating in positive
x-direction as shown in figure. Figure shows a
segmentAB of the medium of width dx. In this
...(i) medium let a longitudinal wave is propagating whose
equation is given as
y = A sin (t – kx) ...(1)
Where y is the displacement of medium particle
situated at a distance x from the origin, along the
direction of propagation of wave. In figure shown
AB is the medium segment whose a medium
particle is at position x = x and B is at x = x +dx at
an instant. If after some time t medium particle at
A reaches to a point A' which is displaced by y and
the medium particle at b reaches to point B which
is at a displacmenet y + dy from B. Here dy is
given by equation (3.116) as
dy = – Ak cos (t – kx) dx
Here due to displacement of section AB to AB
the change in volume of it's section is given as
dV = – S dy
[S  Area of cross-section]
= SA k cos (t – kx) dx
The volume of section AB is V = S dx
Thus volume strain in section AB is
dV –SAk cos(t – kx)dx
 or
V Sdx
dV
 –Ax cos(t – kx)
V
If B is the bulk modulus of the medium, then the
excess pressure in the section AB can be given as
dV 
P = – B   ...(2)
 V 
P = BAk cos (t – kx)
or P = P0cos(t – kx) ...(3)
Here P0 is the pressure amplitude at a medium
particle at position x from origin and P is the excess
pressure at that point. Equation shown that excess
varies periodically at every point of the medium with
X
pressure amplitude P0, which is given as
2
P0 = BAk = AB ...(4)

 Equation shown is also termed as the equation of
dV d
pressure wave in gaseous medium. We can also or –
see that the pressure wave differs in phase is /2 V 
from the displacement wave and pressure maxima Substituting in Eq. (i), we get
occurs where the displacement is zero and
displacement maxima occur where the pressure is (dP) dp  1 
d   2   2
at its normal level. Remembers that pressure B v B v 
maxima implies that the presure at a point is pressure Or this can be written as,
amplitude times more or less then the normal
pressure level of the medium.  1
  . P  2  P
B v
EXAMPLE 1 So, this relation relates the pressure equation with
A sound wave of wavelenth 40 cm travels in air. If the density equation. For example, if
the difference between the maximum and minimum P = (P)m sin (kx – t)
pressures at a given point is 2.0 × 10–3 N/m2, find then  = ()msin (kx – t)
the amplitude of vibration of the particles of the
medium. The bulk modulus of air is 1.4 × 105 N/m2  ( P)m
where, ()m = .( P) m 
B v2
Sol. The pressure amplitude is
Thus, density equation is in phase with the pressure
2.0  10 –3 N / m 2 equation and this is 90° out of phase with the
p0   10 –3 N / m 2
2 displacement equation.
The displacement amplitudes s0 is given by
p0 = B k s0 3.1 Velocity and Acceleration of particle:
General equation of wave is given by
p0 p
or, s0   0
Bk 2B y = A sin (t – kx)

y
10–3 N / m2  (40  10 –2 m) 100 v =  t = A  cos (t – kx) ...(1)
  Å  6.6Å
2    14  104 N / m 2 7
2 y
a = = – A2 sin (t – kx) ...(2)
Density Wave  t2

In this section we will find the relation between y

pressure wave and density wave.  –Ak cos( t – kx) ...(3)
x
According to definition of bulk modulus (B),
y
 dp  Here  x = slope of (y, x) curve Now again
B = – 
 dV / V  differentiate eq. – 3

mass 2 y
Further, Volume =  –Ak 2 sin( t – kx) ...(4)
density  x2
from eq. (2) & (4)
m
or V= 2 y 2 y
  v2 2
2
t x
m V
or dV = – 2
.d  – .d
 
4. VELO CITY OF S O UND / If Young's modulus of the material of medium is Y,
LONGITUDINAL WAVES IN we have
SOLIDS Stess S1
Young's Modulus Y = 
Consider a section AB of medium as shown in Strain E
figure(a) of cross-sectional area S. Let A and B be
two cross section as shown. Let in this medium F/S
From equation (1) and (2), we have Y 
sound propagation is from left to right. If wave dy / dx
source is at origin O and when it oscillates, the
oscillations at that point propagate along the rod. dy
or F  YS ...(3)
dx
velocity of sound
A B If net force acting of secting AB is dF then it is
given as
dF = dma ...(4)
Where dm is the mass of section AB and a be its
O x dx acceleration, which can be given as for a medium of
(a) density .
A' B'
d2 y
dm = Sdx and a=
dt 2

d2 y
O x+y dx+dy From equation (4), we have dF = (Sdx)
dx 2
(b)

Here we say an elastic wave has propagated along dF d2 y

or  S 2 ...(5)
the rod with a velocity determined by the physical dx dt
properties of the medium. Due to oscillations say a From equation (3) on differentiating w.r. to x, we
force F is developed at every point of medium which can write
produces a stress in rod and is the cause of strain or
propagation of disturbance along the rod. This stress dF d 2y
 YS 2 ...(6)
at any cross-sectional area can be given as dx dt

F From equation (5) and (6) we get

Stress S1 = ...(1)
S
d2 y  Y  d 2y
If we consider the section AB of medium at a general   ....(7)
dx 2    dx 2
instant of time t. The end A is at a distance x from O
and B is at a distance x + dx from O. Let in time dt Equation (7) is the differential form of wave
due to oscillations, medium particles at a are equation, comparing it with previous equation we
displaced along the length of medium by y and those get the wave velocity in the medium can be given
at B by y + dy. The resulting position of section and as
A and B shown in figure (b), Here we can say
that the section AB is deformed (elongated) by a Y
v
length dy. Thus strain produced in it is 

dy Similar to the case of a solid in fluid, instead of

Strain in section AB E ...(2) Young's Modulus we use Bulk modulus of the
dx
 medium hence the velocity of longitudinal waves in From the expression in equation (1) if we find the
a fluid medium is given as sound velocity in air at normal temperature and
atompsheric pressure we have
B Normal atmospheric pressure is P = 1.01 × 105 Pa
v

Density of air at NTP is  = 1.293 kg/m3
Where B is the Bulk modulus of medium.
P
For a gaseous medium bulk modulus is defined as Now from equation (1) v=

dp dP
B or B  –V
(–dV / V) dV 1.01  105
 v  = 279.45 m/s
1.293

But the experimental value of veloicty of sound

4.1 Newton's Formula for velocity of determined from various experiments gives the
Sound in Gases velocity of sound at NTP, 332 m/s. Therefore there
Newton assumed that during sound propagation is a difference of about 52 m/s between the theoretical
temperature of medium remains constant hence the and experimental values. This large difference can
stated that propagation of sound in a gasesous not be attributed to the experimental errors. Newton
medium is an isothermal phenomenon, thus Boyal's was unable to explain error in his formula. This
law can be applied in the process. So for a section correction was explained by a French Scientist
of medium we use Laplace.
PV = constant
Differentiating we get 4.2 Laplace Correction
PdV + V dP = 0 Laplace explained that when sound waves
propagated in a gaseous medium. There is
dP compression and rarefaction in the particles of
or –V P
dV medium. Where there is compression, particles come
or bulk modulus of medium can be given as near to each other and are heated up, where there is
B = P (Pressure of medium) rarefaction, medium expends and there is fall of
temperature. Therefore, the temperature of medium
Newton found that during isothermal propagation
at every point does not remain constant so the process
of sound in a gaseous medium, bulk modulus of
of sound propagation is not isothermal. The total
medium is equal to the pressure of the medium,
quantity of heat of the system as a whole remains
hence sound velocity in a gaseous medium can be
constant. medium does not gain or loose any heat to
given as
the surrounding. Thus in a gaseous medium sound
B P propagation is an adiabatic process. For adiabatic
v  ...(1) process the relation in pressure and volume of a
 
section of medium can be given as

P RT PV = constant ...(1)

From gas law we have  ...(2)
 M
Cp
Here  = , ratio of specific heats of the medium.
Cv
RT
From (1) & (2) we have v  ...(3)
M Differentiating equation (1) we get,
dPV + V–1 dVP = 0
 For a given gaseous medium , R and M remains
PdV
or dP +  =0 constant, thus velocity of sound is directly
dV
proportional to square root of absolute temperature
dP of the medium. Thus
or –V  P
dV
v T
Bulk modulus of medium B = P
If at two different temperatures T1 and T2, sound
velocities in medium are v1 and v2 then from above
Thus Laplace found that during adiabatic equation we have
propagation of sound, the Bulk modulus of gaseous
medium is equal to the product of ratio of specific v1 T1

heats and the pressure of medium. Thus velocity of v2 T2
sound propagation can be given as

B P 4.4 Effect of Pressure on Velocity of

v 
  Sound
We know form gas law
RT
From gas law v
M P RT

 M
From above equation we find sound velocity in air
at NTP, we have If temperature of a medium remains constant then
Normal atmospheric pressure P = 1.01 × 105 Pa on changing pressure, density of medium
Density of air at NTP P = 1.293 kg/m3 P
proportionally changes so that the ratio remains

Cp
Ratio of specific heat of air    1.42
constant.
Cv
Hence if in a medium, T = constant

 1.42  1.01  105 P

 v   = 333.04 m/s Then, = constant
 1.293 
This value is in agreement with exerimental value.
P
Now at any temperature t°C velocity of sound vt Thus velocity of sound, v = = constant

1/ 2
R(273  t) R273  t 
=  1   Therefore, the velocity of sound in air or in a gas is
M M  273 
independent of change in pressure.

 t 
vt = v0 1   4.5 Effect of Humidity on Velocity of
 546 
Sound
4.3 Effect of Temperature on Velocity of The density of water vapour at NTP is 0.8 kg/m3
Sound whereas the density of dry air at NTP is 1.293 kg/3.
We have velocity of sound propagation in a gasous Therefore water vapour has a density less than the
medium as density of dry air. As atmospheric pressure remains
approximately same, the velocity of sound is more in
RT moist air then the velocity of sound in dry air.
v vmoist air > vdry air (from the previous equation)
M
4.6 Effect of Wind on Velocity of Sound and intensity. Figure shows waveforms for a tuning
If wind is blowing in the direction of propagation of fork, a clarinet and a cornet playing the same note
sound, it will increase the velocity of sound, On the (fundamental frequency = 440 Hz) with equal
other hand if wave propagation is opposite to the loudness.
direction of propagation of wind, wave velocity is
p
decreased. If wind blows at speed v then sound
velocity in the medium can be given as t

  
v  vs  v w
 p
Where v s is the velocity of sound in still air..
t

5. APPEARANCE OF SOUND TO HUMAN

EAR p
The appearance of sound to a human ear is
t
characterised by three parameters (a) pitch (b)
loudness and (c) quality.
(a) Pitch and Frequency We differenatiate between the sound from a tabla
Pitch of a sound is that sensation by which we and that from a mridang by saying that they have
differentiate a buffalo voice, a male voice and a different quality.
female voice. We say that a buffalo voice is of low
pitch, a male voice has higher pitch and a female (d) Energy in sound Waves
voice has still higher pitch. This sensation primarly Pavg = 22f2A2 v
depends on the dominant frequency present in the Intensity = 22A2 f2 v
sound. Higher the frequency, higher will be the pitch
P  P0 cos( t – kx )
and vice versa.
(b) Loudness and Intensity P0
P0  Ak  A 
The loudness that we sense is related to the intensity K
of sound though it is not directly proportional to it. Intensity
Our perception of loudness is beter correlated with
the sound level measured in decibels (abbreviated 2 A2 v 2 P02 v 2 P0 2 v 3
  
as dB) and defined as follows. 2 2 2 k 2 2  22

 I 
  10log10   P02 v 2 .v P02.v
 
 I0  2 2 2 2 
where I is the intensity of the sound and I0 is a
constant reference intensity 10 –12 W/m2 The  
v  
reference intensity represents roughly the minimum  
intensity that is just audible at intermediate
frequencies. For I = I0 , the sound level  = 0. P02 V
I
2.
(c) Quality and Waveform
A sound generated by a source may contain a Note
number of frequency components in it. Different
frequency components have different amplitudes
and superposition of them results in the actual
waveform. The appearance of sound depends on
this waveform apart from the dominant frequency
Section B - Interference of waves, For constructive interference
Reflection and refraction
Inet = ( I1  I 2 )2
1. AN ALYT ICAL TR EATM ENT OF When I1 = I2 = I
INTERFERENCE OF WAVES
Inet = 4 I
S1 Anet = A1 + A2
x1
A1 sin(t  kx) y1  A1 sin(t  kx1) When superposing waves are in opposite phase, the
resultant amplitude is the difference of two
y 2  A 2 sin(t  kx2 ) amplitudes & Inet is minimum; this is known as
x2 destructive interference.
S2
A 2 sin(t  kx)
For Inet to be minimum,
cos  = – 1
Interference implies super position of waves.  = (2n + 1) 
Whenever two or more than two waves superimpose where n = {0,1,2,3,4,5...........}
each other at some position then the resutant
displacement of the particle is given by the vector 2 
x = (2n + 1)  x = (2n  1)
sum of the individual displacements.  2
Let the two waves coming from sources S1 & S2 be For destructive interference
y1 = A1 sin (t + kx1 )
Inet = ( I1 – I 2 )2
y2 = A2 sin (t + kx2) respectively.
If I1 = I2
Due to superposition
Inet = 0
ynet = y1 + y2
Anet = A1 – A2
ynet = A1 sin (t + kx1) + A2 sin (t + kx2)
Generally,
Phase difference between y1 & y2 = k(x2 – x1)
i.e.,  = k(x2 – x1) Inet = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I 2 cos

2 If I1 = I2 = I
As  = x (where x = path
 Inet = 2I + 2Icos
difference &  = phase difference)

Inet = 2I(1 + cos ) = 4Icos2
Anet = 2 2
A  A  2A1A2 cos  2
1 2

 A net 2  A12  A 22  2A1A 2 cos  ( I1  I 2 ) 2

Ratio of Imax & Imin =
( I1 – I 2 ) 2
 Inet = I1 + I2 + 2 I1I 2 cos (as I  A2)
When the two displacements are in phase, then the
resultant amplitude will be sum of the two amplitude
Note
& Inet will be maximum, this is known of constructive
interference.
For Inet to be maximum
cos = 1   = 2n where
n = {0,1,2,3,4,5...........}

2
x  2n  x = n

Section C - Standing waves (organ pipes),
Resonance tube, Quink's tube, Note
Kundt's tube • Note that a pressure node in a standing wave
would correspond to a displacement antinode; and
1. LONGITUDINAL STANDING WAVES a pressure anti-node would correspond to a
Two longitudinal waves of same frequency and displacement node.
• (when we label eqn. (1) as SHM, what we mean
amplitude travelling in opposite directions interfere
that excess pressure at any point varies simple
to produce a standing wave. harmonically. if the sound waves were represented
If the two interfering waves are given by in terms of displacement waves, then the equation
of standing wave corresponding to (1) would be
p1 = p0 sin (t – kx) and
p2 =p0 sin (t + kx + ) 
s = s0' cos (t + )
then the equation of the resultant standing wave 2
would be given by

where s0' = 2s0 sin (kx + )
  2
p = p1 + p2 = 2p0cos (kx + ) sin (t + )
2 2 This can be easily observed to be an equation of
SHM. It represents the medium particles moving

 p = p0' sin (t + ) ...(1) simple harmonically about their mean position at x.
2
This is equation of SHM* in which the amplitude
2. REFLECTION OF SOUND WAVES
p0' depends on position as
Reflection of sound waves from a rigid boundary
 (e.g. closed end of an organ pipe) as analogous to
p0' = 2p0cos (kx + ) ...(2)
2 reflection of a string wave from rigid boundary;
Points where pressure remains permanently at its reflection accompanied by an inversion i.e. an abrupt
average value, i.e., pressure amplitude is zero is called phase change of p. This is consistent with the
a pressure node, and the condition for a pressure requirement of displacement amplitude of remains
node would be given by zero at the rigid end, since a medium particle at the
rigid end can not vibrate. As the excess pressure
p0' = 0
and displacement corresponding to the same sound
 wave vary by /2 in term of phase, a displacement
i.e. cos(kx  )  0
2 minima at the rigid end will be a point of pressure
maxima. This implies that the reflected pressure
  waves from the rigid boundary will have same phase
i.e. kx + = 2n ± , n = 0,,1,2.......
2 2 as the incident wave, i.e., a compression pulse is
Similarly points where pressure amplitude is reflected as a compression pulse and a rarefaction
maximum is called a pressure antinode and condition pulse is reflected as a rarefaction pulse
for a pressure antinode would be given by On the other hand, reflection of sound wave from a
p0' = ±2p0 low pressure region (like open end of an organ pipe)
is analogies to reflection of string wave from a free
 end. This point corresponds to a displacment
i.e. cos (kx + )=±1
2 maxima, so that the incident & reflected displacement
wave at this point must be in phase. This would
 imply that this point would be a minima for pressure
or (kx + ) = n, n = 0, 1, 2,.......
2 wave (i.e. pressure at this point remains at its average
 value), and hence the reflected presure wave would
be out of phase by  with respect to the incident
wave. i.e. a compression pulse is reflected as a
rarefaction pulse and vice-versa.

3. WAVES IN A VIBRATING AIR COLUMN

Hollow pipes have long used for making musical l
sounds. A hollow pipe we call organ pipe. To
understand how these work, first we examine the
behaviour of air in a hollow pipe that is open at both
ends. If we blow air across one end, the disturbance
due to the moving air at that end propagates along
the pipe to the far end. When it reaches far end, a (a) (b) (c)
part of the wave is reflected, similar in the case when
Thus fundamental frequency of oscillations of
a wave is reflected along a string whose end point is closed organ pipe of length l be given as
free to move. Since the air particles are free to move
at the open end, the end point is an antinode. if one  
n1 =  ...(2)
end of the pipe is closed off, the the air is not free to  4l
move any further in that direction and closed end Similarly first overtone of closed pipe vibrations is
becomes a node. now the resonant behaviour of shown in figure (b) here wavelength  and pipe
pipe is completely changed. Similar in the case of length l are related as
string, here also all harmonic frequencies are possible 3 '
and resonance may take place it the frequency of l ...(3)
4
external source matches with any of the one
harmonic freuquency of pipe. Let us discuss in detail. 4l
or ' 
3
(i) Vibration of Air in a Closed Organ Pipe
When a tuning fork is placed near the open end of a Thus frequency of first overtone oscillatinos of a
closed organ pipe of length l can be given as
pipe. The air in the pipe oscillates with the same
frequency as that of tuning fork. Here the open end  3
n2 =  ...(4)
should be an antinode and closed and should be a  ' 4l
node for perfect reflection of waves from either end = 3n1
or for formation of stationary waves. Since one end This is three times the fundamental frequency thus
is a node and other is an antinode, the lowest after fundamental only third harmonic frequency
frequency (largest wavelength) vibration has no other exist for a closed organ pipe at which resonance can
nodes or antinodes between ends as shown in take place or stationary waves can be formed in it.
figure(a). This is the fundamental (minimum) Similarly next overtone, second overtone is shown
frequency at which stationary waves can be formed in figure(c). Here the wavelength  and pipe length
in a closed organ pipe. Thus if the wavelength is  l are related as
then we can see from figure (a), which shows the
5 " 4l
displacement wave of longitudinal waves in the l or " 
4 5
closed organ pipe.
Thus the frequency of second overtone oscillation
 of a closed organ pipe of length l can be given as
l= ...(1)
4
 5
n3 =   5n1
or =4l  '' 4l
 This is fifth harmonic frequency of fundamental l =  ....(2)
oscillations. Thus here resonant frequency for first overtone is
(2n – 1)v given as
In general f =
4 v v
n2   ...(3)
Here frequency of oscillation is called (2n – 1)th ' l
harmonic and (n – 1)th overtone
Which is second harmonic of fundamental
From above analysis it is clear that the resonant frequency. Similarly as shown in figure (c), in second
frequecies of the closed organ pipe are only odd overtone oscillations, the wavelength '' of sound is
harnomics of the fundamental frequency. releated to the length of pipe as

3 ''
(ii) Vibration of Air in Open Organ Pipe l ...(4)
2
Figure shown the resonant oscillations of an open
organ pipe. The least frequency at which an open 2l
organ pipe resonates is the one with longest or  ''  ...(5)
3
wavelength when at both the open ends of pipe
antinodes are formed and there is one node is Thus be frequency of second overtone oscillations
between as shown in figure (a). In this situation the of an open organ pipe can given as
wavelengths of sound in air  is related to length of
v 3v
organ pipe as n3   ...(6)
 '' 2l
 = 3n1 ...(7)
l= or =2l ...(1)
2
Which is third harmonic of fundamental frequency.
Thus the fundamental frequency of organ pipe can
be given as nv
In General f =
2
v v
n1  
 2l we can say frequency of oscillation is called nth
harmonic and (n – 1)th overtone.
The above analysis shown that resonant frequencies
for formation of stationary waves includes all the
possible harmonic frequencies for an open organ pipe.

(iii) End correction

As mentioned earlier the displacment antinode at an
l
open end of an organ pipe lies slightly outside the
open lend. The distance of the antinode from the
open end is called end correction and its value is
given by
e = 0.6 r
(a) (b) Np A0 Np
(c)

2r
Similarly next higher frequency at which the open P
organ pipe resonate is shown in figure (b) which we
call first overtone. Here the wavelength ' is related 6r
to the length of pipe as e=0
 where r = radius of the organ pipe. column be I1. If water level is further decreased,
with end correction, the fundamental frequency of again maximum sound intensity is observed when
a closed pipe (fe) and an open argon pipe (f0) will be water leel is at another node i.e. at a length l2 as
given by shown in figure. Here if we find two successive
resonance lengths l 1 and l 2 , we can get the
v v wavelength of the wave as
fe  and f0 
4(  0.6r) 2(   1.2r)

l2 – l1 = or   2(l2 – l1 )
2
(iv) Resonance Tube Thus sound velocity in air can be given as
This an apparatus used to determine velocity of
sound in air experimentally and also to compare v  n 0   2n0 ( l2 – l1 )
frequncies of two tuning forks.
EXAMPLE 2
A tube of certain diameter and of length 48 cm is
open at both ends. Its fundamental frequency of
resonance is found to be 320 Hz. The velocity of
sound in air is 320 m/s. Estimate the diameter of the
tube. One end of the tube is now closed. Calculate
the lowest frequency of resonance for the tube.
Sol. The displacement curves of longitudinal waves in a
tube open at both ends is shown in figure (a) and (b).
48 cm

A B
N

(a)

A N

(b)
shown figure the setup of a resonance the
experiment. There is a long tube T in which initially Let r be the radius of the tube. We know the
water is filled upto the top and the eaer level can be antinodes occur slightly outside the tube at a distance
change by moving a reservoir R up and down. 0.6 r from the tube end.
A tunning fork of known frequency n0 is struck The distance between two antinodes is given by
gently on a rubber pad and brought near the open

and tube T due to which oscillations are transferred  48  2  0.6r
2
to the air coloumn in the tube above water level.
Now we gradually decrease the water level in the v 32000
tube. This air column behaves like a closed organ We have =  = 100 cm
n 320
pipe and the water level as closed end of pipe. As
or 50 = 48 + 1.2r
soon as water level reaches a position where there
is a node of corresponding stationary wave, in air 2
column, resonance takes place and maximum sound or r= = 1.67 cm
1.2
intensity is detected. Let at this position length of air
Thus diameter of the tube is D = 2r = 3.33
 When one end is closed, then From equation (1), (2) and (3), we get

 
= 48 + 0.6r = 48 + 0.6 × 1.67 = 49 or x= ...(4)
4 2
or  = 4 × 49 = 196 cm Thus by experiment we get the wavelength of sound
as for two sucessive points of constructive
v 32000
Now n=  = 163.3 Hz interference, the path difference must be . As the
 196
tube B is pulled out by x, this introduces a path
difference 2x in the path of sound wave through
(v) Quink's Tube tube B. If the frequency of the source is known, n0,
the velocity of sound in the air filled in tube can be
This is an apparatus used to demonstrate the
given as
phenomenon of interference and also used to
measure velocity of sound in air. This is made up of v = n0 = 2n0x ...(5)
two U-tubes A and B as shown in figure. Here the
tube B can slide in and out from the tube A. There
EXAMPLE 3
are two openings P and Q in the tube A. At opening
In a large room a person recieves direct sound waves
P, a tuning fork or a sound source of known
from a source 120 m away from him. he also
frequency n0 is placed and at the other opening a
receives waves from the same source which reach
detector is placed to detect the resultant sound of
him, being reflected from the 25m high ceiling at a
interference occurred due to superposition of two
point halfway between them. For which wavelength
sound waves coming from the tubes A and B.
will these two sound waves interfere constructivity?
Sol. As shown in figure for reflection from the ceilling
Path SCP = SC + CP = 2SC
[As i = r, SC = CP]
A

or Path SCP = 2 602  252 = 130 cm

So path differene between interfering waves
along path SCP, and SP,
Initially tube B is adjusted so that detector detects x = 130 –120 = 10 m
a maximum. At this instant if length of paths covered C
by the two waves from P to Q from the side of A
and side of B are l1 are l2 respectively then for i r
constructive interference we must have
l2 – l2 = N ...(1)
If now tube B is further pulled out by a distance x
S P
so that next maximum is obtained and the length of *
Source *
Detector
path from the side of B is l2' then we have
Now for consructive interfernece at P.
l2'  l2  2x ...(2) x = n. i.e., 10 = n

Where x is the displacement of the tube. For next 10

or = with n = 1, 2, 3 .........
constructive interference of sound at point Q, we have n

l2' – l1  (N  1) ..(3) i.e.  = 10 m, 5m, (10/3) m and so on

 EXAMPLE 4 Sol. The situation of shown in figure
Figure shown a tube structure in which a sound
1m 1m
signal is sent from one end and is received at the
othe end. The semicircular part has a radius of 20.0
cm. The frequency of the sound source can be P1 *S1
Q *S2
P2
varied electronically between 1000 and 4000 Hz. 2m
Find the frequencies at which maxima of intensity
are detected. The speed of sound in air = 340 m/s. The oscillations y1 and y2 have amplitudes A1 = 0.03
m and A2 = 0.02 respectively.

 1
The frequency of both sources in n =  = 0.5 Hz
2 2
Sol. The sound wave reaches detector by two paths
simultaneously be straight as well as semicircular v 1.5
track. The wave through the straight path travels a Now wavelength of each wave  =  = 3.0 m
n 0.5
distance l1 = 2 × 20 cm and the wave through the
curved part travles a distane l2 =  (20 cm) = 62.8 (a) The path difference for all points P2 to the right of
cm before they meet again and travel to the receiver. S2 is
The path difference between the two waves received  = (S1P2 – S2P2) = S1S2 = 2m
is, therefore,
2
l = l2 – l2 = 62.8 cm – 40 cm = 22.8 cm = 0.228 m Phase difference    Path difference

v 340
The wavelength of either wave is  . For 2 4
n n   2.0 
3 3
constructive interfernece, l = N, where N is an
integer. The resultant amplitude for this point is given by

R  A12  A 22  2A1A 2 cos 

 340 
or, 0.228  N  
 n 
 (0.03)2  (0.02) 2  2  0.03  0.02  cos(4  / 3)

340  Solving we get R = 0.0265 m

or, n = N   = N(1491.2) Hz = N(1490) Hz
 0.228  (b) The path difference for all point P, to the left of S1
Thus, the frequencies within the specific range  = (S2P – S1P) = S1S2 = 2.0 m
which cause maxima of intensity are 1490 Hz and Hence the resultant amplitude for all points to the
2980 Hz. left of S1 is also 0.0265 m
(c) For a point Q, between S1 and S2, the path difference
is zero i.e.,  = 0. Hence constructive interference
EXAMPLE 5
take place at Q, thus amplitude at this point is
Two sources S1 and S2, separated by 2.0 m, vibrate
maximum and given as
according to equation y1 = 0.03 sin  t and y2 =
0.02 sin t where y1, y2 and t are in M.K.S unit. R  A12  A 22  2A1A 2
They send out waves of velocity 1.5m/s. Calculate
= A1 + A2 = 0.03 + 0.02 = 0.05 m
the amplitude of the resultant motion of the particle
co-linear with S1 and S2 and located at a point (a) to
the right of S2(b) to the left of S2 and (C) in the
middle of S1 and S2.
 EXAMPLE 6 
 = (2n + 1) or
Two point sources of sound are placed at a distance 2
d and a detector moves on a straight line parallel to dx  (2n  1)D
the line joining the sources as shown in figure. at a  (2n  1) or x=
D 2 2d
distane D away from sources. Initially Detector is
situated on the line so that it is equidistant from both EXAMPLE 7
the sources. Find the displacement of detertor when Two coherent narrow slits emitting of wavelength
it detects n th maximum sound and also find its  in the same phase are placed parallel to each
displacement when it detects nth minimum sound. other at a small separation of 2. the sound is
detected by moving a detector on the screen S at a
distance D (>> ) from the slit S1 as shown in figure.
S1 *
Find the distance x such that the intensity at P is
equal to the intensity at O.
d Detector
(D)
S2 (D>>d) *P
*
x
2
Sol. The situation is shown in figure * * O
S1 S2
D
S1 * D S
x

 Sol. When detector is at O, we can see that the path
d O
D differnece in the two waves reaching O is d = 2
S2 Q thus at O detector receives a maximum sound.
* When it reaches P and again there is a maximum
sound detected at P the path difference between
Let us consider the situation when detector move two waves must  =. Thus shown figure the path
by a distance x as shown. Let at this position the difference at P can be given as
path diference between the waves  = S1P – S2P ~– S1Q
from S1 and S2 to detector by  then we have
= d cos  = 2 cos 
 = S2D – S1D ~– S2Q [Where S 1Q is And we have at point P, path difference  = ,
perpendicular on line S2D] Thus
Here if  is small angle as D >> d, we have
x
S2Q = d sin  ~– d tan = d *P
D
Thus at the position of detector, path deference is Q x
dx 
= ....(1) * * O
D S1 d  2 S2
The expression for path difference in equation (1) is
an important formula for such problems. Students are D
advised to keep this formula in mind for future use.
When detector was at point O, path difference was  = 2 cos  = 
zero and it detects a maxima, now if detector detects
1
nth maximum then its path difference at a distance or, cos  =
2
x from O can be given as

dx n D or, =
=n or = n  or x= 3
D d
Similarly if detector detects nth minima then the path Thus the value of x can be written as x = D
difference between two waves at detector can be 
given as tan  = D tan  3  = 3 D
 
 EXAMPLE 8 –1 1 –1 2
quadrant at   cos and  = cos at which
Figure shown two coherent sources S1 and S2 which 3 3
emit sound of wavelength  in phase. The separation constructive interference takes place. Thus there
between the sources is 3. A ciruclar wire of large are total twelve points on circle at which maxima
radius is placed in such a way that S1S2 lies in its occurs.
plane and the middle point of S1S2 is at the centre
of the wire. Find the angular position  on the (vi) Vibrations of Clamped Rod
wire for which constructive interference takes We have discussed the resonant vibrations of a
place.
string clamped at two ends. Now we discuss the
ocillations of a rod clamped at a point on its length
as shown in figure. Figure shows a rod AB clamped
at its middle point. If we gently hit the rod at its one
 end, it begin to oscillate and in the natural oscillations
the rod vibrates at its lowest frequency and
S1 S2 maximum wavelength, which we call fundamental
mode of oscillations. With maximum wavelength
when transverse stationary waves setup in the rod,
the free ends vibrates as antinodes and the clamped
end a node as shown in figure. Here if  be the
B wavelength of the wave, we have
P

l= or  =2l
2
 C
C A
S1 S2
Sol.
d  3 A B

l
D
Thus the frequency of fundamental oscillations of
From previous question, we can say that for a point
a rod damped at mid point can be given as
P on the circle shown in fiure shown. The path
difference in the two waves at P is
v I Y
 = S1P – S2P = d cos  = 3 cos  n0   ...(1)
 2l 
We know for constructive interference at P. The
path difference must be an integral multiple of Where Y is the Young's modulus of the material of
wavelength . Thus for a maxima at P, we have rod and  is the density of the material of rod.
3 cos  = 0 ; 3 cos  =  ; Next higher frequency at which rod vibrates will be
3 cos  = 2 ; 3 cos  = 3 ; then one when wave length is decreased to a value
so that one node is inserted between mid point and
 –1 1
or, = or  = cos an end of rod as shown in figure
2 3
C
2
or  = cos–1 or =0 A B
3
There are four points A, B, C and D on circle at

which  = 0 or and there are two points in each l
2
 In this case if  be the wavelength of the waves in you blow must harder you hear the higher pitch of
rod, we have an overtone because the faster airsteam higher
frequencies in the exciting disturbance. This sound
3 2l
l= or  ...(2) effect can also be achieved by increasing the air
2 3
pressure to an organ pipe.
Thus in this case the oscillation frequency of rod
can be given as
(viii) Kundt's Tube
v 3 Y This is an apparatus used to find velocity of sound
n1    3n 0 ...(3)
 2l  in a gaseous medium or in different materials. It
consists of a glass tube as shown in figure. one end
This is called first overtone frequency of the damped
of which a piston B is fitted which is attached to a
rod or thid harmonic frequency. Similarly, the next
wooden handle H and can be moved inside and
higher freqnecy of oscillation i.e. second overtone
outside the tube and fixed, the rod M of the required
of the oscillating rod can be shown in figure shown.
material is fixed at clamp C in which the velocity of
Here is  be the wavelength of the wave then it can
sound is required, at one end of rod a disc A is fixed
be given as
as shown.
5 2l
l or  ...(4)
2 5

C
A B

l In tube air is filled at room temperature and a thin

Thus the frequency of oscillation of rod can be given as layer of lycopodium powder is put along the length
of the tube. It is a very fine powder particles of
v 5 Y which can be displaced by the air particles also.
n2    5n 0 ..(5)
 2l 
When rod M is gently rubbed with a resin cloth or hit
Thus the second overtone frequency is the fifth gently, it starts oscillating in fundamental mode as
harmonic of the fundamental oscillation frequency shown in figure, frequency of which can be given as
of rod. We can also see from the above analysis
v 1 Y 
that the resonant freqencies at which stationary n rod   [As 0 = ]
 2 l0  2
waves are setup in a damped rod are only odd
harmonics of fundamental frequency.
Thus when an external source of frequency
matching with any of the harmonic of the damped
rod then stationary waves are setup in the rod.

(vii) Natural Oscillation of Organ Pipes

Note
When we initiate some oscillations in an organ pipe,
which harmonics are excited in the pipe depends on
how initial disturbance is produced in it. For example,
if you gently blow across the top of an organ pipe it
resonates softly at its fundamental frequency. But if
Section D - Beat's, Doppler's effect (Sound &  n – n2 
light) R  2A cos 2   1 t ...(5)
 2 

1. BEATS Here R becomes maximum when

When two sources of sound that have almost the
 n – n2 
same frequency are sounded together, an interesting cos 2   1  t  1
 2 
phenomenon occurs. A sound with a frequency
average of the two is heard and the loudness of  n – n2 
or 2  1  t  N [N  I]
sound repeatedly grows and then decays, rather than  2 
being constant. Such a repeated variation in
amplitude of sound are called 'beats". N
or t
n1 – n 2
If the frequency of one of the source is changed,
there is a corresponding change in the rate at which or at time
the amplitude varies. This rate is called beat
fequency. As the frequencies come close together, 1 2
t  0, , ,.........
n1 – n 2 n1 – n 2
the beat frequency becomes slower. A musician can
tune a guitar to another source by listening for the At all the above time instants the sound of maximum
beats while increasing or decreasing the tension in loudness is heard, similarly we can find the time
each string, eventually the beat frequency becomes instans when the loudness of sound is minimum, it
very low so that effectively no beats are heard, and occurs when
the two sources are then in tune.
 n – n2 
We can also expalin the phenomenon of beat cos 2   1 t  0
 2 
mathematically. Let us consider the two superposing
waves have frequencies n 1 and n 2 then their
 n – n2  
respective equations of oscillation are or 2  1  t  (2N  1) [N  I]
 2  2
y1 = A sin 2n1t ...(1)
and y2 = A sin 2n2t ...(2) 2N  1
or t
2(n1  n 2 )
On superposition at a point, the displacement of the
medium particle is given as or at time instants
y = y1 + y2 1 3
t , ,.......
y = A sin 2n1t + A sin 2n2t 2(n1 – n 2 ) 2(n1 – n 2 )

 n – n2   n1  n 2  Here we can see that these time instants are exactly

y  2A cos 2   1  t sin 2   t ...(3)
 2   2  lying in the middle of the instans when loudest sound
is heard. Thus on superposition of the above two
 n  n2  frequencies at a medium particle, the sound will be
y  R sin 2  1 t ...(4)
 2  increasing, decreasing, again increasing and decreasing
There equation (4) gives the displacement of medium and so on. This effect is called beats. Here the time
particle where susperposition takes place, it shows between two successive maximum or minimum
that the particle executes SHM with frequency sounds is called beat period, which is given as
Beat Period TB = time between two successive
n1  n 2
, average of the two superposing maxima = time between two successive minima
2
frequencies and with amplitude R which varies with 1

time, given as n1 – n 2
 Thus beat frequency or number of beats heard per
second can be given as
1
fB   n1 – n 2
TB
The superposition of two waves of slightly different
frequencies is graphically shown in figure. The
resulting envelope of the wave formed after
superposition is also shown in figure (b). Such a
wave when propagates, produces "beat" effect at
the medium particles.
(i) Echo
The repetition of sound produced due to reflection
by a distant extended surface like a different, hill
well, building etc. is called an echo. The effect of
sound on human ear remains for approximately one
tenth of a second. If the sound is reflected back in
a time less then 1/10 of a second, no echo is heard.
Hence human ears are not able to distinguish a beat
frequency of 10 Hz or more than 10 Hz.
2. DOPPLER'S EFFECT
When a car at rest on a road sounds its high
frequency horn and you are also standing on the
road near by, you'll hear the sound of same frequency
it is sounding but when the car approaches you with
its horn sounding, the pich (frequency) of its sound
seems to drop as the car passes. This phenomenon
was first described by an Austrain Scientist Christien
Doppler, is called the Doppler effect, He explained
that when a source of sound and a listener are in
motion relative to each other, the frequency of the
sound heard by the listener is not the same as the
source frequency. Lets discuss the Doppler effect
in detail for different cases.
(i) Stationary Source and Stationary
Observer
Figure shown a stationary sources of frequency n0
which produces sound waves in air of wavelength
0 given as
v
0 
n 0 [v = speed of sound in air]
0  v
n0 v
*
S* Observer
Source
(n0 Hz)
Although sound waves are longitudinal, here we
represent sound weaves by the transverse
displacement curve as shown in figure to understand
the concept in a better way. As source produces
waves, these waves travel towards, stationary
observer O in the medium (air) with speed v and
wavelength 0. As observer is at rest here it will
observe the same wavelength 0 is approaching it
with speed v so it will listen the frequency n given
as
v
n  n0 [same as that of source]...(1)
0
This is why when a stationary observer listends the
sound from a stationary source of sound, it detects
the same frequency sound which the source is
producting. Thus no Doppler effect takes place if
there is no relative motion between source and
observer.
(ii) St atio nary Sou rce and Moving
Observer
Figure shown the case when a stationary sources
of frequency n0 produces sound waves which have
wavelength in air given as
 v  1 
0 
n0 is  n  sec and in this duration source emits one
 0 

v wavelength 0 in the direction of propagation of

0 
n0
v waves with speed v, but in this duratin the source
v0

*
S
O
Observer
 1 
Source will also move forward by a distance vs  n  . Thus
(n0 Hz)  0

the effective wavelength of emitted sound in air is

These waves travel toward moving observer with
slightly compressed by this distance as shown in
velocity v0 towards, the source. When sound waves
figure. This is termed as apparent wavelength of
approach observer, it will receive the waves of
sound in medium (air) by the moving source. This
wavelength 0 with speed v + v0 (relative speed).
is given as
Thus the frequency of sound heard by observer can
be given as Apparent wavelength

Apparent frequency  1 
 ap   0 – v s   ...(1)
 n0 
v  v 0 v  v0  v  v0 
nap =   n0   ...(2)
0  v  v 
  0n 0 – v s v – vs
 n0   
n0 n0

Similarly we can say that if the obsever is receding Now this wavelength will approach observer with
away from the source the apparent frequency heard speed v ( O is at rest). Thus the frequency of sound
by the observer will be given as heard by observer can be given as
 v – v0  Apparent frequecy
n ap  n 0   ...(3)
 v 
v v  v 
n ap    n0   ...(2)
(iii) Mo ving Sou rce and Stat iona ry  ap (v – v s ) / n 0  v – vs 
Observer
Figure shows the situation when a moving source S Similarly if source is receding away from observer,
of frequency n0 produces sound waves in medium the apparent wavelength emitted by source in air
(air) and the waves travel toward observer with toward observer will be slightly expanded and the
velocity v. apparent frequency heard by the stationary observer
can be given as

0  v 
 ap v n ap  n 0   ...(3)
 v  vs 
A
S* S' *O
vs Observer (iv) Moving Source and Moving Observer
Source
(n0 Hz)
Let us consider the situation when both source and
 1
vs  
observer are moving in same direction as shown in
 n0  figure at speeds vs and v0 respectively.

0
Here if we carefully look at the initial situation when v
source starts moving with velocity vs as well as it vs

S* *O
starts producting waves. The period of one oscillation
 In this case the apparent wavelength emitted by
the source behind it is given as
reflected sound
v  vs
 ap 
n0
vc
Now this wavelength will approach the observer at
relative speed v + v0 thus the apparent frequency of
sound heard by the observer is given as
First we treat the stationary wall as stationary
v  v0  v  v0 
n ap   n0   ...(1) observer and car as a moving source of sound of
 ap  v  vs 
frequency n0. In this case the frequency received
By looking at the expression of apparent frequency by the wall is given as
given by equation, we can easily develop a general
relation for finding the apparent frequency heard by  v 
n1  n 0   ...(1)
a moving observer due to a moving source as  v – vc 

 v  v0 
Now wall reflects this frequency and behaves like
n ap  n 0   ...(2) a stationary source of sound of frequency n1 and
 v  vs 
car (driver) behave like a moving observer with
Here + and – signs are chosen according to the velocity vc. Here the apparent frequency heard by
direction of motion of source and observer. The sign the car driver can be given as
covention related to the motion direction can be
stated as :  v  vc   v   v  vc 
n ap  n1    n0    
 v   v – vc   v 
(i) For both source and observer v0 and vs are taken
in equation with –ve sign if they are moving in the
direction of v i.e. the direction of propagation of vv c
= n0  v – v  (2)
sound from source to observer.  c 

(ii) For both source and observer v0 and vs are taken
in equation (2) with +ve sign if they are moving in
the direction opposite to v i.e. opposite to the
direction of propagation of sound from source to
observer.
Same problem can also be solved in a different
manner by using method of sound images. In this
procedure we assume the image of the sound source
behind the reflector. In previous example we can
explain this by situation shown in figure.

(v) Doppler Effect in Reflected Sound ve

When a car is moving toward a stationary wall as
shown in figure. If the car sounds a horn, wave
travels towards the wall and is reflected from the
wall. When the reflected wave is heard by the driver,
it appears to be of relatively high pitch. If we wish
to measure the frequency of reflected sound then
the problem must be handled in two steps.
vc
Here we assume that the sound which is reflected
by the stationary wall is coming from the image of
car which is at the back of it and coming toward it
with velocity vc. Now the frequency of sound heard
by car driver can directly be given as

 v  vc 
nap = n0  v – v  ...(3)
 c 
 This method of images for solving problems of
Doppler effect is very convenient but is used only
for velocities of source and observer which are very
small compared to the speed of sound and it should
not be used frequenctly when the reflector of sound
is moving.
(vi) Doppler's Effect for Accelerated
Motion
For the case of a moving source and a moving
observer, we known the apparent frequency
observer can be given as
 v  v0 
n ap  n 0   ...(4)
 v  vs 
(vii) Doppler's Effect when Source and
Observer are not in Same Line of
Motion
Consider the situation shown in figure. Two cars 1
and 2 are moving along perpendicular roads at speed
v1 and v2. When car - 1 sound a horn of frequency
n0, it emits sound in all directions and say car - 2 is
at the position, shown in figure. when it receives
the sound. In such cases we use velocity
components of the cars along the line joining the
source and observer thus the apparent frequency
of sound heard by car-2 can be given as
 v  v 2 cos 2 
n ap  n 0   ...(6.266)
 v – v1 cos 1 

Here v is the velocity of sound and v0 and vs are

the velocity of observer and source respectively.
When a source of observer has accelerated or
car-1
ratarded motion then in equation (4) we use that
value of v0 at which observer receies the sound
1 v1
and for source, we use that value of vs at which it
has emitted the wave. v2

The alternative method of solving this case is by

Car-2
the traditional method of compressing or expending
wavelength of sound by motion of source and using 2

relative velocity of sound with respect to observer

Note
Exercise - 1 Objective Problems | JEE Main

Section A - Equation of pressure wave, 4. A sound level I is greater by 3.0103 dB from another
Velocity, Newton's and laplace sound of intensity 10 nW cm–2. The absolute value
formula, Loudness and of intensity of sound level I in Wm–2 is :
intensity, Energy in sound (A) 2.5 × 10–4 (B) 2 × 10–4
waves –2
(C) 2.0 × 10 (D) 2.5 × 10–2
1. The elevation of a cloud is 60°above the horizon. A
thunder is heard 8 s after the observation of lighting. 5. How many times more intense is 90 dB sound than
The speed of sound is 330 ms–1. The vertical height 40 dB sound?
of cloud from ground is (A) 5 (B) 50
(C) 500 (D) 105

Cloud 6. The ratio of intensities between two coherent sound

sources is 4:1 The difference of loudness in dB
between maximum and minimum intensities when
they interfere in space is
60° (A) 10 log 2 (B) 20 log 3
Horizon (C) 10 log 3 (D) 20 log 2

(A) 2826 m (B) 2682 m 7. The velocity of sound in an ideal gas at temperature
T1 and T2 K are v1 and v2 respectively. If the root
(C) 2286 m (D) 2068 m
mean square velocity of the same gas at same
temperature are c1 and c2 then–
2. The ratio of speed of sound in neon to that in water
vapours at any temperature (when molecular weight v2
(A) c2 = c1 (v2/v1) (B) c2 = c1 v1
of neon is 2.02 × 10–2 kg mol–1 and for water vapours
is 1.8 × 10–2 kg mol–1)
(A) 1.06 (B) 1.60 v1
(C) c2 = c1 (v1/v2) (D) c2 = c1 v2
(C) 6.10 (D) 15.2

3. A Firecracker exploding on the surface of a lake is 8. The speed of sound in a medium depends on-
heard as two sounds a time interval t apart by a man (A) the elastic property but not on the inertia property
on a boat close to water surface. Sound travels with (B) the inertia property but not on the elastic property
a speed u in water and a sped v in air. The distance (C) the elastic property as well as the inertia property
from the exploding firecracker to the boat is (D) neither the elastic property nor the inertia
property
uvt t (u  v )
(A) (B)
uv uv
9. At a pressure of 105 N/m2 the volume strain of water
t (u  v ) uvt is 5 x 10–5. Calculate the speed of sound in water
(C) (D)
uv uv density of water is 1×103 kg/m3
(A) 2.828 × 103 m/s (B) 1.414 × 103 m/s
(C) 0.707 × 103 m/s (D) 4.2 × 103 m/s
Section B - Interference of waves, 14. The energy per unit area associated with a
Reflection and refraction progressive sound wave will be doubled if :
(A) the amplitude of the wave is doubled
10. When two waves with same frequency and constant
(B) the amplitude of the wave is increased by 50%
phase difference interfere,
(C) the amplitude of the wave is increased by 41%
(A) there is a gain of energy
(D) None of these
(B) there is a loss of energy
(C) the energy is redistributed and the distribution
15. Sound waves of frequency 660 Hz fall normally on
changes with time
a perfectly reflecting wall. The shortest distance from
(D) the energy is redistributed and the distribution the wall at which the air particle has maximum
remains constant in time amplitude of vibration is (velocity of sound in air is
330 m/s)
11. Sound waves from a tuning fork F reach a point P (A) 0.125 m (B) 0.5 m
by two separate routes FAP and FBP (when FBP is (C) 0.25 m (D) 2 m
greater than FAP by 12 cm there is silence at P). If
the difference is 24 cm the sound becomes maximum
16. Two loudspeakers L1 and L2 driven by a common
at P but at 36 cm there is silence again and so on. If
oscillator and amplifier, are arranged as shown. The
velocity of sound in air is 330 ms –1, the least
frequency of the oscillator is gradually increased
frequency of tuning fork is :
from zero and the detector at D records a series of
(A) 1537 Hz (B) 1735 Hz maxima and minima. If the speed of sound is 330
(C) 1400 Hz (D) 1375 Hz ms–1 then the frequency at which the first maximum
is observed is : L 40m
1
D
12. S1 and S2 are two sources of sound emitting sine (A) 165 Hz
waves. The two sources are in phase. The sound (B) 330 Hz
9m
emmited by the two sources interfere at point F. (C) 496 Hz
The waves of wavelength: (D) 660 Hz L2
2m 4m
S1 S2 F
17. Four waves are represented by y1 = A1 sin t,
(A) 1 m will result in constructive interference y2 = A2 sin (ty3 = A1 sin (2t and y4
= A2 sin (t– Interference will happen with–
2
(B) m will result in constructive interference (A) y1, y2 and y3 only (B) y1, y2 and y4 only
3
(C) y1 and y3 only (D) y1, y2, y3 and y4
(C) 4m will result in destructive interference
(D) All the above
18. There is a destructive interference between the two
waves of wavelength  coming from two different
13. Two waves of sound having intensities I and 4I
paths at a point. To get maximum sound or
interfere to produce interference pattern. The phase
constructive interference at that point, the path of
 one wave is to be increased by-
difference between the waves is at point A and 
2
 
at point B. Then the difference between the resultant (A) (B)
4 2
intensities at A and B is
(A) 2I (B) 4I 3
(C) (D) 
4
(C) 5I (D) 7I
Section C - Standing waves (organ pipes), 24.
Resonance tube, Quink's tube,
Kundt's tube
19. An open organ pipe of length L vibrates in its
fundamental mode. The pressure variation is maximum
(A) at the two ends
(B) at the middle of the pipe
(C) at distance L/4 inside the ends
(D) at distance L/8 inside the ends
A pipe’s lower end is immersed in water such that the
length of air column from the top open end has a certain
length 25 cm. The speed of sound in air is 350 m/s.
The air column is found to resonate with a tuning fork
of frequency 1750 Hz. By what minimum distance
should the pipe be raised in order to make the air column
resonate again with the same tuning fork
(A) 7 cm (B) 5 cm
(C) 35 cm (D) 10 cm

20. At the closed end of an organ pipe : 25. A closed organ pipe has length ‘l’. The air in it is
(A) the displacement is zero vibrating in 3rd overtone with maximum displacement
(B) the displacement is maximum amplitude ‘a’. The displacement amplitude at
(C) the wave pressure is zero distance l / 7 from closed end of the pipe is :
(D) None of these (A) 0 (B) a
(C) a / 2 (D) none of these
21. A cylindrical tube, open at one end and closed at the
other, is in acoustic unison with an external source
26. An organ pipe P1 closed at one end vibrating in its
of frequency held at the open end of the tube, in its
first overtone. Another pipe P2 open at both ends is
fundamental note. Then
vibrating in its third overtone. They are in a
(A) the displacement wave from the source gets
resonance with a given tuning fork. The ratio of the
reflected with a phase change of  at the closed end
length of P1 to that of P2 is:
(B) the pressure wave from the source get reflected
without a phase change at the closed end (A) 8/3 (B) 3/8
(C) the wave reflected from the closed end again (C) 1/2 (D) 1/3
gets reflected at the open end
(D) All the above 27. In Quincke’s tube a detector detects minimum
intensity. Now one of the tube is displaced by 5 cm.
22. An open organ pipe of length L vibrates in second During displacement detector detects maximum
harmonic mode. The pressure vibration is maximum intensity 10 times, then finally a minimum intensity
(A) At the two ends (when displacement is complete). The wavelength
(B) at a distance L/4 from either end inside the tube of sound is:
(C) At the mid-point of the tube (A) 10/9 cm (B) 1 cm
(D) None of these (C) 1/2 cm (D) 5/9 cm

23. An open organ pipe of length l is sounded together

with another organ pipe of length l + x in their Section D - Beat's, Doppler's effect (Sound
& light)
fundamental tones (x << l). The beat frequency heard
will be (speed of sound is v) :
28. The number of beats heard per second if there are
vx vl 2 three sources of frequencies (n – 1), n and (n+ 1) of
(A) 2 (B)
4l 2x equal intensities sounded together is:
(A) 2 (B) 1
vx vx 2
(C) (D) (C) 4 (D) 3
2l 2 2l
29. A tuning fork of frequency 280 Hz produces 10 beats 33. A detector is released from rest over a source of
per sec when sounded with a vibrating sonometer sound of frequency f0 = 103 Hz. The frequency
string. When the tension in the string increases slightly, observed by the detector at time t is plotted in the
it produces 11 beats per sec. The original frequency graph. The speed of sound in air is (g = 10 m/s2)
of the vibrating sonometer string is: f(Hz)
(A) 330 m/s
(A) 269 Hz (B) 291 Hz (B) 350 m/s 2000

(C) 270 Hz (D) 290 Hz (C) 300 m/s 1000

(D) 310 m/s 30 t(s)

30. The speed of sound in a gas, in which two waves
of wavelength 1.0 m and 1.02 m produce 6 beats
34. An observer starts moving with uniform acceleration
per second, is approximately :
‘a’ towards a stationary sound source of frequency
(A) 350 m/s (B) 300 m/s f. As the observer approaches the source, the
(C) 380 m/s (D) 410 m/s apparent frequency f’ heard by the observer varies
with time t as:
31. Consider two sound sources S1 and S2 having same
f f
frequency 100Hz and the observer O located
between them as shown in the fig. All the three are (A) (B)
moving with same velocity in same direction. The t t
beat frequency of the observer is

–1
f
–1
S1 30ms O 30ms S2 30ms–1 f'
(C) (D)
(A) 50 Hz (B) 5 Hz t
t
(C) zero (D) 2.5 Hz

32. A source S of frequency f0 and an observer O, 35. A source of sound S having frequency f. Wind is
moving with speeds v1 and v2 respectively, are blowing from source to observer O with velocity u.
moving away from each other. When they are If speed of sound with respect to air is C, the
separated by distance a (t = 0), a pulse is emitted by wavelength of sound detected by O is :
the source. This pulse is received by O at time t1
Cu C–u
then t1, is equal to (A) (B)
f f
a a
(A) v  v (B) v  v C(C  u) C
s 2 1 s (C) (D)
(C – u)f f
a a
(C) v  v (D) v  v  v
s 2 1 2 s
Exercise - 2 (Leve-I) Objective Problems | JEE Main

Section A - Equation of pressure wave, 4. A person standing at a distance of 6 m from a source

Velocity, Newton's and laplace of sound receives sound wave In two ways, one
formula, Loudness and directly from the source and other after reflection
intensity, Energy in sound from a rigid boundary as shown in figure. The
waves maximum wavelength for which, the person Will
receive maximum sound intensity, is
1. The ratio of maximum to minimum intensity due to (A) 4 m S
5m

49 16
superposition of two waves is . Then the ratio of (B) m 6m
9 3
4m
the intensity of component waves is (C) 2 m
P
8
25 16 (D) m
(A) (B) 3
4 25

4 9 5. The displacement sound wave in a medium is given

(C) (D) by the equation Y = A cos (ax + bt) where A, a and
49 49
b are positive constants. The wave is reflected by
an obstacle situated at x = 0. The intensity of the
2. In a test of subsonic Jet flies over head at an altitude reflected wave is 0.64 times that of the incident
of 100m. The sound intensity on the ground as the wave. Tick the statement among the following that
Jet passes overhead is 160 dB. At what altitude should is incorrect.
the plane fly so that the ground noise is not greater (A) the wavelength and frequency of the wave are
than 120 dB. 2/a and b/2 respectively
(B) the amplitude of the reflected wave is 0.8 A
(A) above 10km from ground
(C) the resultant wave formed after reflection is y
(B) above 1 km from ground = A cos (ax + bt) + [–0.8 A cos (ax – bt)] and Vmax
(C) above 5 km from ground (maximum particle speed) is 1.8 bA
(D) above 8 km from ground (D) the equation of the standing wave so formed is
y = 1.6 A sin ax cos bt

Section B - Interference of waves,

6. Two interfering waves have the same wavelength,
Reflection and refraction
frequency, and amplitude, They are traveling in the
same direction but are 90° out of phase. Compared
3. Three coherent waves of equal frequencies having
to the individual waves, the resultant wave will have
amplitude 10m, 4m and 7m respectively, arrive
the same.
at a given point with successive phase difference of
(A) amplitude and velocity but different wavelength
/2 the amplitude of the resulting wave in m is
(B) amplitude and wavelength but different velocity
given by
(C) wavelength and velocity but different amplitude
(A) 5 (B) 6 (D) amplitude and frequency but different velocity.
(C) 3 (D) 4
Section C - Standing waves (organ pipes), 12. For a certain organ pipe three successive resonance
Resonance tube, Quink's tube, frequencies are observed at 425 Hz, 595 Hz and
Kundt's tube 765 Hz respectively. If the speed of sound in air is
340 m/s, then the length of the pipe is
7. In a closed end pipe of length 105 cm, standing
waves are set up corresponding to the third overtone. (A) 2.0 m (B) 0.4 m
What distance from the closed end, amongst the (C) 1.0 m (D) 0.2 m
following, is a pressure Node?
(A) 20 cm (B) 60 cm
(C) 85 cm (D) 45 cm 13. In an organ pipe whose one end is at x = 0, the
3x
pressure is expressed by p  p0 cos sin 300 t
8. A closed organ pipe of radius r1 and an open organ 2
pipe of radius r2 and having same length L resonate where x is in meter and t in sec. The organ pipe can
when excited with a given tunning fork. Closed organ be
pipe resonates in its fundamental mode where as
(A) closed at one end, open at another with
open organ pipe resonates in its first overtone, then
length = 0.5 m
(A) r2 – r1 = L (B) r2 – r1 = L/2
(C) r2 – 2r1 = 2.5 L (D) 2r2 – r1 = 2.5 L (B) open at both ends, length = 1m
(C) closed at both ends, length = 2m
9. First overtone frequency of a closed organ pipe is (D) closed at one end, open at another with
equal to the first overtone frequency of an open
2
organ pipe. Further nth harmonic of closed organ length = m
3
pipe is also equal to the mth harmonic of open pipe,
where n and m are :
(A) 5, 4 (B) 7, 5 Section D - Beat's, Doppler's effect (Sound
(C) 9, 6 (D) 7, 3 & light)

10. A closed organ pipe of length 1.2 m vibrates in its 14. A closed organ pipe and an open pipe of same length
first overtone mode. The pressure variation is produce 4 beats when they are set into vibrations
maximum at : simultaneously. If the length of each of them were
(A) 0.8m from the open end twice their initial lengths, the number of beats
(B) 0.4 m from the open end produced will be
(C) at the open end (A) 2 (B) 4
(D) 1.0 m from the open end
(C) 1 (D) 8

11. Four open organ pipes of different lengths and

different gases at same temperature as shown in 15. The tuning forks A & B produce notes of
figure. Let fA, fB, fC and fD be their fundamental frequencies 256 Hz & 262 Hz respectively. An
unknown note sounded at the sametime as A
frequencies then : [Take  CO 2 = 7/5]
H2
produces beats. When the same note is sounded
(A) fA/ fB = 2 with B, beat frequency is twice as large. The
O2 N2 unknown frequency could be :
(B) f B / f C  72 / 28 l
CO2
2l /3
(A) 268 Hz (B) 250 Hz
(C) fC/fD = 11/ 28 l/2
l/3
(C) 260 Hz (D) none of these
(D) fD /fA = (A) (B) (C) (D)
76 /11
 SOUND WAVES 3.29

16. A stationary sound source ‘s’ of frequency 334 Hz
and a stationary observer ‘O’ are placed near a
reflecting surface moving away from the source with
velocity 2m/sec as shown in the figure. If the velocity
of the sound waves in air is V = 330 m/sec, the
apparent frequency of the echo is
19. Two trains move towards each other with the same
speed. Speed of sound is 340 ms–1. If the pitch of
the tone of the whistle of one when heard on the
other changes by 9/8 times, then the speed of each
train is :

o s

v v
H

(A) 332 Hz (B) 326 Hz (A) 2 ms–1 (B) 40 ms–1

(C) 20 ms–1 (D) 100 ms–1
(C) 334 Hz (D) 330 Hz

20. An engine whistling at a constant frequency n0 and

17. A small source of sound moves on a circle as shown
moving with a constant velocity goes past a stationary
in fig. and an observer is sitting at O. Let at 1, 2 3
observer. As the engine crosses him, the frequency
be the frequencies heard when the source is at A, B,
of the sound heard by him changes by a factor f.
and C respectively.
The actual difference in the frequencies of the sound
heard by him before and after the engine crosses
A
him is
C O
1 1 1 f 2 
(A) n 0 (1  f 2 ) (B) 2 n 0  f 
2  
B
1– f  1 1– f 
(C) n 0   (D) n0  
(A) 1 > 2 > 3 (B) 1 = 2 > 3  1 f  2  1 f 
(C) 2 > 3 > 1 (D) 1 > 3 > 2
21. A sounding body of negligible dimension emitting a
18. The frequency changes by 10% as a sound source frequency of 150 Hz is dropped from a height.
approaches a stationary observer with constant speed During its fall under gravity it passes near a balloon
vs. What would be the percentage change in moving up with a constant velocity of 2m/s one
frequency as the source recedes the observer with second after it started to fall. The difference in the
the same speed. Given that vs < v. (v = speed of frequency observed by the man in balloon just
sound in air) before and just after crossing the body will be : (Given
(A) 14.3% (B) 20% that - velocity of sound = 300m/s ; g = 10 m/s2)
(C) 10.0% (D) 8.5% (A) 12 (B) 6
(C) 8 (D) 4
Exercise - 2 (Level-II) Multiple Correct | JEE Advanced

Section A - Equation of pressure wave, 7. Which of the following graphs is/are correct.
Velocity, Newton's and laplace
formula, Loudness and

sound in air)

sound in air)2
(Velocity of

(Velocity of
intensity, Energy in sound
(T=constat)
waves (A) Parabola (B)
Pressure
The figure represents the instantaneous picture of Temperature

a longitudinal harmonic wave travelling along the

negative x-axis. Identify the correct statement(s)

(Fundamental freq.
wave in a string)

of an organ pipe)
related to the movement of the points shown in the

(Velocity of
figure.

transverse
Parabola
(C) (D)
y v i Tension Length of organ pipe
a
b h j
g
o c x
d f k
Section B - Interference of waves,
e Reflection and refraction

1. The points moving in the direction of wave are Question No. 8 to 12 (5 questions)
(A) b (B) c A narrow tube is bent in the form of a circle of
(C) f (D) i radius R, as shown in the figure. Two small holes S
and D are made in the tube at the positions right
2. The points moving opposite to the direction of angle to each other. A source placed at S generated
propagation are a wave of intensity I0 which is equally divided into
(A) a (B) d two parts : One part travels along the longer path,
(C) f (D) j while the other travels along the shorter path. Both
the part waves meet at the point D where a detector
is placed
3. The stationary points are
(A) a (B) c
(C) g (D) k R
S
4. The points of maximum compression are
(A) c (B) g
D
(C) e (D) k
8. If a maxima is formed at the detector then, the
5. The points of maximum rarefaction are magnitude of wavelength  of the wave produced is
(A) a (B) e given by
(C) g (D) i R
(A) R (B)
2
6. The maximum displaced points are
(A) a (B) e R 2 R
(C) (D)
4 3
(C) g (D) i

CORPORATE OFFICE : Motion Education Pvt. Ltd., 394 - Rajeev Gandhi Nagar, Kota
9. If the minima is formed at the detector then, the Section C - Standing waves (organ pipes),
magnitude of wavelength  of the wave produced is Resonance tube, Quink's tube,
given by Kundt's tube

3 R 13. The second overtone of an open organ pipe A and a

(A) 2R (B)
2 closed pipe B have the same frequency at a given
temperature. If follows that the ratio of the
2 R 2 R
(C) (D) (A) length of A and B is 4 : 3
3 5
(B) fundamental frequencies of A & B is 5 : 6
(C) lengths of B to that of A is 5 : 6
10. The maximum intensity produced at D is given by (D) frequencies of first overtone of A & B is 10 : 9
(A) 4I0 (B) 2I0
(C) I0 (D) 3I0 14. A gas is filled in an organ pipe and it is sounded with
an organ pipe in fundamental mode. Choose the
11. The maximum value of  to produce a maxima at D correct statement(s) : (T = constant)
is given by (A) If gas is changed from H2 to O2, the resonant
(A) R (B) 2R frequency will increase
(B) If gas is changed from O2 to N2, the resonant
R 3 R frequency will increase
(C) (D)
2 2
(C) If gas is changed from N2 to He, the resonant
frequency will decrease
12. The maximum value of  to produce a minima at D (D) If gas is changed from He to CH4, the resonant
is given by frequency will decrease
(A) R (B) 2R

R 3 R
(C) (D)
2 2
Exercise - 3 | Level-I
Section A - Equation of pressure wave,
Velocity, Newton's and laplace
formula, Loudness and intensity,
Energy in sound waves
1. A sound wave of frequency 100 Hz is travelling in
air. The speed of sound in air is 350 m/s. (a) By
how much is the phase changed at a given point in
2.5 ms? (b) What is the phase difference at a given
instant between two points separated by a distance
of 10.0 cm along the direction of propagation?
2. The equation of a travelling sound wave is
y = 6.0 sin (600 t – 1.8 x) where y is measured in
10-5 m, t in second and x in metre. (a) Find the ratio
of the displacement amplitude of the particles to
the wavelength of the wave. (b) Find the ratio of
the velocity amplitude of the particles to the wave
speed.
3. A man stands before a large wall at a distance of
100.0 m and claps his hands at regular intervals. In
such way that echo of a clap merges with the next
clap. If he has to clap 5 times during every 3
seconds, find the velocity of sound in air.
4. The loudness level at a distance R from a long linear
source of sound is found to be 40dB. At this point,
the amplitude of oscillations of air molecules is 0.01
cm. Then find the loudness level & amplitude at a
point located at a distance ‘10R’ from the source.
Section B - Interference of waves,
Reflection and refraction
5. Two point sound sources A and B each of power
25 W and frequency 850 Hz are 1 m apart.
(a) Determine the phase difference between the
waves emitting from A and B received by detector
D as in figure. B
(b) Also determine the intensity of the resultant
sound wave as recorded by detector D . Velocity
of sound = 340 m/s.
Subjective | JEE Advanced
A 2.4m
D
90°
1m
B
6. Two identical loudspeakers are located at points A
& B, 2 m apart. The loudspeakers are driven by
the same amplifier. A small detector is moved out
from point B along a line perpendicular to the line
connecting A & B. Taking speed of sound in air as
332 m/s. Find the frequency below which there will
be no position along the line BC at which destructive
interference occurs.
A
2m
B
7. A source of sound S and a detector D are placed at
some distance from one another. A big cardboard is
placed near the detector and perpendicular to the line
SD as shown in figure. It is gradually moved away
and it is found that the intensity changes from a
maximum to a minimum as the board is moved through
a distance of 20 cm. Find the frequency of the sound
emitted. Velocity of sound in air is 336 m/s.
S D
8. Sound of wavelength  passes through a Quincke’s
tube, which is adjusted to give a maximum intensity
I0. Find the distance through the sliding tube should
be moved to give an intensity I0/2.
Section C - Standing waves (organ pipes), Section D - Beat's, Doppler's effect (Sound &
Resonance tube, Quink's tube, light)
Kundt's tube
13. Two stationary sources A and B are sounding notes
9. A closed organ pipe of length  = 100 cm is cut into of frequency 680 Hz. An observer moves from A to
two unequal pieces. The fundamental frequency of B with a constant velocity u. If the speed of sound
the new closed organ pipe piece is found to be same is 340 ms–1, what must be the value of u so that he
as the frequency of first overtone of the open organ hears 10 beats per second
pipe piece. Determine the length of the two pieces
and the fundamental tone of the open pipe piece.
14. A, B and C are three tuning forks. Frequency of A
Take velocity of sound = 320 m/s.
is 350 Hz. Beats produced by A and B are 5 per
second and by B and C are 4 per second. When a
10. The first overtone of a pipe closed at one end wax in put on A beat frequency between A and B is
resonates with the third harmonic of a string fixed at 2Hz and between A and C is 6Hz. Then, find the
its ends. The ratio of the speed of sound to the frequency of B and C respectively.
speed of transverse wave travelling on the string is
2 : 1. Find the ratio of the length of pipe to the
15. S, O & W represent source of sound (of frequency
length of string.
f), observer & wall respectively. V0, Vs, VD, V are
velocity of observer, source, wall & sound (in still
11. In a resonance-column experiment, a long tube, open air) respectively. VW is the velocity of wind. They
at the top, is clamped vertically. By a separate device, are moving as shown. Find
water level inside the tube can be moved up or down.
The section of the tube from the open end to the vw vD
water level act as a closed organ pipe. A vibrating V0
tuning fork is held above the open end, first and the vs
second resonances occur when the water level is
24.1 cm and 74.1 cm respectively below the open
(i) The wavelength of the waves coming towards
end. Find the diameter of the tube. [Hint: end
the observer from source.
correction is 0.3d]
(ii) The wavelength of the waves incident on the
wall.
12. An open organ pipe filled with air has a fundamental
(iii) The wavelength of the waves coming towards
frequency 500 Hz. The first harmonic of another
observer from the wall.
organ pipe closed at one end and filled with carbon
dioxide has the same frequency as that of the first (iv) Frequency of the waves (as detected by O)
harmonic of the open organ pipe. Calculate the length coming from wall after reflection.
of each pipe. Assume that the velocity of sound in
air and in carbondioxide to be 330 and 264 m/s
respectively.
Exercise - 3 | Level-II
Section A - Equation of pressure wave, Section B - Interference
Velocity, Newton's and laplace
formula, Loudness and intensity, 4.
Energy in sound waves
1. The displacement of the medium in a sound wave
is given by the equation ; y1 = A cos(ax + bt) where
A, a & b are positive constants. The wave is re-
flected by an obstacle situated at x = 0. The inten-
sity of the reflected wave is 0.64 times that of the
incident wave.
(a) what are the wavelength & frequency of the
incident wave.
(b) write the equation for the reflected wave.
(c) in the resultant wave formed after reflection,
find the maximum & minimum values of the
particle speeds in the medium.
5.
2. Calculate the speed of sound in oxygen from
the following data. The mass of 22.4 litre of
oxygen at STP (T = 273 K and p= 1.0 x 105 N/m2)
is 32 g, the molar heat capacity of oxygen at
constant volume is Cv = 2.5 R and that at constant
pressure is Cp = 3.5 R.
3. In a mixture of gases, the average number of
degrees of freedom per molecule is 6. The rms
speed of the molecules of the gas is c. Find the
velocity of sound in the gas. 6.
Subjective | JEE Advanced
of waves,
Reflection and refraction
Two speakers are driven by the same oscillator with
frequency of 200 Hz. They are located 4 m apart
on a vertical pole. A man walks straight towards the
lower speaker in a direction perpendicular to the
pole, as shown in figure.
L d
(a) How many times will he hear a minimum in
sound intensity, and
(b) how far is he from the pole at these moments?
Take the speed of sound to be 330 m/s, and ignore
any sound reflections coming off the ground.
A source emits sound waves of frequency 1000 Hz.
The source moves to the right with a speed of 32
m/s relative to ground. On the right a reflecting sur-
face moves towards left with a speed of 64 m/s
relative to the ground. The speed of sound in air is
332 m/s. Find
(a) the wavelength of sound in air incident on re-
flecting surface
(b) the number of waves arriving per second which
meet the reflecting surface.
(c) the speed of reflected waves.
(d) the wavelength of reflected waves.
Find the intensity of sound wave whose frequency
is 250 Hz. The displacement amplitude of particles
of the medium at this position is 1 × 10–8 m. The
density of the medium is 1 kg/m3, bulk modulus of
elasticity of the medium is 400 N/m2.
Section C - Standing waves (organ pipes), Section D - Beat's, Doppler's effect (Sound &
Resonance tube, Quink's tube,
Kundt's tube
7. (a) A standing wave in second overtone is
maintained in a open organ pipe of length l. The
distance between consecutive displacement node
and pressure node is ______________.
(b) Two consecutive overtones produced by a
narrow air column closed at one end and open at
the other are 750 Hz and 1050 Hz. Then the
fundamental frequency from the column is
______________.
(c) A standing wave of frequency 1100 Hz in a
column of methane at 20°C produces nodes that
are 20 cm apart. What is the ratio of the heat
capacity at constant pressure to that at constant
volume.
8. A tube 1.0 m long is closed at one end. A wire of
–2
length 0.3 m and mass 1 × 10 kg is stretched
between two fixed ends and is placed near the open
end. When the wire is plucked at its mid point the
air column resonates in its 1st overtone. Find the
tension in the wire if it vibrates in its fundamental
mode.
[Vsound = 330 m/s]
light)
10. A train of length l is moving with a constant speed
v along a circular track of radius R, The engine of
the train emits a whistle of frequency f. Find the
frequency heard by a guard at the rear end of the
train. Make suitable assumption.
11. A bullet travels horizontally at 660 m/s at a height
of 5 m from a man. How far is the bullet from the
man when he hears its whistle? Velocity of sound
in air = 340 m/s.
12. A supersonic jet plane moves parallel to the ground
at speed v = 0.75 mach (1 mach = speed of sound).
The frequency of its engine sound is 0 = 2kHz and
the height of the jat plane is h = 1.5 km. At some
instant an observer on the ground hears a sound of
frequency  = 20, Find the instant prior to the
instant of hearing when the sound wave received
by the observer was emitted by the jet plane.
Velocity of sound wave in the condition of observer
= 340 m/s.

9. Find the number of possible natural oscillations of

air column in a pipe whose frequencies lie below v0
= 1250 Hz. The length of the pipe is =85 cm. The
velocity of sound is v = 340 m/s.
Consider the two cases:
(a) the pipe is closed from one end
(b) the pipe is opened from both ends.
The open ends of the pipe are assumed to be the
antinodes of displacement.
Exercise - 4 | Level-I Previous Year | JEE Main

1. An observer moves towards a stationary source of 5. While measuring the speed of sound by performing
sound, with a velocity one-fifth of the velocity of a resonance column experiment, a student gets the
sound. What is the percentage increase in the first resonance condition at a column length of 18
apparent frequency? [AIEEE 2005] cm during winter. Repeating the same experiment
during summer she measures the column length to
(A) zero (B) 0.5%
be x cm for the second resonance. Then
(C) 5% (D) 20%
[AIEEE 2008]

(A) 18 > x (B) x > 54

2. When two tuning forks (forks 1 and forks 2) are
(C) 54 > x > 36 (D) 36 > x > 18
sounded simultaneously, 4 beats per second are
heard. Now, some tape is attached on the prong of
the fork 2. When the tuning forks are sounded again, 6. The speed of sound in oxygen (O2) at a certain
6 beats per second are heard. If the frequency of temperature is 460 ms–1. The speed of sound in
fork is 200 Hz, then what was the original frequency helium (He) at the same temperature will be (assume
of fork 2? [AIEEE 2005] both gases to be ideal) [AIEEE 2008]
(A) 200 Hz (B) 202 Hz (A) 1420 ms–1 (B) 500 ms–1
(C) 196 Hz (D) 204 Hz (C) 650 ms–1 (D) 330 ms–1

3. A whistle producing sound waves of frequencies 7. Three sound waves of equal amplitudes have
9500 Hz and above is approaching a stationary frequencies (v - 1), v, (v + 1). They superpose to
person with speed v ms–1. The velocity of sound in give beat. The number of beats produced per second
air is 300 ms–1. If the person can hear frequencies will be [AIEEE 2009]
upto a maximum of 10,000 Hz, the maximum value
(A) 4 (B) 3
of v upto which he can hear the whistle is
(C) 2 (D) 1
[AIEEE 2006]

(A) 15 2 ms 1 (B) 15/ 2 ms 1

8. A motor cycle starts from rest & accelerates along a
(C) 15ms 1 (D) 30ms1 straight path at 2 ms–2. At the starting point of the
motor cycle there is a stationary electric sire. How
far has the motor cycle gone when the driver hears
4. A sound absorber attenuates the sound level by 20 the frequency of the siren at 94% of its value
db. The intensity decreases by a factor of when the motor cycle was at rest ? (speed of
[AIEEE 2007] sound = 330 ms–1) [AIEEE 2009]

(A) 1000 (B) 10000 (A) 49 m (B) 98 m

(C) 10 (D) 100 (C) 147 m (D) 196 m
9. A cylindrical tube, open at both ends, has a 12. A train is moving on a straight track with speed
fundamental frequency, f, in air. The tube is dipped 20 ms–1. It is blowing its whistle at the frequency of
vertically in water so that half of it is in water. The 1000 Hz. The percentage change in the frequency
fundamental frequency of the air-column is now heard by a person standing near the track as the
train passes him is (speed of sound = 320 ms–1)
[AIEEE 2012]
close to : [JEE MAIN 2015]
f (A) 18% (B) 24%
(A) f (B)
2
(C) 6% (D) 12%

3f
(C) (D) 2f
4 13. A pipe open at both ends has a fundamental
frequency f in air. The pipe is dipped vertically in
water so that half of it is in water. The fundamental
10. A sonometer wire of length 1.5 m is made of steel. frequency of the air column is now:
The tension in it produces an elastic strain of 1%.
[JEE MAIN 2016]
What is the fundamental frequency of steel if density
and elasticity of steel are 7.7 × 10 3 kg/m3 and
3f
2.2×1011 N/m2 respectively? [JEE MAIN 2013] (A)
4
(B) 2f

(A) 200.5 Hz (B) 770 Hz

f
(C) f (D)
(C) 188.5 Hz (D) 178.2 Hz 2

14. An observer is moving with half the speed of light

11. A pipe of length 85 cm is closed from one end. Find towards a stationary microwave source emitting
the number of possible natural oscillations of air waves at frequency 10 GHz. What is the frequency
column in the pipe whose frequencies lie below 1250 of the microwave measured by the observer ?
Hz. The velocity of sound in air is 340 m/s. [JEE MAIN 2017]
(speed of light = 3×108 ms-1)
[JEE MAIN 2014]
(A) 15.3 GHz (B) 10.1 GHz
(A) 6 (B) 4 (C) 12.1 GHz (D) 17.3 GHz

(C) 12 (D) 8
Exercise - 4 | Level-II Previous Year | JEE Advanced

1. In a resonance column method, resonance occurs at
two successive level of l1 = 30.7 cm and l2 = 63.2
cm using a tuning fork of f = 512 Hz. What is the
maximum error in measuring speed of sound using
relations v = f  &  = 2(l2 – l1) [JEE-2005 (Sc)]
(A) 256 cm/sec (B) 92 cm/sec
(C) 128 cm/sec (D) 102.4 cm/sec
2. A whistling train approaches a junction. An observer
standing at junction observers the frequency to be
2.2 KHz and 1.8 KHz of the approaching and the
receding train. Find the speed of the train (speed
sound = 300 m/s). [JEE-2005]
6. The speed of sound of the whistle is :
(A) 340 m/s for passengers in A and 310 m/s for
passengers in B.
(B) 360 m/s for passengers in A and 310 m/s for
passengers in B.
(C) 310 m/s for passengers in A and 360 m/s for
passengers in B.
(D) 340 m/s for passengers in both the trains.
7. The distribution of the sound intensity of the whistle
as observed by the passengers in train A is best
represented by :

Intensity

Intensity
Passage (Q.3 to 5)
Two plane harmonic sound waves are expressed (A) (B)
by the equations.
y1 (x, t) = A cos (x – 100 t) f1 f2 Frequency f1 f2 Frequency
y2 (x, t) = A cos (0.46x – 92 t)
(All parameters are in MKS) [JEE 2006]
Intensity

Intensity
3. How many times does an obsever hear maximum
intensity in one second? (C) (D)
(A) 4 (B) 10 (C) 6 (D) 8 f1 f2 Frequency f1 f2 Frequency

4. What is the speed of the second?

(A) 200 m/s (B) 180 m/s 8. The spread of frequency as observed by the
(C) 192 m/s (D) 96 m/s passengers in train B is :
(A) 310 Hz (B) 330 Hz
5. At x = 0 how many times the amplitude of y1 + y2 is (C) 350 Hz (D) 290 Hz
zero in one second?
(A) 192 (B) 48 (C) 100 (D) 96
9. A vibrating string of certain length l under a tension
T resonates with a mode corresponding to the first
Passage (Q.6 to 8)
overtone (third harmonic) of an air column of length
Two trains A and B are moving with speeds 20 m/s 75 cm inside a tube closed at one end. The string
and 30 m/s respectively in the same direction on also generates 4 beats/s when excited along with a
the same straight track, with B ahead of A. The tuning fork of frequency n. Now when the tension
engines are at the front ends. The engine of train A of the string is slightly increased the number of beats
blows a long whistle. [JEE 2007] reduces to 2 per second. Assuming the velocity of
sound in air to be 340 m/s, the frequency n of the
tuning fork in Hz is : [JEE 2008]
Intensity

(A) 344 (B) 336

(C) 117.3 (D) 109.3
f1 f2 Frequency
10. A student performed the experiment to measure
Assume that the sound of the whistle is composed the speed of sound in air using resonance aircolumn
of components varying in frequency from f1 = 800 method. Two resonances in the aircolumn ware
Hz to f2 = 1120 Hz, as shown in the figure. The obtained by lowering the water level. The resonance
spread in the frequency (highest frequency–lowest with the shorter aircolumn is the first resonance
frequency) is thus 320 Hz. The speed of sound in
and that with the longer aircolumn is the second
air is 340 m/s.
resonance. Then, [JEE 2009]
 (A) the intensity of the sound heard at the first
resonance was more than that at the second
resonance
(B) the prongs of the tuning fork were kept in a
horizontal plane above the resonance tube
(C) the amplitude of vibration of the ends of the
prongs is typically around 1 cm
(D) the length of the aircolumn at the first resonance
1
was somewhat shorter than the of the
4 L/2
wavelength of the sound in air
11. A stationary source is emitting sound at a fixed
frequency f0, which is reflected by two cars
approaching the source. The difference between
the frequencies of sound reflected from the cars is
1.2 %of f0. What is the difference in the speeds of
the cars (in km per hour) to the nearest integer ?
The cars are moving at constant speeds much
smaller than the speed of sound which is 330 ms–1.
[JEE 2010]
12. A hollow pipe of length 0.8 m is closed at one end.
At its open end a 0.5 m long uniform string is
vibrating in its second harmonic and it resonates
with the fundamental frequency of the pipe. If the
tension in the wire is 50 N and the speed of sound
is 320 ms–1, the mass of the string is :[JEE 2010]
(A) 5 g (B) 10 g
(C) 20 g (D) 40 g
13. Column I shows four systems, each of the same
length L, for producing standing waves. The lowest
possible natural frquency of a system is called its
fundamental frequency, whose wavelength is
denoted as f. Match each system with statement
given in column II describing the nature and
wavelength of the standing waves. [JEE 2011]
Column I Column II
(A) Pipe closed at one end (P) Longitudinal waves
O L
(B) Pipe open at both ends (Q) Transverse waves
O L
(C) Stretched wire clamped (R) f = L
at both ends
O L
(D) Stretched wire clamped at (S) f = 2L
both ends and at mid point
O L (T) f = 4L
14. A police car with a siren of frequency 8 kHz is
moving with uniform velocity 36 km/hr towards a
tall building which reflects the sound waves. The
speed of sound in air is 320 m/s. The frequency of
the siren heard by the car driver is [JEE 2011]
(A) 8.50 kHz (B) 8.25 kHz
(C) 7.75 kHz (D) 7.50 kHz
15. A person blows into open-end of a long pipe. As a
result, a high-pressure pulse of air travels down the
pipe. When this pulse reaches the other end of the
pipe,
(A) a high-pressure pulse starts travelling up the
pipe, if the other end of the pipe is open.
(B) a low-pressure pulse starts travelling up the pipe,
if the other end of the pipe is open.
(C) a low-pressure pulse starts travelling up the pipe,
if the other end of the pipe is closed.
(D) a high-pressure pulse starts travelling up the
pipe, if the other end of the pipe is closed.
[JEE 2012]
16. Two vehicles, each moving with speed u on the same
horizontal straight road, are approaching each other.
Wind blows along the road with velocity w. One of
these vehicles blows a whistle of frequency f1. An
observer in the other vehicle hears the frequency
of the whistle of be f2. The speed of sound in still
air is V. The correct statement (s) is (are) [JEE 2013]
(A) If the wind blows from the observer to the
source, f2 > f1.
(B) If the wind blows from the source to the
observer, f2 > f1.
(C) If the wind blows from observer to the source,
f2 < f1.
(D) If the wind blows from the source to the
observer, f2 < f1.
17. A sudent is perfarming an expernment using a (B) The plot below represents schematically the
resonance column and a tuning fork of frequency variation of beat frequency with time
244 s-1. He is told that the air in the tube has been
replaced by another gas (assume that the column
remains filled with the gas). If the minimum hight
at which resonance occurs is (0.350  0.005)m,
the gas in the tube is(useful information :
1/ 2
167RT  640J1/ 2 mole - 1/2 , 140RT  590J
mole-1/2. The molar masses M is garms are given in

10 (C) vP + vR = 2vQ
the options. Take the values of for each gas
M (D) The rate of change in beat frequency is
as given there.) [JEE Advanced 2014] maximum when the car passes through Q
[JEE Advanced 2016]
 10 7 
(A) Neon  M =20, 20 = 10 
  19. A block M hangs vertically at the bottom end of a
 10 3  uniform rope of constant mass per unit length. The
(B) Nitrogen  M  28,  
28 5  top end of the rope is attached to a fixed rigid support

at O. A transverse wave pulse (Pulse 1) of
 10 9  wavelength  0 is produced at point A (Pulse 2)
(C) Oxygen  M  32,  
32 16 
 without disturbing the position of M it takes time TAO
 10 17  to reach point O. Which of the following options
(D) Argon  M  36, 36  32  is/are correct? [JEE Advanced 2017]
 
(A) The velocities of the
18. Two loudspeakers M and N are located 20 m apart two pulses (Pulse 1 and
and emit sound at frequencies 118 Hz an 121 Hz, Pulse 2) are the same at
respectively. A car is initially at a point P, 1800 m the midpoint of rope
away from the midpoint Q of the line MN and moves (B) The velocities of any
towards Q constantly at 60 km/hr along the pulse along the rope is
perpendicular bisector of MN. It crosses Q and independent of its
eventually reaches a point R, 1800 m away from frequency and wavelength
Q, Let v(t) represent the beat frequency measured
(C) The wavelength of
by a person sitting in the car at time t. Let vP, vQ
Pulse 1 becomes longer
and vB be the beat frequencies measured at locations
when it reaches point A
P, Q and R, respectively. The speed of sound in air
is 330 ms-1. Which of the following statement(s) is (D) The time TAO = TOA
(are) true regarding the sound heard by the person?
20. A stationary source emits the sound of frequency
(A) The plot below represents schematically the
f0 = 492 Hz. The sound is reflected by a large car
variation of beat frequency with time
v(t) approaching thesourcewith aspeed of 2 ms–1. The
reflected signal is received by the source and
P superposed with the original. What will be the beat
frequency of the resulting signal in Hz? (Given that
Q the speed of sound in air is 330 ms–1 and the car
vQ
reflects the sound at the frequency it has received)
[JEE Advanced 2017]
R
t
21. A person measures the depth of a well by measur- 23. In an experiment to measure the speed of sound by
ing the time intgerval between dropping a stone and a resonating air column, a tuning fork of frequency
receiving the sound of impact with the bottom of 500 Hz is used. The length of the air column is varied
the well. The error in his measurement of time is by changing the level of water in the resonance
T = 0.01 seconds and he measures the depth of tube. Two successive resonances are heard at air
the well to be L = 20 meters. Take the acceleration columns of length 50.7 cm and 83.9 cm. Which of
due to gravity g = 10 ms–2 and the velocityof sound the following statements is (are) true ?
is 300 ms–1. Then the fractional error in the mea- [JEE Advanced 2018]
surement, L/L, is closest to [JEE Advanced 2017] (A) The speed of sound determined from this
(A) 5% (B) 1% experiment is 332 ms-1
(C) 3% (D) 0.2% (B) The end correction in this experiment is 0.9 cm
(C) The wavelength of the sound wave is 66.4 cm
22. Two men are walking along a horizontal straight (D) The resonance at 50.7 cm corresponds to the
line in the same direction. The man in front walks fundamental harmonic
at a speed 1.0 ms–1 and the man behind walks at a
speed 2.0 ms–1. A third man is standing at a height
12m above the same horizontal line such that all
three men are in a vertical plane. The two walking
men are blowing identical whistles which emit a
sound of frequency 1430 Hz. The speed of sound
in air is 330 ms–1. At the instant, when the moving
men are 10 m apart, the stationary man is equidistant
from them. The frequency of beats in Hz, heard by
the stationary man at this instant, is __________.
[JEE Advanced 2018]
Exercise - 1 Objective Problems | JEE Main

1. C 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. D
6. B 7. A 8. C 9. A 10. D
11. D 12. D 13. B 14. C 15. A
16. B 17. D 18. B 19. B 20. A
21. D 22. B 23. C 24. D 25. B
26. B 27. B 28. B 29. D 30. B
31. C 32. C 33. C 34. A 35. A

Exercise - 2 (Leve-I) Objective Problems | JEE Main

1. A 2. A 3. A 4. A 5. B
6. C 7. D 8. C 9. C 10. B
11. C 12. C 13. C 14. A 15. B
16. D 17. D 18. D 19. C 20. B
21. A

Exercise - 2 (Level-II) Multiple Correct | JEE Advanced

1. A,B 2. C 3. A 4. A,D 5. C
6. A,B,D 7. B,C 8. A,B,C 9. A,B,D 10. B
11. A 12. B 13. C,D 14. B,D

Exercise - 3 | Level-I Subjective | JEE Advanced

 2
1. (a) (b) 2. (a) 1.7 × 10–5 (b) 1.08 × 10–4
2 35

3. 333 m/s 4. 30 dB, 10 10 mm

5. (a) p (b) I  ( I A – IB ) 2  (25 / 312 ) 2 6. 83 Hz 7. 420 Hz

8. /8 9. 20, 80 cm, 200 Hz 10. 1:1 11. 3 cm

12. 33 cm and 13.2 cm 13. 2.5 ms–1 14. 345, 341 or 349 Hz
15. (i) (V – Vw + Vs) / f (ii) (V + Vw – Vs) / f (iii) (V–Vw–VD) / fr ; where fr=(V+Vw+VD/v + Vw – Vs) f
(iv) (V – Vw – Vo/V – Vw – VD) fr
Exercise - 3 | Level-II Subjective | JEE Advanced

1. (a) 2 /a, b/2, (b) y2 = ± 0.8 A cos (ax – bt), (c) max. = 1.8 bA, min = 0,
2. 310 m/s 3. 2c/3 4. (a) 2; (b) 9.28 m and 1.99 m

 2  10 –9
5. (a) 0.3 m, (b) 1320, (c) 332 m/s, (d) 0.2 m 6. W/m2
4

7. (a) l/6 ; (b) 150 Hz; (c) 1.28 8. 735 N

v v
9. (a) vn = (2n + 1); six oscillations ; (b) vn= (n+1), also six oscillations ; Here n = 0, 1, 2, ...
4 2

10. f 11. 9.7 m 12. 5.9 sec

Exercise - 4 | Level-I Previous Year | JEE Main

1. D 2. C 3. C 4. D 5. B
6. A 7. C 8. B 9. A 10. D
11. A 12. D 13. C 14. A

Exercise - 4 | Level-II Previous Year | JEE Advanced

1. D 2. Vs = 30 m/s 3. A 4. A
5. C 6. B 7. A 8. A 9. A
10. A,C,D 11. 7 12. B
13. A  PT ; B  PS ; C  QS ; D  QR
14. A 15. B,D 16. A,B 17. D 18. A,C,D
19. BD 20. 6 21. B 22. 5.00 Hz 23. AC