15.1 A string of mass 2.50 kg is under a tension of 200 N. The length of the stretched string is 20.0 m.

If the
transverse jerk is struck at one end of the string, how long does the disturbance take to reach the other end?
AnsMass per unit length m = M/l= 2.5/20 = 0.125 kg/m
v

200
40 m / s
0.125

Time takenby the disturbance to the other end , t = l/v = 20/40 = 0.5 second.
15.2 A stone dropped from the top of a tower of height 300 m high splashes into the water of a pond near the
base of the tower. When is the splash heard at the top given that the speed of sound in air is 340 m s1 ? (g =
9.8 m s2)
Ans If t1 = Time taken by the stone to reach on water surface and t2 is the time taken by the sound to reach
the top.
S = ut1 + at12
300 = 0 + 9.8 t12
t1 =7.82 second.
t2 = h/v = 300/340 = 0.88 second.
Therefore total time taken = 7.82+0.88 = 8.70 second.
15.3 A steel wire has a length of 12.0 m and a mass of 2.10 kg. What should be the tension in the wire so that
speed of a transverse wave on the wire equals the speed of sound in dry air at 20 C = 343 m s1.
Ans m
As v

M 2.10

0.175 kg / m
l
12

T
m

T v2m

T = 2.06 104 newton.

P
to explain why the speed of sound in air

(a) is independent of pressure,

(b) increases with temperature,
(c) increases with humidity.
Ans{1} Effect of Pressure:- From Boyel`s law P V = Constant.
P m
m
But V
so
Cons tan t

15.4 Use the formula v

P
P
Since m is a constant so
Cons tan t
Cons tan t m

Therefore there is no effect (change) on velocity of sound due to change in pressure because as P increases
density also increases so that the P/ remain constant.
{2} Effect of Temperature:-Since velocity of sound in air is directly proportional to P and according to

Charles law pressure P T . So velocity of sound v T

Hence with increase in temperature the velocity increases & vice versa.
{3} Effect of Humidity: -Water vapors (Humid air) have a density less than the density of dry air. Hence
velocity of sound in humid air is greater than the velocity in dry air &vice versa that is why we can hear
distant sound in rainy season.
15.5 You have learnt that a travelling wave in one dimension is represented by a function y = f (x, t) where x
and t must appear in the combination x v t or x + v t, i.e. y = f (x v t). Is the converse true? Examine if the
following functions for y can possibly represent a travelling wave :
(a) (x vt )2
(b) log [(x + vt)/x0]
(c) 1/(x + vt)
Ans No , the converge is not true. The basic requirement for a wave function to represent a travelling wave
is that for all the values of x and t , wave function must have finite value.

Out of the given function for y, no one satisfies this condition. Therefore none can represent a travelling
wave.
15.6 A bat emits ultrasonic sound of frequency 1000 kHz in air. If the sound meets a water surface, what is
the wavelength of (a) the reflected sound, (b) the transmitted sound? Speed of sound in air is 340 m s 1 and in
water 1486 m s1.
Ans Wavelength of the reflected sound a = va /v= 340/105= 3.4 103m.
Wavelength of the transmitted sound w = vs /v= 1486/105=1.486 102 m.
15.7 A hospital uses an ultrasonic scanner to locate tumours in a tissue. What is the wavelength of sound in
the tissue in which the speed of sound is 1.7 km s1 ? The operating frequency of the scanner is 4.2 MHz.
Ans = v/ = 1700/(4.2 106 ) m = 0.405 mm.
15.8 A transverse harmonic wave on a string is described by y(x, t) = 3.0 sin (36 t + 0.018 x + /4)
where x and y are in cm and t in s. The positive direction of x is from left to right.
(a) Is this a travelling wave or a stationary wave ?
If it is travelling, what are the speed and direction of its propagation ?
(b) What are its amplitude and frequency ?
(c) What is the initial phase at the origin ?
(d) What is the least distance between two successive crests in the wave ?
AnsComparing the given equation with y A Sin[ 2 (v t x ) o ] (1)

(a) The given equation represent a transverseharmonic wave travelling from right to left. It is not a
equation of stationary wave.
36
(2)
(b) The given equation can be rewritten as
y 3.0 Sin[0.018 (

0.18

t x )

From equation 1 and 2 we get, v = 36/0.018 = 2000 cm/s.

2
2
A = 3 cm,
= 0.018 Hence =
0.018

Frequency v = v/ = 5.73 s1.

(c) Initial phase o = /4 radian.
2
(d) =
= 349 cm.
0.018

15.9 For the wave described in Exercise 15.8, plot the displacement (y) versus (t) graphs for x = 0, 2 and 4
cm. What are the shapes of these graphs? In which aspects does the oscillatory motion in travelling wave
differ from one point to another: amplitude, frequency or phase ?
AnsThe transverse harmonic wave is y 3 Sin (36 t 0.018 x / 4 )
For x = 0, y 3 Sin (36 t / 4 )
2

Where T
second.

18
On plotting yt gtaph we obtain a sinusoidal curve.
t
0
T/8
2T/8
3T/8
4T/8
5T/8
6T/8
7T/8
T
y
3
0
3
0
3/2
3/2
3/2
3/2
3/2
Similar graphs are obtain for = 2 cm and = 4 cm.
The oscillatory motion in travelling wave differ from one point to another only in term of phase.
15.10 For the travelling harmonic wave y(x, t) = 2.0 cos 2
and t in s. Calculate the phase difference between oscillatory
motion of two points separated by a distance of
(a) 4 m,
(b) 0.5 m,
(c) /2,
(d) 3/4
Ans y(x, t) = 2.0 cos 2

t 0.0080 x + 0.35)

t 0.0080 x + 0.35). where x and y are in cm

y A Sin[

We get

(v t x ) o ]

= 0.008.

(a) When =4 m.

Phase difference

x 2 0.008 400 6.4 radian.

(b) When =0.5 m.

Phase difference

x 2 0.008 50 0.8 radian.

(c) When =/2 .

Phase difference

2
radian.
2

2 3
3 / 2 radian.
4

(d) When =3/4 .

Phase difference

15.11 The transverse displacement of a string (clamped at its both ends) is given by
2
y(x, t) = 0.06 sin
x cos (120 t)
3

where x and y are in m and t in s. The length of the string is 1.5 m and its mass is 3.0 102 kg.
Answer the following :
(a) Does the function represent a travelling wave or a stationary wave?
(b) Interpret the wave as a superposition of two waves travelling in opposite directions. What is the
wavelength, frequency, and speed of each wave ?
(c) Determine the tension in the string.
Ans(a) It represent a stationary wave
2
(b) When a wave pulse y1 A Sin
(v t x ) travelling along + ve xaxis is superimposed by a reflected

2
wave y 2 A Sin
(v t x ) travelling in opposite direction, a stationary wave

2
2 vt
Y = y1 + y2= 2 A Sin
is formed.
x cos

Comparing equation we will get = 3 m

Also v = 60 = 180 m/s.
Frequency = 60 Hz.
T
(c) Velocity of a transverse wave v
m
T = v2 m Therefore m = 2 102 kg/m.
T = 1802 2 102= 648 newton.
15.12 (i) For the wave on a string described in Exercise 15.11, do all the points on the string oscillate with the
same (a) frequency, (b) phase, (c) amplitude? Explain your answers. (ii) What is the amplitude of a point
0.375 m away from one end?
AnsAll the points on the string
(i)
Have the same frequency except that at the nodes (where v = 0)
(ii)
Have same phase everywhere in one loop except at the nodes.
2 x
y 0.06 Sin
cos120 t
3

Amplitude at x (=0.375 m ) is = 0.06 Sin

0.06
2

= 0.042 m.

15.13 Given below are some functions of x and t to represent the displacement (transverse or longitudinal) of
an elastic wave. State which of these represent (i) a travelling wave, (ii) a stationary wave or (iii) none at all:
(a) y = 2 cos (3x) sin (10t)
(b) y 2 x v t
(c) y = 3 sin (5x 0.5t) + 4 cos (5x 0.5t)
(d) y = cos x sin t + cos 2x sin 2t
Ans (a) It represent a stationary wave.
(b) It can not represent any type of wave.
(c) It represent a progressive/ travelling harmonic wave.
(d) This equation is sum of two functions, each representing a stationary wave. Therefore it represent
superimposition of two stationary wave.
15.14 A wire stretched between two rigid supports vibrates in its fundamental mode with a frequency of 45
Hz. The mass of the wire is 3.5 102 kg and its linear mass density is 4.0 102 kg m1. What is (a) the
speed of a transverse wave on the string, and (b) the tension in the string?
Ans(a) l = M/m = 7/8 m.
/2 = l. Therefore = 7/4 m.
The speed of transverse wave v = v = 78.75 m/s.
(b) v

T
m

T v 2 / m 248.06newton .

15.15 A metre-long tube open at one end, with a movable piston at the other end, shows resonance with a
fixed frequency source (a tuning fork of frequency 340 Hz) when the tube length is 25.5 cm or 79.3 cm.
Estimate the speed of sound in air at the temperature of the experiment. The edge effects may be neglected.
Ans As there is piston at one end of the tube, it behaves as a closed organ pipe, which produces odd
harmonics only. Therefore the pipe is in resonance with the fundamental node and the third harmonic ( 79.3
cm is about 3 times 25.5 cm).
In the fundamental mode /4 = l1 = 25.5 cm.
= 102 cm = 1.02 m
Speed of sound in air v = v = 346.8 m/s.
15.16 A steel rod 100 cm long is clamped at its middle. The fundamental frequency of longitudinal vibrations
of the rod are given to be 2.53 kHz. What is the speed of sound in steel?
Ans When the rod is clamped at the middle, then in the fundamental mode of frequency of the rod, a node is
formed at the middle and an anti node is formed at each end.
Therefore L = /4 + /4 = /2.
= 2L = 2 m
v = v = 5.06 10 3 m/s.
15.17 A pipe 20 cm long is closed at one end. Which harmonic mode of the pipe is resonantly excited by a
430 Hz source ? Will the same source be in resonance with the pipe if both ends are open? (speed of sound in
air is 340 m s1).
AnsThe frequency of nth normal mode of vibration of closed pipe is vn (2 n 1 )
(2 n 1 )

Therefore
n=1.01.

430 4 0.2
1.02
340

v
4L

Hence it will be the 1st normal mode of vibration. In a pipe, open at both end
n

Therefore

nv
2 L

n 340
430 Hz
2 0.2

Hence n = 430 2 0.2/340 = 0.5

As n has to be an integer , therefore open organ pipe can not be in resonance with the source.
15.18 Two sitar strings A and B playing the note Ga are slightly out of tune and produce beats of frequency
6 Hz. The tension in the string A is slightly reduced and the beat frequency is found to reduce to 3 Hz. If the
original frequency of A is 324 Hz, what is the frequency of B?
AnsAs number of beats/sec = 6 therefore nb = na 6 = 324 6
nb = 330 or 318 Hz.
When tension in A is reduce, its frequency reduces.
As number of beats per second decreases to 3 therefore frequency of B = 324 6 = 318 Hz.
15.19 Explain why (or how):
(a) in a sound wave, a displacement node is a pressure antinode and vice versa,
(b) bats can ascertain distances, directions, nature, and sizes of the obstacles without any eyes,
(c) a violin note and sitar note may have the same frequency, yet we can distinguish between the two notes,
(d) solids can support both longitudinal and transverse waves, but only longitudinal waves can propagate in
gases, and
(e) the shape of a pulse gets distorted during propagation in a dispersive medium.
Ans Refer book for theory part.
15.20 A train, standing at the outer signal of a railway station blows a whistle of frequency 400 Hz in still air.
(i) What is the frequency of the whistle for a platform observer when the train
(a) approaches the platform with a speed of 10 m s1, (b) recedes from the platform with a speed of 10 m s1?
(ii) What is the speed of sound in each case ? The speed of sound in still air can be taken as 340 m s1.
Ans (i) (a) Train (source) approaches the platform,
Therefore /

340 400
V

412.12 Hz
V Vs
340 10

(b) Train (source) recedes the platform,

Therefore /
(iii)

340 400
V

388.6 Hz
V Vs
340 10

The speed of sound in each case is same = 340 m/s.

15.21 A train, standing in a station-yard, blows a whistle of frequency 400 Hz in still air. The wind starts
blowing in the direction from the yard to the station with at a speed of 10 m s1. What are the frequency,
wavelength, and speed of sound for an observer standing on the stations platform? Is the situation exactly
identical to the case when the air is still and the observer runs towards the yard at a speed of 10 m s1? The
speed of sound in still air can be taken as 340 m s1.
Ans(a) As wind is blowing in the direction of sound , therefore effective speed of the sound
= v + vm = 340 + 10 = 350 m/s.
As the source and the listener both are at rest, therefore frequency remain unchanged ( v =400 Hz).
Wavelength = (v + vm )/v = 350/400 = 0.875 m.
(b) When airis still vm = 0,
As observer moves towards the source /

V VL
340 10

400 411.76 Hz
V
340

As source is at rest, wave length does not change.

Also speed of sound v = v + vm = 340 + 0 = 340 m/s.

The situation in the two caseses are entirely different.