QUESTION BANK

WAVES AND SOUND

Q1In a large telecommunications auditorium, perforated absorbent materials are used to line the ceiling
so as to Aincrease the amount of echo in hall Breduce the height of the celling from the floor Creduce
the reverberation of sound in the hall Dincrease the reverberation of sound in the hall EAnswer:
CWavesQ2The fundamental frequency of a plucked wire under a tension of 400N is 250Hz. When the
frequency is changed to 500Hz at constant length, the tension is A160 NB1600 N C40 N D400 N
EAnswer: BWavesQ3I. They should be identical II. They should originate from the same source III. They
should be coherent IV. They should be monochromatic From the statements above, the conditions for
two waves to interfere are AI, II , III and IVBI ,II and III onlyCI, III and IV only DII, III and IV only EAnswer:
CWavesQ4A progressive wave equation is represented by y = a sin ( 150 λt -πx/4). If the
phase difference of a progressive wave is 45°, the value of x in the equation is A2cmB1cmC4 cmD3
cmEAnswer: BWavesQ5The wave length of the first overtone of a note in a closed pipe of length 33cm is
A22 cmB17 cmC44cmD33 cmEAnswer: CWavesQ6The frequency of the wave in the diagram above
isA0.25HzB1.57HzC0.17HzD1.05HzEAnswer: AWavesQ7Satelite communication network makes use of
Ainfra-red rays Bsound wave Cvisible light Dradio wave EAnswer: DWavesQ8Marching soldiers crossing
a suspension bridge are usually advised to break their steps to avoid damaging the bridge owing to
Aswinging Bvibration Coscillation Dresonance EAnswer: DWavesQ9The velocity of sound in air will be
doubled if its absolute temperature is Adoubled Bhalved Cconstant Dquadrupled EAnswer:
DWavesQ10In which of the following material media would sound travel fastest?
AOilBMetalCGasDWaterEAnswer: BWavesQ11The pitch of a sound note depends on Atimbre
Bfrequency Charmonics Dquality EAnswer: BWavesQ12I. Wavelength II. Medium of propagation III.
Wave velocity IV. Frequency V. Energy Which of the above are used for characterizing waves ? AI, II
and V BI and IV CI, III and IV DIII, IV and V EAnswer: CWavesQ13Transverse waves can be distinguished
from longitudinal waves using the characteristic of Adiffraction Brefraction CpolarizationDreflection
EAnswer: CWavesQ14The phase difference between waves P and Q in the diagram below
isA2∏B∏C∏/4D∏/2EAnswer: CWavesQ15Given that Young's modulus for
aluminium is 7.0 x 1010 Nm-2 and density is 2.7 x 103kgm-3 find the speed of the sound produced if a
solid bar is struck at one end with a hammerA3.6 x 103 ms-1B5.1 x 103 ms-1C2.8 x 103 ms-1D4.2 x 103
ms-1EAnswer: BWavesQ16If the distance from a point source of sound is doubled , by what factor does
the intensity decrease ? A2.00B0.25C4.00D0.50 EAnswer: BWavesQ17An open pipe closed at one end
produces its first fundamental note. If the velocity of sound in air is v and l the length of the pipe, the
frequency of the note is Av/2lB2v/lCv/5lDv/4lEAnswer: DWavesQ18A turning fork of frequency 340Hz is
vibrated just above a cylindrical tube of height 1.2m. If water is slowly poured into tube, at what
maximum height will resonance occur? A0.45 mB0.95mC0.60mD0.50mEAnswer: DWavesQ19I.
Temperature II. Density of air molecules III. Pressure IV Pitch Which of the above will affect
the velocity of sound in air? AI , II, III and IV BI, II and IV onlyCII and IV only DI and II only EAnswer:
DWavesQ20The phenomenon that makes sound persist when its source has been removed is known as
Ararefaction Bacoustic vibration Creverberation Decho EAnswer: DWavesQ21Vibrations in a stretched
spring cannot be polarized because they are Atransverse waves Bmechanical waves Cstationary waves
Dlongitudinal waves EAnswer: DWavesQ22The property that is propagated in a travelling wave is
Aamplitude BenergyCwavelengthDfrequency EAnswer: BWavesQ23Which of the following is a
characteristics of stationary waves? AThe antinode is a point of minimum displacement BThe distance
between two successive node is one wavelength CThey are formed by two identical waves travelling in
opposite directions DThey can be transverse or longitudinal EAnswer: CWavesQ24A plane sound wave
of frequency 85.5 Hz and velocity 342 ms-1 is reflected from a vertical wall. At what distance from the
wall does the wave have an antinode?A1 mB2 mC3 mD4 mEAnswer: DWavesQ25Find the frequencies of
the first three harmonics on a piano string of length 1.5m, if the velocity of the waves on the spring is
120 ms-1A360 Hz, 180 Hz, 90 HzB180 Hz, 360 Hz, 540 HzC80Hz, 160 Hz, 240HzD40 Hz, 80 Hz,
120HzEAnswer: CWavesQ26A string is fastened tightly between two walls 24cm apart. The wavelength
of the second overtone is A8cmB12 cmC16 cmD24 cm EAnswer: CWavesQ27I. Coherence II. Same
frequency III. Same wavelength IV. Same intensity Which of the conditions above are necessary to
produce interference fringes? AI , II and IIIBI and IIICI , II and IVDII and IIIEAnswer: AWavesQ28One end
of a long wire is fixed while a vibrator is attached to the other end. When the vibrator is energized, the
types of waves generated in the wire are Astationary and traverse Bprogressive and
transverseCstationary and longitudinalDprogressive and longitudinalEAnswer: AWavesQ29A sonometer
wire is vibrating at frequency fo . If the tension in the wire is doubled while the length and the mass per
unit length are kept constant, the new frequency of vibration is Afo/2B2foCfo/√2Dfo
√2EAnswer: DWavesQ30A travelling wave moving from left to right has an amplitude of 0.15m, a
frequency of 550 Hz and a wavelength of 0.01m. The equation describing the wave is Ay = 0.15 sin
200π ( x - 5.5t)By = 0.15 sin π (0.01x - 5.5t)Cy = 0.15 sin 5.5π ( x - 200t)Dy = 0.15 sin
π(550x - 0.01 t)EAnswer: AWavesQ31The equation of a wave traveling along the positive x-
direction is given by y= 0.25 x 10-3 sin ( 500t - 0.0025x). Determine the angular frequency of the wave
motion.A0.25 x 10-3 rad s-1B0.25 x 10-1 rad s-1C5.00 x 102 rad s-1D2.50 x 103 rad s-1EAnswer:
GWavesQ32If a sound wave goes from a cold-air region to a hot air region, its wavelength
willAincreaseBdecreaseCdecrease then increaseDremain constantEAnswer: BWavesQ33The lowest note
emitted by a stretched string has frequency of 40 Hz. How many overtones are there between 40Hz and
180 Hz?A4B3C2D1EAnswer: BWavesQ34The physical properties of sound waves can best be described
byAreflection and diffractionBpolarization and reflectionCpolarization and diffractionDpolarization and
refractionEAnswer: AWavesQ35The velocity of a sound wave at 27°C is 360 ms-1 . It velocity at 127°C
isA120√3 ms-1B240 ms-1C240√3 ms-1D720 √3 ms-1EAnswer: BWavesQ36In a closed organ pipe
producing a musical note, an antinode will always be produced atAthe closed endBthe open endCthe
middleDall the parts of the pipeEAnswer: BWavesQ37A steel wire of length 0.50 m is streched between
two fixed points and its fundamental frequency is 200 Hz. The speed of the wave in the wire isA100 ms-
1B120 ms-1C200 ms-1D250 ms-1EAnswer: CWavesQ38In a resonance tube experiment, if the
fundamental frequency of the vibrating air column is 280 Hz, the frequency of the third overtone isA70
HzB840 HzC1120 HzD1960 HzEAnswer: DWavesQ39Which of the following are true about infra-red
radiaton ? I. It is invisible II. It is called heat ray III. Its frequency is higher than that of blue light IV. It
travels as a transverse waveAI, II, III and IVBI, II and IV onlyCI, III and IV onlyDII, III and IV onlyEAnswer:
BWavesQ40In the a.c circuit diagram above, the resonance frequency isA5, 000 ∏ HzB2, 500
∏ HzC5, 000/∏ HzD2, 500/∏ HzEAnswer: DWavesQ41Ripples on water and light
waves are similar because both Ahave the same frequencyBcan be refracted and diffracted Care
longitudinal wavesDhave the same velocityEAnswer: BWavesQ42Under constant tension and constant
mass per unit length, the note produced by a plucked string is 500 Hz when the length of the string is
0.90m. At what length is the frequency 150 Hz? A3mB4 mC5 mD6 mEAnswer: AWavesQ43If the load at
the end of a sonometer wire is immersed in a bucket of water, the original fundamental frequency of
the wire could be restored by Adecreasing the length of the wire Bincreasing the length of the wire
Cincreasing the mass per unit length of the wire Dchanging the temperature of the waterEAnswer:
AWavesQ44The diagram beside shows two wave forms P and Q at a particular instant of time. The two
waves interfereAdestructively to produce a wave of a larger amplitudeB destructively to produce a wave
of a smaller amplitude C constructively to produce a wave of a larger amplitude D constructively to
produce a wave of a smaller amplitude EAnswer: CWavesQ45Which of the diagrams below represents
the second overtone of a vibrating string fixed at both ends?ABCDEAnswer: DWavesQ46Which of the
following is the exclusive property of a transverse wave? ADiffractionBRefraction
CCompressionDPolarization EAnswer: DWavesQ47The wavelength of signals from a radio transmitter is
1 500 m and the frequency is 200 kHz. What is the wavelength for a transmitter operating at 1 000 kHz?
A7 500 mB300 mC7.5 mD1.5 mEAnswer: BWavesQ48The difference between sound waves and light
waves is that sound waves Aare transverse while light waves are longitudinal Brequire a medium to
travel while light waves do notCcan be diffracted but light waves cannotDcannot be reflected but light
waves can EAnswer: BWavesQ49The pitch of an acoustic device can be increased byAincreasing the
frequencyBincreasing the amplitudeCdecreasing the loudnessDdecreasing the intensityEAnswer:
AWavesQ50The equation of a transverse wave traveling along a string is given by y=0.3 sin (0.5x----50t)
where y and x are in cm and t is in seconds. Find the maximum displacement of the particles from the
equilibrium position A50.0 cmB2.5 cmC0.5cmD0.3 cmEAnswer: DWavesQ51The sound from a source
traveled to the bottom of the sea and the echo was heard 4s later. If the speed of sound in sea water is
1500ms-1, the depth of the sea isA6000 mB3000 mC1500 mD375 mEAnswer: BWavesQ52The
fundamental frequency of vibration of a sonometer wire may be halved by Adoubting the length of the
wireBdoubting the mass of the wireCreducing the tension by halfDreducing the absolute temperature by
halfEAnswer: AWavesQ53A pipe of length 45 cm is closed at one end. Calculate the fundamental
frequency of the sound wave generated in the pipe if the velocity of sound in air is 360 ms-1 ( Neglect
end corrections )A5. 5 HzB148.5 HzC200.0 HzD550.0HzEAnswer: CWavesQ54The note produced by a
stretched string has a fundamental frequency of 400 Hz. If the length of the string is doubled while the
tension in the string is increased by a factor of 4, the frequency is A200 HzB400 HzC800 HzD1600 Hz
EAnswer: BWavesQ55The fundamental frequency of vibration (f) of a wire is measured as a function of
the tension (T) in the wire. Which of the following curves adequately represents the data?
ABCDEAnswer: CWavesQ56Which of the following waves can propagate through a vacuum? AHigh
velocity sound waves BUltrasonic waves CAcoustic waves DInfra-red wavesEAnswer: DWavesQ57Radio
waves emitted from an antenna are picked up by a radar after reflection from an aircraft in 4 x 10-3 s.
How far is the aircraft from the antenna? [c= 3 x 103 ms-1]A6.0 X 102 kmB1.2 X 103 kmC3.0 x 103
kmD6.0 X 105 kmEAnswer: AWavesQ58The relationship between L and the wavelength x of the
stationary wave isA2L = δBL = δCL = δ/3D4L = 3δEAnswer:
DWavesQ59Determine the distance between the consecutive antinodes XX if the wavelength is 60
m.A15cmB30cmC60cmD120cmEAnswer: BWavesQ60The equation of a wave Y = 0.005 sin X [ 0.5x -
200t) where x and y are in metres and t is in seconds. What is the velocity of the wave?A4000 m s-1B400
m s-1C250 m s-1D40 m s-1EAnswer: AWaves