Superposition Of Waves

1) What is a progressive wave or a travelling wave?

2) Define: (1) transverse
(2) longitudinal progressive wave.
3) What is a mechanical wave ? Explain. (1 mark)
4) How are mechanical waves different from electromagnetic waves ?
5) What is a simple harmonic progressive wave? (
6) State any two characteristics of progressive waves.
7) Define the following physical quantities related to a progressive wave: (1) wave speed (2) frequency (n)
8) A wave is represented by an equation y = A * sin(Bx + Ct) Given that the constants A, B, C are positive, can
you tell in which direction the wave is moving?
9) A simple harmonic progressive wave is given by y = A * sin(omega*t - kx) where the symbols have their
usual meaning. What is (i) the particle velocity at a point x and time t (ii) the wave speed?
10) A simple harmonic progressive wave has frequency 25 Hz and wavelength 4 m. If the phase difference
between motions of two particles is (pi / 10) rad, what is the corresponding path difference?
11) What is meant by reflection of a wave ?
12) Explain the reflection of transverse waves at the surface of (1) a rigid boundary (denser medium) (2) a free
boundary (rarer medium). OR Explain the effect on the phase of transverse waves reflected from (1) a denser
medium (2) a rarer medium.
13) Consider a heavy string X and a light string Y joined together at point O. Explain what happens when a wave
pulse (1) travelling from the string X reaches the junction O (2) travelling from the string Y reaches the
junction O.
14) Explain the reflection of sound waves Ge. longitudinal waves) at (1) a rigid boundary (denser medium) (2) a
free boundary (rarer medium). OR Explain the effect on the phase of sound waves reflected from (1) a denser
medium (2) a rarer medium.
15) State the principle of superposition of waves.
16) Explain the superposition of two wave pulses of equal amplitude and same phase moving towards each other.
17) Explain the superposition of two wave pulses of equal amplitude and opposite phase moving towards each
other.
18) Derive an equation for the resultant wave produced due to superposition of two waves. Hence, state the
expression for the amplitude of the resultant wave when two waves are (1) in phase (2) out of phase.
19) Find the amplitude of the resultant wave produced due to interference of two waves given as y_{1} = A_{1}
sin ot, y_{2} = A_{2} * sin(omega*t + varphi)
20) What is the relation between the amplitude of a wave and its intensity ?
21) Two interfering waves of the same frequency are 180° out of phase but have different amplitudes A_{1} and
A_{2} What can you say about the intensity of the resultant wave ?
22) Two interfering waves of the same frequency are in phase but have different amplitudes A₁ and A_{2} What
can you say about the intensity of the resultant wave ?
23) What is a stationary wave? Why is it called stationary?
24) Derive an expression for the equation of a stationary wave on a stretched string.
25) Explain the formation of stationary waves by analytical method. Show the formation of stationary waves
diagrammatically. OR What are nodes and antinodes? Show that they occur alternately and the distance
between successive nodes or antinodes is lambda / 2
OR
Explain analytically the formation of a stationary wave. Why is it called so? Show that nodes and antinodes
are equally spaced.
OR
Explain analytically how the stationary waves are formed. Hence show that the distance between a node and
an adjacent antinode is lambda/4
OR
Explain the formation of a stationary wave by analytical method. Show that nodes and antinodes are equally
spaced in a stationary wave.
26) Define: (1) transverse stationary wave (2) longitudinal stationary wave.
27) State the characteristics of stationary waves.
28) When stationary waves of wavelength 40 cm are formed in a medium, what is the distance between (i)
successive nodes (ii) a node and the next antinode ?
29) The equation of a stationary wave is y = 0.04cos((2pi*x)/0.6) sin 2π (100t) with all quantities in SI units.
What is the length of one loop?
30) Distinguish between progressive waves and stationary waves
31) Explain (1) free vibrations (2) forced vibrations.
32) Distinguish between (1) free vibrations and resonance (2) forced vibrations (Two points of distinction)
33) Give any two applications of resonance.
34) Give any two disadvantages of resonance.
35) What are harmonics and overtones ?
36) What are overtones? What is the meaning of (1 mark) first overtone ?
37) What is end correction? State the cause of end correction. How is it estimated?
38) Distinguish between harmonics and overtones.
39) Show that only odd harmonics are present as overtones in the vibrations of an air column in a pipe closed at
one end.
OR
With neat labelled diagrams, explain the three lowest modes of vibration of the air column in a pipe closed at
one end.
40) Show that all harmonics are present in the vibrations of the air column in a pipe open at both ends.
OR
With neat labelled diagrams, explain the three lowest modes of vibration of the air column in a pipe open at
both ends.
41) Prove that a pipe of length 2L open at both ends has the same fundamental frequency as a pipe of length L
closed at one end.
42) A pipe open at both ends has the fundamental frequency n. If the pipe is immersed vertically in water up to
half its length, what would be the fundamental frequency of the resulting air column ?
43) The pth overtone of an organ pipe open at both ends has a frequency 1. When one end of the pipe is closed,
the 9th overtone has a frequency N. Show that N = ((2q + 1) * u)/(2(p + 1))
44) Two organ pipes open at both ends and of same length but different radii (or diameters) produce sounds of
different frequencies. Why?
45) Two organ pipes closed at one end have the same diameters but different lengths. Show that the end correction
at each end is c = (n_{1}*l_{1} - n_{2}*l_{2})/(n_{2} - n_{1}) where the symbols have their usual
meanings.
46) A tuning fork is in resonance with a closed pipe. But the same tuning fork cannot be in resonance with an
open pipe of the same length. Why ? (1 mark)
47) State the formula for the speed of transverse waves on a stretched string (or wire). Hence obtain an expression
for the fundamental frequency of the vibrating string (or wire).
48) 2: What is the minimum frequency with which a stretched string of length L, linear density m can vibrate
under tension T?
49) With neat labelled diagrams, explain the three lowest modes of vibration of a string stretched between rigid
supports.
50) With neat labelled diagrams, explain the various modes of vibration of a stretched string. OR For a stretched
string, show that even as well as odd harmonics are present as overtones. OR Show that all harmonics are
present on a string stretched between two rigid supports. (3 marks)
51) For a stationary wave set up in a string having both ends fixed, what is the ratio of the fundamental frequency
to the second harmonic ?
52) The speed of transverse waves on a vibrating string is 50 m/s. If the length of the string is 0.25 m, what is the
fundamental frequency of vibration?
53) State and explain the laws of vibrating strings.
54) How does the fundamental frequency of a vibrating string depend on the radius of cross section of the string
and the mass density of the material of the string ?
55) A string/wire is stretched between two rigid supports. State any two factors on which its fundamental
frequency depends.
56) Why are strings of different thicknesses and materials used in a sitar or some other such instruments?
57) If Y and pare Young's modulus and mass density of the material of a stretched wire of length L, show that the
fundamental frequency of vibration of the wire is n = 1/(2L) * sqrt((gamma*Delta*L)/(rho*L)) the elastic
extension of the wire. , where Delta*L is (2 marks)
58) Write a short note on sonometer.
59) Explain the use of a sonometer to verify (i) the law of length (ii) the law of tension (iii) the law of linear
density.
60) What are beats ? Define (1) the period of beats (2) beat frequency
61) Distinguish between stationary waves and beats. (Two points of distinction)
62) Prove that the frequency of beats is equal to the difference between the frequencies of the two sound notes
giving rise to beats.
63) What are waxing and waning in the phenomena of beats? Show that waxing and waning occur periodically.
64) When two tuning forks of slightly different frequencies are sounded together to produce beats, what is the
effect on the beat frequency if the prongs of the tuning fork with higher frequency are waxed a little or filed a
little ?
65) When two tuning forks of slightly different frequencies are sounded together to produce beats, what is the
effect on beat frequency if the prongs of the tuning fork with lower frequency is waxed a little or filed a little?
66) A sonometer wire of length L_{1} is in unison with a tuning fork of frequency n. When the vibrating length of
the wire is reduced to L_{2} , it produces x beats per second with the fork. Show that n = x * L_{2}/(L_{1} -
L_{2})
67) Explain the following characteristics of sound: (1) loudness (2) pitch (3) quality timbre.
68) Define intensity of sound. State its unit. Explain the term decibel.
69) What are the factors affecting the loudness of sound? Is intensity the same as loudness ?
70) What is the difference between a musical sound and a noise ?
1) Which quantity out of frequency and amplitude determines the pitch of the sound? (2) Which out of pitch
and frequency is a measurable quantity ?
71) Give reasons: The notes of a sitar and a guitar sound different even if they have the same loudness and the
pitch.
72) Write a note on the major diatonic scale. OR
73) Explain what is a musical scale