Unit one -1- Chapter

Two

Choose the correct answer from those

between brackets and write it in your
answer paper
Evaluation book:

1. The tension of a string is measured in [kg/m – Newton – m/s –

meter](1)

2. The second overtone of a vibrating string is produced when it

vibrates in the form of [one segment – two segments – three

segments – four segments](2)

3. When the string vibrates as one segment, its length equals to

[2 λ - λ - λ/2 – ](λ3)
3λ
2

4. The velocity of propagation of the transverse wave through a

vibrating string is determined from [ - -
T T
v= v=
m m
- ](4)
T m
v= v=
m T.m

5. The standing waves are produced due to the superposition of

two wave motions having:(5)

a) The same frequency, amplitude and propagate in the

same direction.

b) The same amplitude and propagate in the same

direction.

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -2- Chapter

Two

c) The same frequency, amplitude and propagate in the

opposite direction.

d) The same amplitude and propagate in opposite

direction.

6. a) A stretched string vibrates as shown in three segments to

produce its tone [fundamental – first harmonic – second

harmonic – third harmonic](6)

b) Using the same figure, the wavelength of the standing

wave is [60 cm – 120 cm – 180 cm – 240 cm](7)

c) Using the given information on the previous figure, the

frequency of the tone produced by the string (the velocity

of the transverse wave in the string 180 m/s) is [600 Hz –

450 Hz – 300 Hz – 150 Hz](8)

d) Using the information given on the previous figure, the

frequency of the fundamental tone of the string is [50 Hz –

100 Hz – 150 Hz – 200 Hz](9)

7. (Egypt 2001) When a string of length (L) vibrates and is

divided into (n) segments, then the wave length of its tone (λ)

equals [n/(2L) , L/n, n/L, (2L)/n](10)

8. A stretched string vibrates in the form of 5 segments, it emits

its …….. harmonic tone [four – second – third – five](11)

9. A person is standing in a large open field at a distance of 170

m from a vertical wall, A gun X is sited at a point 34 m from

the wall along, the line perpendicular to the wall and passing

through the observer “O” the gun is fired:

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -3- Chapter

Two
Assuming that the speed of sound in air is 340 m/s what will the
observer hear(12)

a) Two reports only, separated by an interval of 0.2 S

b) Two reports only, separated by an interval of 0.4 S

c) One report only, immediately the gun is fired.

d) One report immediately the gun is fired, followed by a

second report 0.25 S later.

e) It is not possible to say what is heard from the

information given.

10.Two stringed instruments are playing notes of the same pitch,

which of the following must be the same for the two notes(13)

a) amplitude

b) frequency

c) length of vibrating string

d) quality

e) tension of the vibrating string

11.When the pitch of a note is raised the(14)

a) Frequency is decreased

b) Speed of the sound is increased

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -4- Chapter

Two

c) Speed of the sound remains the same while wavelength

decreased

d) Wavelength remains the same

12.A boy stands at x in open space, between two tall building P

and Q, at distance 50 m and

200 m he strikes a drum once

and hears two marked echoes,

separated by a time interval 1

second from these figure the

calculated speed of sound in air

is [150 m/s – 250 m/s – 300 m/s

– 330 m/s 500 m/s](15)

Pervious exams:

13.(August 96) The wavelength of a standing wave is [the

distance between two successive nodes, the distance between

two successive anti-nodes, twice the distance between two

successive nodes](16)

14.(August 97) The string emits its second over tone when it

vibrates in the form of [three segments – four segments – five

segments](17)

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -5- Chapter

Two
Each question one or more of the
responses given is (are) correct. Decide
which of the response is (are) correct,
then choose
Evaluation book:

1. The frequency of the fundamental tone produced by a string

depends on:(18)

a) Its tension

b) Its length

c) Its mass per unit length

2. The frequency of the string produced first over tone equals:(19)

a) Twice the frequency of its fundamental tone.

b) Three times the frequency of its fundamental tone

c) Five times the frequency of its fundamental tone.

3. The wavelength of the standing wave is:(20)

a) The distance between two successive nodes.

b) The distance between two successive antinodes.

c) Twice the distance between two successive nodes.

4. The ratio between the frequencies of the fundamental tone and

that of the over tones emitted from a vibrating string is:(21)

a) 1: 3: 5

b) 1: 2: 3

c) ¼: ½: ¾

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -6- Chapter

Two

5. If the string vibrates in the form of two segments:(22)

a) If emits its first harmonic tone

b) If represents the length of a complete standing wave

c) If emits the fundamental tone.

Structured questions
Evaluation book:

1. The given graph represents the relation

between the frequency of the

fundamental one of a stretched string
“ν” and reciprocal its length “1/L”

a) The slope = …………………..(23)

b) The wavelength which emits

the string = ………………(24)

c) The velocity of the wave propagates through the

string = slope x ……….(25)

2. A vibrating string emits a tone related to the relation

where v is the frequency. L is the length of the
5 T
ν=
2L m

string, T is the tension and m is the mass per unit length.

a) This string emits its ……………….. tone.(26)

b) The wavelength of the propagated wave in the string = …

……………(27)

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -7- Chapter

Two

3. If the tension increased 9 times its value and the length of

string is increased 3 times, its value then: the frequency of the

emitted tone ………… the original value.(28)

Previous Exams:

4. (Egypt 2004) When a string vibrates emitting its fundamental

tone according to the relation so:
150
V=
L

a) The velocity of the transverse wave propagating in the

string = …………. If the length of the string is 50 cm and its

mass is 5 gm.

b) The frequency of the fundamental tone emitted by it = ……

………..

c) The tension acting on the string = …………

d) The frequency of the third overtone = ……………

Additional Questions:

5. When a string of length 150 cm, and mass 150 gm, vibrates
according to the relation producing its first
150
ν (in hertz) =
L

over tone, then

a) The frequency of the fundamental tone = ……………

b) The tension of the string = ………………

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -8- Chapter

Two
Essay questions
Evaluation book:

1. (Egypt 94) What are the factors affecting the frequency of

fundamental tone of a vibrating string, mention the relation

between each factor and the frequency, and then write the

mathematical relation of these factors with the frequency.(29)

2. Explain Meld’s experiment for the demonstration of standing

waves in strings.(30)

3. Write down the relation between the frequency of the

fundamental tone and their overtones in a string.(31)

Previous Exams:

4. (Egypt 99) Mention the necessary condition to obtain a standing

wave.(32)

5. (Egypt 2000) Mention two factors only on which the frequency of

the fundamental tone of a vibrating string depends(33)

6. (August 2000, August 2001) What is the difference between each

pair of the following: The constructive and destructive

interference in sound from the point of view of [the intensity of

sound produced and the path difference](34)

7. What happens with mention the reason for each of the following

when:

a) (August 2001) Put a balloon filled with helium gas (lighter than

air) between your ear and a source of sound.(35)

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -9- Chapter

Two

b) (Egypt 2002) Increasing the tension on a stretched string to 4

times its value (with respect to the velocity of propagation of

the transverse waves in it)(36)

Give reasons
Evaluation book:

1. The vibrating string produces a tone, whose pitch increases

with the tension.(37)

2. As the radius of the stretched string with constant tension

decreases the pitch of the tone increases.(38)

3. The frequency of the fundamental tone is the lowest

frequency produced by the string.(39)

4. We can hear a person talking behind a thick wall.(40)

5. A person under water surface does not hear clearly sound

produced from air.

6. The tone produced from a guitar is different than that

produced from flute although they have the same frequency.

Previous exams:

7. (August 97) When the sound transfers from the air to the

water, the angle of refraction is greater than the angle of

incidence.

Additional questions:

8. Astronauts use wireless instruments for their communication

on moon’s surface.

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -10- Chapter

Two

9. A clear sound is heard at the side of the balloon contains CO 2

if a sound source is placed at the other side.

10.Sound refracts away from the normal to the surface as it

transfers from air to water.

Which of the following statements are

right and which are wrong? Rewrite the
incorrect statements in a correct form
Previous exams:

1. (Egypt 93) The frequency of the fundamental tone of a

vibrating string is directly proportional to the density of its

material.

What is meant by
Previous exams:

1. (Egypt 2002, Egypt 95) The wave length of a standing wave in a

stretched string = 10 cm.

Define each of the following physical

quantities and write the unit used to
measure each of them if available
Previous exams:

1. (Egypt 90) Standing waves.

Additional question:

2. Interference.

3. Diffraction.

4. Anti-node.

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -11- Chapter

Two

5. Node.

6. Wavelength of standing wave.

Complete the following statements

Previous exams:

1. (Egypt 96) A vibrating string emits a tone related to the

relation where ν is the frequency, L is the length of
3 T
ν=
2L m

the string, T is the tension and m is the mass per unit length.

Complete the following:

• This string emits its ………….. tone.

• The wavelength of the propagated wave in the string =

…………….

• If the tension is increased 4 times its value and the

length of string is decreased to the half, then: the

frequency of the emitted tone becomes …………… its

original value.

Additional questions:

2. Constructive interference between two waves occurs when the

path difference = …………..(λ41)

3. The standing waves are produced by …………….. of the

incident wave and the reflected wave, …….. is formed at the

middle of the string while ………. is formed at the ends.

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -12- Chapter

Two

4. The refraction of the sound wave will be clear if the difference

in …………….. between the two media is ….. but if this

difference is … so most of the sound energy ……

5. The frequency of the stretched string is …. Proportional to its

length and directly to ….. of tension also it is inversely

proportional to the square root of…..

6. The anti node is the position which the amplitude is …………….

while the node is the position at which the amplitude …..

7. The vibrating string produces its …..tone when it oscillates as

one part forming …..at the middle and …..at its ends.

Problems
Evaluation book:

1. A string 100 cm long produces its fundamental tone of

frequency 420 Hz. Find the length of the string, which

produces its fundamental tone of frequency 600 Hz.

[70 cm]

2. A string of length 1m and the mass per unit length of its wire

is 0.001 Kg/m stretched by a tension of 90N. Find

a. The frequency of the fundamental tone produced.

b. The velocity of wave propagating through the string.

c. The frequency of the fourth harmonic.

[150 Hz, 300 m/s, 600 Hz]

3. A stretched string, calculate the velocity of propagation of the

transverse wave in this string known that the tension is 81 N

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -13- Chapter

Two

and the mass per unit length is 0.01 kg. If the string is 0.45 m

long, calculate the frequency of its fundamental tone. What is

the frequency of its third harmonic?

[90 m/s, 100 Hz, 300 Hz]

4. A stretched string (T = 128 N, m = 0.02 kg/m) is vibrating in

two segments to produce its first overtone. What is the

frequency of this tone if the length of the string is 40 cm? And

what is the frequency of the tone following it?

[200 Hz, 300 Hz]

5. The following table shows the relation between the frequency

of the fundamental tone of a stretched string and the

reciprocal of its length when it vibrates, the tension is kept

constant:

1/L “m- 10 A 5 4 3 2 1

”
1

ν “Hz” 50 30 25 B 14 9 4

0 0 0 8 8 6
Draw a graphical relation between the reciprocal of the length on
the x-axis and the fundamental frequency on the y-axis. From the
graph find:

a) The values of both A, and B.

b) The velocity of the transverse wave propagating in the

string.

c) If the mass per unit length of the string wire is 0.01 kg/m

find tension action on the string.

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -14- Chapter

Two

6. In Meld’s experiment the length of the thread is 2.5 meter, if

the wave length is 0.5 meter, how many nodes and antinodes

are formed.

7. A string of mass 2 g and length 1 m is fixed at one end and

attached at the other end to an oscillator of variable

frequency. The string is under a tension of 51 N. find the three

lowest oscillator frequencies for which standing waves will be

formed.

Previous exams:

8. (Azhar 93) A transverse wave propagates in a string of length

2 meters and mass 0.02 kg in the shape of two parts,

tensioned by force of 104 N, calculate the speed of wave

propagation of the wave in the string, and if the wave length

in the air 65 cm, calculate the speed of sound in air.

[1000 m/s, 325 m/s]

9. (Egypt 90) What is occurred in the frequency of a string when

its length is reduced to half and its tension force is reduced to

the quarter.

[Remains constant]

10.(Egypt 95) An elastic string 2 meter long producing its

fundamental tone of frequency 400 Hz if the wave length of

the produced wave in air is 80 cm. calculate:

a. The velocity of sound wave in air.

b. The velocity of wave in the string.

[320 m/s, 1600 m/s]

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -15- Chapter

Two

11.(August 96) A string of length 1 m is stretched by a force of 4

kg wt. the mass per unit length is 1 x 10-3 kg/m. what is the

frequency of its fundamental tone and its first overtone (g=10

m/s2)

[100 Hz, 200 Hz]

12.(Egypt 98) The following table shows the relation between the

inverse of the length of a uniform string and the frequency of

its fundamental tone when it vibrates. The tension is kept

constant.

(1/L) m-
1 X 2 3 4 5 6
1

(ν) Hz 150 210 300 450 600 Y 900

Draw a graphical relation between the reciprocal of the length on
the x-axis, and the fundamental frequency on the y-axis. From the
graph find:

a. The frequency (y).

b. The length of the string that emits its fundamental tone

with frequency (210) Hz.

c. The velocity of the transverse wave propagating in the

string.

d. If the mass per unit length of the string wire is 0.01 kg/m,

find the tension acting on the string.

[750, 1.4. 300, 900]

13.(Egypt 2006) A string from steel of length 1 meter vibrates in

the form of segments, it produces a frequency of 150 Hz, if the

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -16- Chapter

Two

mass per unit length of the string is 0.01 Kgm -1 the string is

stretched by tension force 10 kg wt, what are the number of

segments in which the string is divided during its vibration,

given that g = 10 m/s2, calculate the velocity of the

propagation and draw the formation of produced tone.

[3, 100m/s]

Additional questions:

14.A gun is fired; a person heard the sound of the bullet after 20

seconds from seeing the fire. If the distance between the

person and the gun is 6800 meters calculate the sound

velocity.

[340 m/s]

15.Find the velocity of a transverse wave propagates in a

stretched string such that tension is 10 kg weight; the mass

per unit length is 0.02 kg/m. given that the acceleration due to

gravity is 9.8 m/s2.

[70 m/sec]

16.Find the frequency of the third harmonic tone of a string

stretched by tension 10 kg weight and the mass per unit

length is 0.02 kg/m and the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8

m/s2. Given that the length is 0.5 m.

[210 Hz]

17.A string of length 0.5 meter is stretched by a tension of 28.9

Newton. The mass per unit length of the string equals 0.001

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -17- Chapter

Two

kg/meter. If the velocity of sound in air is 340 meter / sec,

calculate:

a) The frequency of the fundamental tone produced by the

string.

b) The wavelength in air.

[170 Hz, 2 m]

18.A string 1 meter long and the mass of its wire is 0.0001 kg

stretched by a tension of 81 N. Find:

a) The frequency of the fundamental tone it produces.

b) The velocity of the wave propagating through the string.

c) The frequency of the third overtone.

[450 Hz, 900 m/s, 1800 Hz]

19.The following table gives the relation between frequency of

fundamental tone of vibrating string and its length:

L (m) 0.1 0.2 0.25 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.8 X

V(Hz) 500 250 200 125 100 y 62.5 50

a. Plot a graph relation between L and v and deduce the

relation between them.

b. Find the velocity of transverse wave in string.

c. Find the value of x and y.

20.A person stands up between two mountains and he is nearer

to one of them than the other mountain, he shoots a project,

he heard two sounds: the first one after 1.5 sec, and the

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -18- Chapter

Two

second after 3 sec. Calculate: the distance between the two

mountain, given that the speed of sound in air is 320 m/s

[450 Hz, 900 m/s, 1800 Hz]

21.A ship is moving towards a mountain on seashore with regular

velocity, when it was (1 km) far from the mountain the ship

makes a whistle, the echo was heard after (5 sec), if the

velocity of wound in air (340 m/s) calculate the velocity of the

ship.

[60 m/s]

22.A stretched string (60 cm) long vibrates at frequency of (100

Hz), at what frequency would it vibrate if its length was

reduced to (15 cm) but the tension was unaltered.

[400 Hz]

23.A string of length (1.5 m) vibrates in the form of (6 segments),

its mass = (0.15 kg) tensioned by a force of 10 N, find the

frequency of sound that the string emits.

[20 Hz]

24.Two strings (A), (B) are from the same material and equal in

length, knowing that the diameter of (A) is half that of (B) and

is stretched by a tension force (20 N) calculate the tension

force of (B) to produce the same fundamental tone of (A)

[80 N]

25.A stretched string of length (L) produce fundamental tone of

frequency (120 Hz), Calculate the frequency of this string

when:

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -19- Chapter

Two

a) The length decreases to its half value.

b) The tension increases to four times its original value.

[240 Hz, 240 Hz]

26.A string is stretched by a force of 100 N, its length is 2 m, its

mass is 0.02 kg, (g = 10 m/sec) Calculate:

a) The speed of propagation of the wave in it.

b) The frequency of the fundamental tone.

[100 m/s, 25 Hz]

27.A string is stretched on a sonometer, its frequency (500 Hz)

when its tension was 36 N, calculate the frequency of the

string when the tension becomes (25 N).

[416.67 Hz]

28.String of length equal (80 cm) and its unit length has mass

equals 0.4 gm, it is stretched by a tension equals 49 N,

calculate the frequency of the string tone, if it vibrates at the

shape of four parts.

[875 Hz]

29.Two strings have a length 80 cm and 100 cm respectively and

radii (2 mm, 3 mm) respectively and the frequency of the

second string is 160 Hz, calculate the frequency of the first

string given that the tensions are equal.

[300 Hz]

30.Two strings have the same material, the length of the first

string is double the length of the second, the radius of the

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -20- Chapter

Two

second string is double the radius of the first, compare

between the frequency of both strings when the tension force

are equal.

[equal]

31.A string has a length (50 cm), and its radius (0.5 mm), it is

stretched by a force of 12.1 kg.wt, its density equals 7700

kg/m3. Calculate the frequency of the fundamental tone of the

string.

[140 Hz]

32.Length of a string (54 cm) and its mass (10.8 grams), it is

stretched over a guitar by a force (10 kg. wt) calculate the

point of string in which a musician press by his finger on to

produce the second over tone with frequency 210 Hz.

[4 cm]

33.A stretched string emits (500 Hz), and when its length is

double it emits (750 Hz). Calculate the ratio between the two

tensions.

[1: 9]

34.A string of length 150 cm, and mass 1.5 gram, and tensioned

by force of 90 N, calculate the frequency of fundamental tone,

the speed of waves in the string, the frequency of the second

over tone.

[100 Hz, 300 m/s, 200 Hz]

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -21- Chapter

Two

35.The length of a string is 2 meter, produces a fundamental

tone its frequency 400 Hz, and the length of the produced

wave 80 cm, calculate :

a) The speed of sound in the air

b) The speed of wave propagation in the string

[320, 1600 m/s]

36.The length of a string is one meter and its mass (40 gm),

stretched with a force of 196 N, calculate the frequency of the

fundamental tone given that gravitational acceleration 9.8

m/s2 then deduce how to increase the value of frequency to 70

Hz, through:

a) Change the length only.

b) Change the tension only.

[35.5 cm, 784 N]

37.A string of mass 2.5 kg is under tension of 200 N, the length

of the stretched string is 20 m, if a transverse vibration begins

at one end of the string, how long does the vibration take to

reach the other end.

[0.5 s]

38.A steel wire has a length of 12 m and mass of 2.1 kg, what

should be the tension in the wire so that the speed of a

transverse wave on the wire equals 343 m/s

[2.06x104 N]

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -22- Chapter

Two

39.In meld's experiment used a vibrator of fixed frequency, when

a load of volume (V) and density 2700 kg/m3 was hanged at

the end of the thread, the thread divided into 6 segments,

when another load of the same volume and of different

material the number of segments becomes 4 segments,

calculate the density of the other load.

[6075 kg/m3]

40.A wire stretched between two rigid supports vibrates in its

fundamental tone with frequency of 45 Hz, the mass of the

wire is 3.5 x 10-2 kg, and its linear density is 4x10-2 Kg/m, what

is the speed of its transverse waves.

[78.75 m/s]

41.The speed of a wave on string is 160 m/s when the tension

force in the string is 100 N, to increase the speed to 200 m/s

to what value must the tension must increase.

[156.25 N]

42.If the tension force acting on a string stretched on a

sonometer is changed from 6.4 N to 8.1 N, knowing that it

produce its fundamental tone in each case, find the ratio

between the two frequencies keeping its length constant.

[8: 9]

Exercises 2008/2009
Unit one -23- Chapter

Two

Model Answers

Exercises 2008/2009
1 () Newton.
2 () Three segments
3 () λ/2
4 ()
5 () C
6 () Third harmonic
7 () 120 cm
8 () 150 Hz
9 () 50 Hz
10 () (2L)/n
11 () five
12 () a
13 () b
14 () c
15 () 300 m/s
16 () twice the distance between two successive nodes
17 () three segments
18 () a, b, c
19 () a
20 () c
21 () b, c
22 () b
23 () 1/2 velocity
24 () 2 L
25 () 2
26 () Fifth harmonic tone (fourth over tone)
27 () 2L/5
28 () Equal to
29 () Length of the string:
Tension force:
Mass per unit length:

30() Melde’s experiment:

1. The apparatus is consists of a vibrating source, connected to a soft string

whose length ranges from 2 to 3 meters.

2. The other end of the string passes over a smooth pulley and is connected

at its free end to appropriate weights.

3. When the source vibrates, a wave train is produced in the string, which

reflects upon reaching the pulley.

4. The reflected and incident waves are combined to form standing waves.

31() 1: 2: 3

32() Two waves in phase but opposite in direction.

33() Length of the string, tension force and mass per unit length of the string.

34()
35() Fade of sound due to diffraction of sound when it travel from high density
(low velocity) to less density (high velocity).

36() Velocity double where velocity is directly proportional to the square root of
tension force.

37() Because the pitch (frequency) is directly proportional to the square root of
tension force.

38() Mass per unit length is directly proportional to the reduce of the string,
then decrease the reduce will decrease the mass per unit length. The

frequency is inversely proportional to square root of mass per unit length, then

increase the mass per unit length leads to decrease the frequency.

39() Because it has the smallest number of segments and frequency is directly
proportional to the number of segments.

40() Duce to diffraction beside sharp edge.

41 () The path difference between two waves = m λ