NUMERICAL PROBLEM

F.Sc. Physics, Chapter # 8: WAVES

Q # 1. The wavelength of the signals from a radio transmitter is 1500 m and the frequency is 200 kHz. What is the
wavelength for a transmitter operating at 1000 kHz and with what speed the radio waves travel?
Given Data: Case # 1 Wavelength , Frequency
Case # 2 Frequency
To Determine: (a) Velocity , (b) Wavelength
Calculations: (a) For Case # 1:

(b) For Case # 2:

Comparing (1) and (2):

Q # 2. Two speakers are arranged as shown in Fig. The distance between them is 3 m and they emit a constant tone
of 344 Hz. A microphone P is moved along a line parallel to and 4.00 m from the line connecting the two speakers.
It is found that tone of maximum loudness is heard and displayed on the CRO when microphone is on the center of
the line and directly opposite each speakers. Calculate the speed of sound.

Given Data: Distance between speakers , Frequency ,

Distance between speakers and microphone
To Determine: Speed of sound
Calculations: As , Here
From condition of constructive interference:
| | | | , For First Maxima , Here
In right triangle : | | | | | | | | √| | | |

| | √ √ √
Equation (2) becomes: | | | |
Putting values in (1):

Q # 3. A stationary wave is established in a string which is 120 cm long and fixed at both ends. The string vibrates
in four segments, at a frequency of 120 Hz. Determine its wavelength and the fundamental frequency?
Given Data: Length of String , No. of loops
Frequency of Stationary waves with 4 segments
To Determine: (a) Wavelength with 4 segments , (b) Fundamental Frequency

Calculations: (a) From General Equation of Wavelength of Stationary Waves:

For present case:

(b) As for Stationary Waves

For Present Case:

Q # 4. The frequency of the note emitted by a stretched string is 300 Hz. What will be the frequency of this note
when; (a) the length of the wave is reduced by one-third without changing the tension, (b) the tension is increased
by one-third without changing the length of the wire.
Given Data: Frequency
To Determine: (a) Case 1Frequency , When wavelength is reduced by one-third
(b) Case 2 Frequency , When tension is increased by one-third

Calculations: (a) When wavelength is reduced by one-third, then

As tension in string is constant, so velocity will remain constant. Therefore,

( )

(b) Initial Frequency of Stationary Waves: √

When tension is increased by one-third, then new tension

Frequency of Wave for case 2: √ √( )

√

( √ )
Dividing Eq (1) and (2): √ √ √
( √ )

Q # 5. An organ pipe has a length of 50 cm. Find the frequency of its fundamental note and the next harmonic
when it is (a) open at both ends, (b) closed at one end.

Given Data: Length of organ pipe , Speed of Sound

To Determine: (a) For Open Organ Pipe: Fundamental Frequency and

(b) For Close Organ Pipe: Fundamental Frequency and

Calculations: (a) For Open Organ Pipe: Fundamental Frequency

(b) For Close Organ Pipe: Fundamental Frequency

Q # 6. A church organ consists of pipes, each open at one end, of different lengths. The minimum length is 30 mm
and the longest is 4 m. Calculate the frequency range of the fundamental notes. (Speed of sound = 340 ms -1)

Given Data: Speed of Sound , (a) Minimum Length ,

(b) Maximum Length

To Determine: Frequency Range

Calculations: (a) Fundamental Frequency for Length :

(b) Fundamental Frequency for Length :

So the Frequency Range is from 21 Hz to 2833 Hz

Q # 7. Two tuning forks exhibit beats at a beat frequency of 3 Hz. The frequency of one fork is 256 Hz. Its
frequency is then lowered slightly by adding a bit of wax to one of its prong. The two forks then exhibit a beat
frequency of 1 Hz. Determine the frequency of the second tuning fork.

Given Data: (a) Let , Without Wax: ,

(b) Without Wax:
To Determine:
Calculations: Eq (1) can be written as:
So Possible Unknown Frequency might be 259 Hz or 253 Hz. We Check both cases.
For , Eq (2) becomes:
Increase of frequency of Fork loaded with Wax is Not possible
For , Eq (2) becomes:
(Decreasing Trend)
So Unknown Frequency

Q # 8. Two cars P and Q are travelling along a motorway in the same direction. The leading car P travels at a
steady speed of 12 ms-1; the other car Q, travelling at a steady speed of 20 ms-1, sound its horn to emit a steady note
which P's driver estimates, has a frequency of 830 Hz. What frequency does Q's own driver hear?
(Speed of sound = 340 ms-1)

Given Data: Speed of Car P: , Speed of Car Q: ,

Apparent Frequency: Speed of Sound

To Determine: Frequency emitted by Q:

Calculations: Relative Velocity

As source is approaching observer, therefore ( ) ( )

( )

Q # 9. A train sounds its horn before it sets off from the station and an observer waiting on the platform estimates
its frequency at 1200 Hz. The train then moves off and accelerates steadily. Fifty seconds after departure, the
driver sounds the horn again and the platform observer estimates the frequency at 1140 Hz. Calculate the train
speed 50 s after departure. How far from the station is the train after 50 s? (Speed of sound = 340 ms-1)

Given Data: Speed of Sound , Time , Initial Velocity

Frequency when Source is at rest , Apparent Frequency

To Determine: (a) Speed of Source after 50 s: , (b) Distance Covered

Calculations: (a) As source is moving away from observer, therefore: ( )

( ) ( ) ( )

(b) Average Velocity

Distance Covered
Q # 10. The absorption spectrum of faint galaxy is measured and the wavelength of one of the lines identified as the
Calcium α-line is found to be 478 nm. The same line has a wavelength of 397 nm when measured in a laboratory.
(a) Is the galaxy moving towards or away from the Earth? (b) Calculate the speed of the galaxy relative to Earth.
(Speed of light = 3.0 x108 ms-1)
Given Data: Apparent Wavelength ,
Actual Wavelength , Speed of light
To Determine: (a) Is the galaxy moving towards or away from the Earth?
(b) Speed of the galaxy relative to Earth

Calculations: (a) Actual Frequency

Apparent Frequency

As , so galaxy is moving away from earth

(b) As source (galaxy) is moving away from earth, therefore: ( )

( ) ( )
 F.Sc./ICS Physics Notes (Free Key-Books)
In accordance with syllabus of FEDERAL BOARD and ALL PUNJAB BOARD (Lahore Board, Gujranwala Board, Rawalpindi Board, Sargodha Board,
Sahiwal Board, Faisalabad Board, Multan Board, Bahawalpur Board, DG Khan Board)

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