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WAVES
Wave motion is defined as a form of disturbance transferred from one point to another point involving
transfer of energy but no transfer of matter
Classification of Waves
1) Mechanical Waves : Waves which require a medium for their propagation. Mechanical wave can be
produced and propagated only in those material media which possess elasticity and inertia
eg Waves on water surface, sound waves
2) Non mechanical waves or electromagnetic waves : EM waves do not require any material medium
for their production and propagation.
Eg. light waves, radio waves, x-rays
3) Matter waves or de-Broglie waves : Matter waves are associated with the motion of microscopic
particles like electrons, protons, neutrons and other fundamental particles
Types of Mechanical Waves
(i) Transverse Waves : A transverse wave is the one in which the particles of the medium execute
oscillations in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of waves.
Properties
1) It produce crest and trough in a medium
2) It changes shape of the medium
3) It can produce only in a medium with shear modules
4) It propagates only in solids or on the surface of liquids (due to surface tension)
(ii) Longitudinal Waves
In a longitudinal waves particles of the medium execute oscillations in a direction of propagation of
wave.
Properties
i) It produce compression and rarefaction in a medium
ii) Medium required Bulk modulus
iii) It propagate in all material media be it solid, liquid or a gas
336
NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
x x 2 x1
2 2
x or t
T
Equation of plane progressive simple harmonic wave
A wave which advances in a medium called a progressive wave. If the particles of the medium vibrate
simple harmonically and if the wave front is a plane wavefront, then it is called plane harmonic wave
Suppose a simple harmonic wave which starts from the origin O at t = 0 and travels along the positive
x direction with a speed v.
The displacement of the particle at x = 0 at any instant ‘t’ is given by
y 0,t A sin t
If is phase lag of a particle at P w.r.t the particle at the origin O, then the displacement of this particle
at P, at the same time ‘t’ can be written as
y x,t A sin t
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STUDY CENTRE
2
At a distance x, the phase change = x
2
y x,t A sin t x
2
Put k propagation constant or angular wave number
y x,t A sin t kx
y x,t Asin t kx 0
If the wave travels in the –ve x direction, the equation of the wave
y x,t Asin t kx 0
–ve sign in between t and kx implies wave travelling along +ve x direction
+ve sign in between t and kx implies wave travelling along –ve x direction
Terms in wave equation
A Amplitude : Which is the measure of magnitude of the maximum displacement of the particle
from their equilibrium position.
t kx 0 phase : The argument t kx 0 is the phase of the wave. It describe the state
of motion of the element located at coordinate x at time t.
0 Initial phase (phase constant) : It describe the phase of the element at location x = 0 and at t =
0
Angular frequency
2
2
T
2
k Angular wave number k
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
Y x,t A sin t kx 0
2
2, k
x
y x,t A sin 2 t 0
The equation of the wave depends on the position of the observer which is taken as the origin of the
reference frame with respect to which the wave motion is observed.
If 0 2 If 0
y x,1 A sin t kx
2 y x,1 A sin t kx
y x,t A sin kx t
put t = 0 put t = 0
dy dy
Ak cos kx Ak cos kx
dx dx
Slope –ve slope +ve
S x,t A sin t kx 0
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STUDY CENTRE
d2 y
y x,t A sin t kx ap
dt 2
dy
A cos t kx a p A2 sin t kx
dt
Vp A cos t kx a
p max A2
V p max A
displacement
General relation v v
time
v for 1 time period T, displacement =
k
v or v
T k
Velocity of a mechanical wave depends on elastic and inertial properties of the medium.
3. Relationship between particle velocity and wave velocity
y x, t A sin t kx
dy Vp A cos t kx
Ak cos t kx
dx
vp
cos t kx
A
VP
Slope Ak cos t kx Ak
A
Vp
Slope = Vp slope V
V
Velocity of transverse wave on a stretched string
The speed of transverse wave on a string depends on (i) Tension (ii) linear mass density (mass per
unit length)
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
T
v
Mass of the string M
T
v Length of the string L
A
M MA
A Area of cross section
L LA
MA M
= density
V V
NOTE
Consider a vertically hanged massive string in which a transverse wave originating from the lower end
propagates to the upper part
T yg
then v
v gy Velocity of wave when it travels a distance ‘y’ from the lower end.
v where modulus of rigidity
density
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STUDY CENTRE
elastic property E
v or V
inertial property
v Y Y Young’s modulus
density
In fluids
B
v , B bulk modulus
density
In solids
4
B
v 3 B bulk modulus
shear modulus
density
Speed of Sound wave in a gas
Newton’s formula : He assumed that when a sound wave propagates through a gas, the temperature
variations in the layers of compression and rarefaction are negligible. Hence the conditions are
isothermal.
p
v PV = a constant
Partially differentiating
PV VP 0
P
P
V
V
B P
The speed of sound in air at this condition should be 280 m/s. but measured value is 332 m/s
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
Laplace’s Correction
Laplace suggested that the compression or rarefaction takes place to rapidly and the gas element
being compressed or rarified does not get enough time to exchange heat with the surrounding. Thus
it is an adiabatic process
P
P = a constant, p
V
V
p CP
V
CV
M
Ideal gas equation PV = nRT
V
If n = 1 mole, then PV = RT
PV
V
M
RT
V
M
3RT
Vrms
M
Vsound
Vrms 3
Factors affecting speed of sound
1) Temperature
V1 T
V T or 1
V2 T2
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STUDY CENTRE
2) Pressure
p
If pressure changes density also changes in such a proportion, hence remains a constat (at constant
temperature). Hence pressure has no effect on the speed of sound in gas
3) Humidity
With the increase in humidity, the density of air decreases. Speed of sound will increase
Wind
As the sound is carried by air, so its speed is affected by the wind velocity
Intensity of a Wave
It is defined as the transfer of energy per unit time per unit area, perpendicular to the direction of
motion of the wave
density
1 v velocity
I V2 A 2
2
angular frequency
I A2 A amplitude
A human ear can tolerate and detect sound waves in the intensity range of 1 w w
12
to 10 . The
m2 m2
lowest intensity of sound that can be percieved by the human ear is called threshold of hearing,
I 0 10 12 w
m2
Sound Level
I
10 log I I1 1 2 1 10log 2
I0 I1
I 2 2
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
Reflection of a wave
1) Reflection from a Rigid boundary
As the pulse reaches the wall, it exerts an upward force on the boundary. By Newton’s third law, the
wall exerts an equal amount of force on the string in downward direction. Thus an inverted pulse
produces which travels in reverse direction. Hence there is a phase reversal of 180o or radian
When the pulse arrives at the ring, the string exerts an upward force on the ring due to which the ring
moves up the rod. As the ring moves, it pulls the string upward producing a reflected pulse of same
amplitude that travels back without any phase change along the string.
When a wave is reflected from a free boundary, it suffers no phase change
y r y1 y 2 y3 ......
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STUDY CENTRE
Here, we shall discuss the superposition of two individual waves only. There are three types of
superposition
1) Interference
2) Beats
3) Standing waves or stationary waves
1) Interference
When two or more waves of same frequency same wavelength and a constant phase difference
travelling along same direction, superimpose on each other give a new disturbance
Let y1 A1 sin kx t
y2 A2 sin kx t
y x,t y1 x, t y2 x, t
Y x,t A r sin kx t
1 A 2 sin
Initial phase tan
A1 A 2 cos
I I1 I 2 2 I1I 2 cos
Constructive Interference Destructive Interference
A r max A r min
2 2
x 2n 1 x
2
2n x
x 2n 1
2
x n
A max A1 A 2 A min A1 A 2
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
2 2
I max I1 I2 I min I1 I 2
2 2
A max A1 A 2 I max I1 I2 A1 A 2
A min A1 A 2 Imin I1 I 2 A1 A2
BEATS
The periodic variations in the intensity of sound due to the superposition of sound waves of slightly
different frequencies are called beats, one rise and one fall of the intensity constitute a beat.
Two harmonic sound waves of nearly equal angular freuqency 1 and 2 and fix the location to be
S2 a cos 2 t
S S1 S2
2 1 2
S 2a cos 1 t cos t
2 2
S 2a cos b t cos a t
1 2
where b
2
1 2
a
2
The resultant wave is oscillating with the average angular frequency a . However its amplitude is not
constant in time unlike a pure harmonic wave. In other words due to the variation of amplitude intensity
of the resultant wave waxes and wane.
Beat frequency
1
TB
1 2
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STUDY CENTRE
TB 1
A maxima and its nearest minima will differ in time by 2 2
1 2
Let y1 A sin kx t
y 2 A sin kx t
y y1 y 2
y 2A sin kx cos t
In the resultant wave particles are oscillating with same angular frequency , but the amplitude of the
particle is varies from point to point. Amplitude of the resultant wave is
A ' 2A sin kx
Amplitude of the particle is determined by its position (x)
Node : The points at which amplitude is zero
Antinode : The points at which amplitude is the largest
Node Antinodes
Amplitude = 0 Amplitude max
For this kx n kx 2n 1
2
2 2
x n x 2n 1
2
x n x 2n 1
2 (n=0,1,2,...) 4
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
Loop length = 2
If the amplitude of the standing wave, A ' 2A cos kx then the graph becomes
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STUDY CENTRE
At x = L, y = 0 (position of node)
A 2A sin x 0
For this kx n
2
L n
n
L
2
2L
n
1 1 1
Ratio of wavelengths = 1: : : : .....
2 3 4
No.of segments/loops in nth harmonic = n
No.of antinodes in nth harmonic = n
No.of nodes in nth harmonic = n + 1
Laws of vibration
For a string excited to nth harmonic
n T n T
n = ; 2
2L 2L A A r
1
i. Law of length : If T and are constants, then
L
1
iii. Law of : If L and T are constants
n T 1
Also n 2
ie
2L r Lr
SONOMETER :
Its working is based on transverse standing wave.
If the frequency of a tuning fork happens to be equal to one of the natural frequency of the wire,
standing waves with large amplitudes are set up on it. The tuning fork is then said to be in resonance.
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STUDY CENTRE
In a pipe, the closed end behaves as a rigid boundary and the open end behaves as a free boundary
for the displacement wave. Thus at the closed end displacement node or pressure antinode forms
and at the open end displacement antinode or pressure node forms.
Closed organ pipe
A 2A sin kx Max.
For this sin kx 1
kx 2n 1
2
2
L 2n 1
2
L 2n 1
4
4L V
;
2n 1
V
n 2n 1
4L
Natural frequency / Harmonics
2n 1
n
4L
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
For a closed pipe only the odd harmonics of the fundamenal are the allowed frequencies.
n th overtone 2n 1 Harmonic
th
1 1 1
Ratio of wavelength = 1: : : ......
3 5 7
No.of nodes = No.of antinodes
Open organ pipe
Both ends are open, each end is an antinode
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STUDY CENTRE
At x L (Antinode)
A 2A cos kx Max
For this cos kx 1
kx n
2
L n
n 2L
L or
2 n
V
n n
2L
n p Natural frequency or Harmonics
n
2L
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
1 1 1
Ratio of wave length = 1: : : : .....
2 3 4
No. of nodes in the nth harmonic = n
No.of antinodes in the nth harmonic = n + 1
End correction
Till now we have assumed that antinodes are formed exactly at the open end of the tube. But due to
the inertia of vibrating particles antinodes are formed a little above the open end of the tube. This
additional distance is called end correction.
For a tube of radius r, e = 0.6 r
For closed organ pipe, the effective length = L + e
For open organ pipe, the effective length = L + 2e
Resonance column
It is used to determine the speed of sound in air with the help of tuning fork of known frequency. It is
a closed pipe whose length can be changed by changing level of liquid in the tube. When a vibrating
tuning fork is brought over its mouth, its air column vibrates longitudinally. The length of the air column
is varies until its natural frequency becomes equal to the frequency of fork, then resonance will occur
and loud sound is heared.
L 2 L1
2
2 L2 L1
Velocity V
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STUDY CENTRE
V 2 L 2 L1
L 2 3L1
From the eqns (1) and (2) e
2
Doppler Effect
The apparent change in the frequency of sound due to relative motion between source and observer
is called doppler effect.
Consider a source of natural frequency , when source is in relative motion with listner, the apparent
VV
frequency measured by the listner is given by
L
V Vs
V Velocity of sound
Sign convention
when source and listner at rest ie. VL VS 0 or source and listner moving with same
velocity along same direction
When oblique motion is considered, only velocity components in the line joining source and listner are
considered.
v v L cos 2
1
v vs cos 1
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NEET 2023 LECTURE NOTE - PHYSICS [FIRST YEAR]
V0
V VS cos
V
V VS cos
If , then
2
Note:
When a source and listner moving towards a stationary wall
Original force
V
The frequency of sound perceived by the wall (wall listner)
V Vs
Frequency of the reflected sound perceived by the listner (wall source)
V VL
V
V VL
V VS V
V VL
V VS
Apparent wave length
Re lative velocity of sound with respect to source
'
Original frequency
v vs
'
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