MODULE I

WAVE MOTION AND ITS APPLICATIONS

PART A questions [answer in one word or one sentence]

1. What is meant by a periodic motion/Define periodic motion

Ans: Motion that repeats at regular intervals of time is called periodic motion.
Examples-
Ans: rotation and revolution of earth, moon….(circular motion)
Motion of a swing, motion od clock pendulum (S.H.M)
motion of hour/minute/second needles of clock ( circular motion)
vibrations of strings/membranes of musical instruments such as violin, thabala, drum
etc(S.H.M)
2. What is meant by simple harmonic motion (SHM)?
Ans: To and fro motion about a mean position is called S.H.M.
[ correct answer: A particle is said to execute simple harmonic motion if its acceleration is
directly proportional to the displacement of the body and is directed towards the mean
position].
Examples:
Ans: Motion of swing, motion of clock pendulum, vibration of strings in musical
instruments…
3. Define period of simple harmonic oscillator (SHO)
Ans: Time taken for one complete oscillation is called period of SHO
2𝜋
𝜔=
𝑇
2𝜋
Or , 𝑇= 𝜔
4. Define frequency of SHO
Ans: Number of oscillations in one second is called frequency of SHO.
1
𝑓=
𝑇
5. What is a wave?
Ans: The propagation of energy from one point to another without the translatory motion of
the particles of the medium is called wave motion.
OR
Wave motion is a periodic motion in which the particles of the medium execute the simple
harmonic motion.
6. Name two types of waves
Ans: Transverse waves and Longitudinal waves
7. Write an example of transverse wave
Ans: light waves
8. Write example of longitudinal waves
Ans: sound waves
9. What is ultrasonic sound?
Ans: Sound waves having frequency greater than 20kHz (upper limit of audible frequency of
human ear) is called ultrasonic waves
10. What is the audible frequency range of human ear?
Ans: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
PART B/PART C questions

11. What are the features (properties)of SHM?

Ans:
a) The motion should be periodic
b) When displaced from the mean position, a restoring force/acceleration directed towards
mean position should be developed in it.
c) The restoring force/acceleration should be directly proportional to the displacement of
the body from its mean position.
12. Explain SHM as a projection of uniform circular motion/ OR Derive an expression for
displacement, velocity and acceleration of a simple harmonic oscillator by treating it as a
projection of uniform circular motion
Ans: Consider a particle executing circular motion with an angular velocity 𝜔 along the
circumference of a circle of radius ‘r’ as shown in figure. The angular displacement of the
particle, 𝜃 = 𝜔𝑡.

From the triangle,

𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 = 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡…………………………………………..(1)
The velocity of the particle can be found by differentiating equation(1) w.r.t. time (t). That is
𝑑𝑦 𝑑(𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡)
𝑣= 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑟𝜔 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡…………………………………(2)
And acceleration of particle is given by,
𝑑𝑣 𝑑(𝑟𝜔 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡) 𝑑( 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡)
𝑎= = = 𝑟𝜔 = 𝑟𝜔(−𝜔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡) = −𝑟𝜔2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡………………….(3)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
From equation (1) a 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 = 𝑦, substituting this eqn(3) become
𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝑦……………………………………………………………(4)
Thus, acceleration of simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to the displacement y and is
opposite to the direction of displacement. That is acceleration will always direct towards the
mean position.
13. What is a wave?
Ans:
Propagation of energy by disturbing the molecules of medium without their actual motion is
called a wave. Waves are of two types (i) Longitudinal waves and (ii) Transverse waves.
14. Distinguish between Transverse and Longitudinal waves/ Explain transverse and longitudinal
waves
Ans:

Transverse waves Longitudinal waves

1. The vibration of the particles of
medium is perpendicular to the
direction of propagation of wave
2. Transverse waves consist series of
crejsts and troughs
3. Transverse waves can propagate
without the presence of medium
4. There will not be any pressure
variation in medium
1. The vibration of the particles of
medium is parallel to the direction
of propagation of wave
2.Longitudinal waves consists series of
compressions and rarefactions
3.Longitudinal waves can propagate
through solids, liquids and gases. A
medium is necessary for the
propagation of longitudinal waves
4.There is pressure variation in medium
when longitudinal wave propagate

Example of transverse waves are- light waves, water waves etc

Examples of longitudinal waves- sound waves

15. What are the characteristics of a wave?
Ans:
a) Amplitude (a):The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of
particles of the medium.
b) Phase (ϕ): It represents the state of vibration of the particle of a medium with
respect to its mean position.
c) Period (T):The time taken by a vibrating particle to complete one vibration is called
the period.
OR
Time taken by a single wave to travel through a particular point
d) Frequency (f): Number of waves passing through a particular point in one second is called
frequency of wave.
OR
The frequency of a wave is the number of vibrations made by any
particle of the medium in one second.
If T is the period of wave, it’s frequency is given by
1
𝑓=
𝑇
e) Wavelength (λ): It is the distance travelled by the wave in the time equal to period of
wave.
OR
It is the linear distance between any two nearest particles of the medium which are in the
same state of vibration.
OR
In the case of a transverse wave, the distance between two adjacent crests or troughs is
equal to the wavelength. In the case of a longitudinal wave, the distance between two
successive compressions or rarefactions is equal to the wavelength.
f) Wave velocity (v): The distance travelled by a wave in one second is called the
 velocity.

16. Derive the relation between wave velocity, wavelength and frequency
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
Ans: We have velocity = . In case of wave, in a time T second(period) distance
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
travelled will be 𝜆 , wavelength
Therefore wave velocity,
𝝀 1
𝒗 = 𝑻 = 𝝀𝒇, where 𝑇 = 𝑓, the frequency of wave

17. Calculate the wavelength of the waves generated by a tuning fork of frequency 500Hz. The
velocity of sound in air is 340m/s.
Ans: f = 500Hz, v = 340m/s , λ =?
v=fλ
λ = v / f = 340/500 = 0.68m
18. A tuning fork makes one complete vibration in 1/200 second. If the velocity of sound in air is
340m/s, find the wavelength of the sound waves produced by the tuning fork.
Ans:
Time period, T = 1/200 s, f = 1/T = 200 Hz
v = 340m/s , λ =? , we have , v = f λ
Therefore, f = v / λ = 340 / 200 = 1.7m
19. The human ear can hear frequencies between 20Hz and 20kHz.What wavelengths
correspond to these two frequencies if the velocity of sound is 330m/s.
Ans:
f = 20Hz
In first case, v = 330m/s
v=fλ
λ=v/f
= 330 / 20
= 16.5 m
In second case, f = 20000Hz
 λ = v / f = 330 / 20000= 0.0165 m

20. Determine the frequency of light of wavelength 600nm.Velocity of light is 3 x 108 m/s.
Ans:
λ = 600 x 10-9 m
v = 3 x 108
m/s
f =?
v=fλ
f=v/λ
= 3 x 108 / (600 x 10-9 )
= 5 x 1014 Hz
21. Explain principle of superposition of waves
Ans: The principle of superposition of waves states that if two or more waves travel in a
medium, each wave will produces its own displacement and the resultant displacement of a
particle at any point is the vector sum of the displacements due to each wave.

22. What are beats

Ans: The periodic variations in the intensity of sound due to the superposition of two sound
waves of slightly different frequencies are called beats.
 Beat frequency will be the difference between the frequencies of waves. For example, if two
waves having frequencies 254Hz and 258 Hz arrive at a medium simultaneously and produce
beats, the beat frequency will be (258-254 = 4Hz)
23. What are the applications of beats?
Ans:
a) Beats are used in tuning musical instruments.
b) Beats can be used to find the frequency of the given tuning fork.
c) Beats can be used in the detection of harmful gases in mines.
24. What are ultrasonic waves? Explain some applications of ultrasound waves
Ans:
Audible frequency of sound to human ear is 20Hz to 20,000Hz.
Sound waves having frequency higher than the upper limit of audible range (20,000Hz) is
called ultrasonic sound.
Applications
a) Echo depth sounding: Ultrasonic waves are used for detecting submarines and other
underwater obstructions or to measure depth of sea.
A beam of ultrasonic sound is directed towards the bottom of the sea and the total time
for the wave to go to the bottom and come back is measured. Knowing the velocity of
the ultrasonic waves, the depth of the sea can be calculated.

b) SONAR: SONAR is the abbreviation of Sound Navigation and Ranging. It is a technique

used for detecting and determining the distance and direction of underwater objects. In
the military field, SONAR is used to detect, identify, and locate submarines. Nonmilitary
uses of sonar include fish finding, mapping of the sea bottom, etc.
c) Detection of flaws in metals: Ultrasonic waves can be used to detect cracks or cavities in
metal castings.
d) Soldering and metal cutting: Ultrasonic waves can be used for drilling and cutting
processes in metals.
e) Scanning: An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to make an image of a
person's internal body structures. Doctors commonly use ultrasound to study a developing
fetus.
f) Ultrasound cleaning: In order remove unwanted particles in materials
25. Explain acoustics of building
Ans:
The branch of science which deals with the planning and designing of a building or a hall to
provide the best audible sound to the audience is called acoustics of the building.
26. What is meant by reverberation time?
Ans: Reverberation time is the time for which the sound persists in a room or hall after the
original sound is cut off.
To produce the best sound effects, the reverberation time should be as small as possible.
The reverberation time can be decreased by increasing sound absorption in it. When sound
 falls on the walls, seats, or audience, it is either reflected or absorbed. If a greater part of it is
absorbed, then the reverberation will be small. On the other hand, if most of the sound is
reflected by the walls, floor, or audience, the sound will continue for some time after the
source has been discontinued. In such a case, the reverberation will be large. The optimum
reverberation time should be 0.5 seconds for speech and 1.0 to 1.5 seconds for music.
27. What are the methods adopted to control reverberation time?
Ans: By increasing the absorption of sound we can decrease the reverberation time. This can
be achieved by,
a) By providing a few open windows.
b) By covering the walls with absorbent materials such as perforated cardboards, heavy
curtains, carpet on the floor, etc.
c) By providing rough and decorative materials on the walls and ceilings.
d) Cushioned seats. Such seats not only provide greater comfort but also act as good
absorbers of sound.
e) Avoid the presence of large concave, spherical or cylindrical surfaces on the walls or
ceiling of the hall or auditorium. These may produce excessive reflections of sound.
28. What is echo?
Ans: If the time interval between the instance of hearing the original sound and the reflected
𝟏
sound from the reflecting surface is greater than 𝟏𝟎th of a second, the original sound and
the reflected sound can be separately heard. This is called echo.
29. How can we reduce echo in a hall?
Ans: To avoid Echoes, the ceilings should be covered with suitable sound absorbents. The
roof and walls of the auditorium or cinema hall are generally covered with sound-absorbent
materials like draperies or compressed fibreboard to reduce reverberation. These materials
reduce the formation of echoes by absorbing sound waves.