Sound Wave and its Characteristics - NEET Physics Questions
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Sound Wave and its Characteristics

Question 1: moderate

In a gaseous medium on increasing temperature 800 K, speed of sound becomes √5 times of initial then initial temperature of medium in °C is

1. 27°C
2. 300 °C
3. - 73°C
4. 73°C
View Answer
Question 2: easy

Velocity of sound in medium is V. If the density of the medium is doubled, what will be the new velocity of sound ?

1. √2 V
2. V
3. 4V
4. V/√2
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Question 3: moderate

For sound waves propagating in a medium, identify the property that is independent of the others :

1. Velocity
2. Wavelength
3. Frequency
4. All these depend on each other
View Answer

Speed of sound wave depends on medium and is independent of wavelength and frequency.

Question 4: easy

Speed of sound waves in a fluid depends upon

1. Directly on density of the medium
2. Square of Bulk modulus of the medium
3. Directly on the square root of density
4. Directly on the square root of bulk modulus of the medium
View Answer

Speed of sound in a fluid is given by

\[ v = \sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho}} \]

Question 5: difficult

A transverse wave is represented by the equation

\[ y= y_{0} sin\frac{2\Pi}{\lambda}(vt-x)\] 

For what value of λ , the maximum particle velocity equal to two times the wave velocity

 

1. λ = 2Πy0
2. λ = Πy0/3
3. λ = Πy0/2
4. λ = Πyº
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Question 6: easy

Given below are two statements:


Assertion (A): Sound would travel faster on a hot summer day than on a cold winter day.


Reason (R): Velocity of sound is directly proportional to the square root of its absolute temperature.


 

1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
3. (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. (A) is false but (R) is true.
View Answer

The speed of sound in a gas is \(v = \sqrt{\frac{\gamma RT}{M}}\), meaning \(v \propto \sqrt{T}\). Since temperature is higher on a hot summer day than a cold winter day, sound travels faster in summer. Both statements are true and Reason is the correct explanation.

Question 7: easy

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).


Assertion (A): The presence of moisture increases the velocity of sound in air.


Reason (R): Density of moist air is more than the density of dry air.


In the light of the above statements, the correct option is

1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
2. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Velocity of sound \(v = \sqrt{\frac{\gamma P}{\rho}}\). Since water vapor has a lower density than dry air, moist air has a lower density, raising the sound velocity. Thus, (A) is true but (R) is false.

Question 8: easy

Assertion (A): The pitch of wind instruments rises and that of string instruments falls as an orchestra warms up.


Reason (R): When temperature rises, speed of sound in air increases but speed of wave in a string fixed at both ends decreases.


 

1. Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

For wind instruments, pitch \( f \) is proportional to the speed of sound in air \( v_{\text{air}} propto \sqrt{T_{\text{temp}}} \). As temperature rises, \( v_{\text{air}} \) increases, so pitch rises. For string instruments, \( f propto v_{\text{string}} = \sqrt{T_{\text{tension}}/\mu} \). As temperature rises, the string expands, reducing tension \( T_{\text{tension}} \), so \( v_{\text{string}} \) decreases and pitch falls. Reason R accurately explains this behavior for both cases.

Question 9: easy

Assertion (A): Sound travels faster on a rainy day than on a dry day.


Reason (R): With increase in humidity pressure increases.


 

1. Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

The speed of sound in a gas is \( v = \sqrt{\gamma P/\rho} \). Moist air (humid air) has a lower average molecular mass and thus lower density \( \rho \) than dry air at the same pressure and temperature. A lower density leads to a higher speed of sound. Thus, A is true. Reason R is false; increasing humidity does not necessarily increase total pressure, and the primary factor for faster sound is reduced density.

Question 10: easy

Assertion (A): Two sound waves of same intensity in a particular medium will have displacement amplitude in ratio of 2:1 if they have frequency in the ratio 1:2.


Reason (R): Two wave of same velocity and amplitude in a particular medium have equal intensity.


 

1. Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Intensity of a sound wave is \( I = \frac{1}{2} \rho v \omega^2 A^2 \), where \( \omega = 2\pi f \). If \( I_1 = I_2 \) and the medium is the same (so \( \rho \) and \( v \) are constant), then \( \omega_1^2 A_1^2 = \omega_2^2 A_2^2 \). Given \( f_1 : f_2 = 1 : 2 \), so \( \omega_1 : \omega_2 = 1 : 2 \). This yields \( (1)^2 A_1^2 = (2)^2 A_2^2 \), so \( A_1^2 = 4 A_2^2 \), meaning \( A_1 : A_2 = 2 : 1 \). Thus, A is true. Reason R is false because intensity also depends on frequency (\( \omega \)), so waves with the same velocity and amplitude but different frequencies will have different intensities.