Physics

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

1. A student plans to carry out an experiment using a sonometer to determine the frequency (f) of a tuning fork.
(a)

Where should he place the sounded tuning fork in order to obtain resonance?
. ..........................

(b)

What procedure must he follow in order to obtain the fundamental resonance length?
...............................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................

(c)

The student measured the fundamental resonance lengths (l) corresponding to different tensions of the
sonometer wire using different weights (Mg). Write down an expression relating M, l, f and the mass per unit
length m of the sonometer wire.

...

(d)

i.

Which of his experimental l values is considered to have the highest accuracy?

ii.

Give the reason.

(e)

In this experiment the graph plotted by the student is shown in the figure.

Physics

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

i.

Mark with arrows, two suitable points on the graph, which you would use to find its gradient.

ii.

Find the gradient of the graph.

(f)

If the value of m is 8x10-4, find the frequency of the tuning fork.

02.

A spiral spring of mass

is hung vertically from the top end and a light scale pan is fastened to the
lower end of the spring. A mass is placed in the scale pan and the system is allowed to oscillate
vertically by stretching the spring and then releasing it. The periodic time for small vertical oscillations is
given by the expression.

where

is a constant.

In order to verify the above expression a student has measured the period for five oscillations for different
values of
The table shows the readings taken by the student.
(kg)
0.100
0.200
0.300
0.400
0.500

Time for 5 oscillation (s)

5.4
5.5
6.5
7.4
8.3

Hence the Period

(s)

1.10
1.10
1.30
1.50
1.65

(a) Is the above number of oscillations sufficient? Give reasons for your answer.

Physics

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

(b) (i) Re-arrange the above expression to draw a suitable graph in order to verify it.
..
..
(ii) To draw a suitable graph tabulate the above readings.
axis

axis

..
.


..

(iii) Draw a suitable graph on the grid provided below.

(c)

(i) Mark on the graph with arrows the two points which you would use in order to find the gradient
of the graph, and write down the corresponding co-ordinates on the graph.
(ii) What is the gradient of the graph?
..
..
(iii) Hence calculate the constant

(you may take

10).

Physics

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

(d)

(i)

What is the intercept of the graph?

.

(ii) Hence find the mass

of the spring.

3.

You are provided with a uniform glass tube open at both ends, a tuning fork of frequency (f) 512 Hz and a tall
vessel containing water. An experimental arrangement has to be set up to determine the speed (V) of sound in air
by the method of resonance.
(a) Draw a diagram to illustrate the experimental set up.

(b) State the correct procedure that you would follow in this experiment to obtain the resonance states of the air
column properly.

Physics
(c)

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

What are the two readings that you would take to find a resonance length of the air column?
..
..

(d)

Write down a general expression for the resonance length () in terms of the wavelength () of the sound
wave and an integer n (n = 1, 3, 5, ). neglect the end correction of the tube.

(e) Using quantities , V, f and n write down a suitable expression to find speed (V) of sound in air using a
graphical method.

(f) The first two resonance length of such an experiment are found to be 15 cm and 48 cm respectively. Draw
the wave patterns for the above two modes of vibration in the figures shown below.

(g)

What is the type of wave present inside the tube at resonance, travelling or standing?
.

(h)

Rewrite the expression in part (e) to accommodate the end correction ()

.
.

(i) Use the values given in part (f) above to find the speed of sound in air

Physics
4.

(a)

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

To study the resonance phenomenon in sound you are asked to use a glass tube with a piston ( ), and a set
tuning forks (
found in your laboratory (see figure). The piston can be moved smoothly
inside the glass tube.

All the tuning forks are made of the same material and prongs have the same area of cross section. If it is
known that the set of tuning forks has the frequencies, 256 Hz, 384 Hz, 512 H2, 420 Hz and 320Hz, what is
the frequency of the tuning fork ?

(b) (i) For a given tuning fork, briefly describe how you would obtain a resonance length
corresponding to the
fundamental tone.
...
..
.
(ii) Instead of the ear, a sound measuring instrument is kept close to the open end of the tube to record the
intensity levels ( ) of the sound when (shown in the above figure) is varying in order to obtain
(i). Sketch below the expected variation of with in, and around .

Physics
(iii)

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

What is the corresponding resonance length for the first overtone in terms of
correction is negligible.)

? (Assume that the end

(iv)
(c)

Sketch also on the same diagram above, the expected variation of

with corresponding to the first overtone.

Suppose now you wish to find the velocity of sound in air using all the tuning forks in the above set.

(i) In order to use a graphical method to find the velocity of sound in air, which tuning fork from the above
set is most desirable to use first.
.
(ii) There in another important physical quantity that you should record during the experiment in order to
report your result meaningfully. What is this physical quantity?
....
(d)

In ( ) it was observed that the value of for one instant was 60 dB. Find the corresponding intensity of
sound given that the threshold of audibility is 10-12 W m-2.
.
.
.

05.

The sonometer shown in the diagram consists of

two stretched thin metal wires
end of
is attached to the shown. The pulley P is smooth.
is kept under tension by fixing to the nails R and S.

(a) (i) When

is plucked in the middle of BC, the wire vibrates at the fundamental frequency.
Draw the wave pattern of the wire produced between B and C in the figure shown below.

Physics
(ii)

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

How is a stationary wave of this nature formed?

(iii)

If is the distance between B and C, write down the relationship between the wavelength
transverse wave and

of the

(iv)

If T is the tension and m is the mass per unit length of

frequency
in terms of T, m and .

, write down an expression for the fundamental

(b)

(i)

.
The length XY corresponding to the fundamental frequency of vibration of
in resonance with the
fundamental frequency of

Suggest an experimental procedure to be followed in order to obtain

.
.
.
(ii)

If M = 4 kg, m = 4 x 10-3 kg m-1 and

= 12.5 cm, what is the fundamental frequency of vibration of W2.

.
....

(iii)

The value obtained for

in (b) (i) is 20.2 cm. If the length between X and Y is changed to 20.0 cm, find the
new fundamental frequency of W2.
.

(iv)

.
Now if both wires are vibrated simultaneously with each of their fundamental frequency, what is the beat
frequency obtained.

Physics

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

06.

An experimental set-up used in the laboratory to determine the speed of sound in air by
resonating air columns is shown in the in the figure.

(a)

Briefly describe the procedure that you would adopt to obtain the fundamental note of vibration
of the air column with this set-up.
..
.
.

(b)

If the corresponding length of the air column measured in (a) is and the wavelength of sound
waves in air is , writ down the relationship between and . (neglect the end correction of the
tube.)
..

(C )

(1)

Rewrite the expression in (b) interims of speed of sound in air V , and the frequency n of
the tuning fork. (one lines)
...

(2)

If you are provided with several tuning forks of know frequencies and asked to determine
V by plotting a graph state the quantities that you would plot
Independent variable :
Dependent variable :

(d). with a certain tuning fork the value of was observed to be 3.5cm. If the length of the tube
75cm, explain whether it is possible to find another position of the tube in water where
resonance is
produced with the same turning fork. (two lines)
(e). If the room temperature is increased , would you expect to be greater than, equal to or less
than 35cm. ? Give reason for your answer. (two lines)

is

Physics

Waves and Oscillations

M.M.Fazeel B.Sc M.Sc PGDE

(f). If alcohol is used instead of water in this experiment, would you expect the same value for as
measured in (C ) (2) ? Explain the answer. (two lines )
(g). For alcohol calculation has to be introduce only to the open end to the tube and not to the
closed end, Explain why. (3 lines)