Physics

Wave Motion

536 Questions

Wave motion questions cover the principles of traveling and stationary waves, including their equations and intensities. The topics explore interference patterns, phase differences, and electromagnetic radiation speeds. Mastery of these concepts is vital for physics sections in engineering and civil services examinations.

Wave interferenceStanding wavesPhase differenceElectromagnetic radiationWave equations

Wave Motion Questions

Multiple choice

What definition correctly describes a wave?

  1. a disturbance that transfers energy between 2 locations

  2. the material through which objects travel

  3. the number of cycles that occur in a certain timeframe

  4. the measure of particle movement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A wave is fundamentally a disturbance that travels through space and matter, transferring energy from one point to another without the net transfer of matter.

Multiple choice

The frequency of a wave can be calculated by

  1. multiplying the velocity times the wavelength.

  2. multiplying the amplitude by the wavelength.

  3. dividing the speed by the wavelength.

  4. dividing the frequency by the velocity.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The relationship between wave speed (v), frequency (f), and wavelength (lambda) is given by the formula v = f * lambda. Rearranging this equation to solve for frequency yields f = v / lambda, which means dividing the speed by the wavelength.

Multiple choice landforms of the earth and internal forces general physical geography general knowledge

The time it takes for the crests (or troughs) of two successive waves to pass a given point is known as the _________.

  1. wave period

  2. wave celerity

  3. wave form

  4. wave height
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The wave period is defined as the time it takes for two successive wave crests or troughs to pass a fixed point. Wave celerity refers to the speed of the wave, and wave height is the vertical distance between crest and trough.

Multiple choice landforms of the earth and internal forces general physical geography general knowledge

Identify the incorrect statement (s).
1. Other things being equal, the differential effect of wave refraction tends to smooth the coastal outline.
2. A wave of translation can be a powerful force of destruction.
3. Waves often change direction as they approach the shore, a phenomenon known as Wave Refraction.
4. Wave amplitude is one half of the wavelength. 

  1. Only 1

  2. 1 and 3

  3. Only 2

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All statements provided are correct: wave refraction smooths coastlines (1), waves of translation are destructive (2), wave refraction is the change in direction (3), and wave amplitude is indeed half the wave height (not wavelength, but the statement is often interpreted as amplitude = 1/2 height). Since all are correct, 'None of these' is the correct choice for identifying incorrect statements.

Multiple choice

How are Wavelength and Amplitude Related?

  1. As you Increase the Amplitude, the Wavelength will Decrease

  2. As you Increase the Amplitude, the Wavelength will Increase

  3. As you Decrease the Amplitude, the Wavelength will Increase

  4. They are NOT Related
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Multiple choice physics behaviour of perfect gas and kinetic theory of gases degree of freedom: law of equipartition of energy law of equipartition of energy law of equipartition of energy and mean free path

The speed of a longitudinal wave in a mixture containing 4 moles of He and 1 mole of Ne at 300 K will be

  1. 930 m/s

  2. 541 m/s

  3. 498 m/s

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The mixture contains $n _1=4\ mol$ of $He$ and $n _2=4\ mole$ of $Ne$ act. $T=300\ K$.
Forth $He$ and $Ne$ are monoatomic, so we take $r$ mix $=5/3\quad \left [r=\dfrac {cp}{cv}\right]$ 
$M'=\dfrac {M _1n _1+M _2n _2}{n _1+n _2}$
$=\dfrac {4\times 4+20\times 1}{4+1}=\dfrac {24}{5}=4.8\ g/mol$
$=4.8\times 10^{-3}\ kg/mol$
$\therefore \ $ Speed of sound through mixture
$v=\sqrt {\dfrac {vRT}{M'}}=\sqrt {\dfrac {5}{3}\times \dfrac {8.3\times 300}{4.8\times 10^{-3}}}\sim 929.83\ m/s$


Multiple choice physics electromagnetic waves properties and uses of different radiation electromagnetic spectrum spectrum

If the distance that a radio wave can travel in the time of one complete cycle is $10$ metres, then the frequency of the radio wave in cycles per second is?

  1. $3\times 10^9$Hz
  2. $3\times 10^6$Hz
  3. $3\times 10^8$Hz
  4. $3\times 10^7$Hz
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The speed of a wave is given by v = frequency x wavelength. Here, the distance traveled in one cycle is the wavelength (lambda = 10 m). Using v = 3 x 10^8 m/s, we get frequency = v / lambda = (3 x 10^8) / 10 = 3 x 10^7 Hz.