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JEE Advanced Waves & Oscillations — practice questions

Explore 20 free Waves & Oscillations questions in JEE Advanced Physics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Waves & Oscillations questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–20 of 20.

A wave traveling in the +x direction with amplitude A, angular frequency ω and wavenumber k has displacement given byRead the answer and worked solution →The speed of a transverse wave on a string of linear mass density μ under tension T isRead the answer and worked solution →The speed of sound in a gas is v = √(γP/ρ). This is theRead the answer and worked solution →Two waves y₁ = A sin(kx − ωt) and y₂ = A sin(kx − ωt + φ) superpose. The resulting amplitude isRead the answer and worked solution →The frequency of beats when two waves of frequencies 512 Hz and 508 Hz superpose isRead the answer and worked solution →A wave has speed 340 m/s and frequency 850 Hz. Its wavelength isRead the answer and worked solution →Longitudinal waves are best exemplified byRead the answer and worked solution →When a wave is reflected from a rigid boundary (fixed end of a string), the reflected wave undergoesRead the answer and worked solution →The speed of light in vacuum isRead the answer and worked solution →Two waves overlap to produce a standing wave on a string. The nodes are points whereRead the answer and worked solution →The fundamental frequency of a vibrating string of length L, tension T, linear density μ isRead the answer and worked solution →The wave equation y = 0.05 sin(20πx − 100πt) SI units. The wave speed isRead the answer and worked solution →Catch only the periodic motionsRead the answer and worked solution →Fill the board with oscillation termsRead the answer and worked solution →Merge each peak into its placeRead the answer and worked solution →Key in the oscillation numbersRead the answer and worked solution →Split SHM from uniform circular motionRead the answer and worked solution →Pick the bigger oscillation valueRead the answer and worked solution →Complete the SHM displacement lawRead the answer and worked solution →Spot the false claim about SHMRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

A wave traveling in the +x direction with amplitude A, angular frequency ω and wavenumber k has displacement given by

  1. y(x,t) = A sin(kx − ωt)
  2. y(x,t) = A sin(kx + ωt)
  3. y(x,t) = A cos(k × ω × t)
  4. y(x,t) = A × ω × t
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Correct answer: A. y(x,t) = A sin(kx − ωt)

1. A progressive wave along +x is represented by a function of (kx − ωt). 2. Standard form: y(x, t) = A sin(kx − ωt + φ), where φ is a phase constant. 3. A wave traveling in the −x direction has argument (kx + ωt) instead. 4. k is the wavenumber (rad/m) and ω is the angular frequency (rad/s). _Source: syllabus Physics, Ch 14 "Waves", §14.3_

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The speed of a transverse wave on a string of linear mass density μ under tension T is

  1. T × μ
  2. √(T/μ)
  3. T / μ
  4. √(T × μ)
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Correct answer: B. √(T/μ)

1. Tension provides the restoring force for a stretched string. 2. Linear mass density μ (mass per unit length) provides the inertia. 3. Wave speed v = √(T / μ), analogous to v = √(force/inertia). 4. So doubling tension increases v by √2; doubling μ decreases v by √2. _Source: syllabus Physics, Ch 14 "Waves", §14.4_

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The speed of sound in a gas is v = √(γP/ρ). This is the

  1. Newton formula assuming isothermal propagation
  2. Doppler formula for observed frequency shifts
  3. Laplace-corrected Newton formula for adiabatic
  4. Bernoulli formula for fluid dynamics streamlines
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Correct answer: C. Laplace-corrected Newton formula for adiabatic

1. Newton assumed sound propagates isothermally, giving v = √(P/ρ) — too low. 2. Laplace corrected: sound propagation is adiabatic, so v = √(γP/ρ). 3. γ = C_p / C_v is the ratio of specific heats. 4. This agrees with experimental values for air (v ≈ 340 m/s at STP). _Source: syllabus Physics, Ch 14 "Waves", §14.4_

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