JEE Main · Physics → Steady

Waves appeared 22 times across 3 years — 2.5% of Physics. This question is from Speed of Sound in Medium.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 7 10 5 22

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R Assertion A: A sound wave has higher speed in solids than gases. Reason R: Gases have higher value of Bulk modulus than solids. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
v = Bρ
Core Logic

Assertion A: Sound velocity relies on structural elasticity bounds. Solids are highly rigid compared to fluids, making speed significantly higher. (True)

Reason R: Solids resist structural compression far better than unbonded gases, giving them significantly higher Bulk Modulus properties. Thus, statement R is completely false.

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Assertion A is true, but Reason R is false, aligning perfectly with option (4).

Pattern Recognition

Even though density ρ is higher for solids, the corresponding elastic modulus parameter increases by several orders of magnitude, dominating the structural velocity index.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Reference Study Guides

More Waves Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Q41 jee_main_2026_24_january_evening Intensity and Inverse Square Law
A point source is kept at the center of a spherically enclosed detector. If the volume of the detector increased by 8 times, the intensity will
  • A. increase by 8 times
  • B. increase by 64 times
  • C. decrease by 8 times
  • D. decrease by 4 times

Solution

Related Formula
I = (P)/(4π R²) V = (4)/(3)π R³
Core Logic

Since volume V ∝ R³, if volume is increased by 8 times:

V arrow 8V R³ arrow 8R³ R arrow 2R
Step 1: Intensity Relation

Since intensity I ∝ (1)/(R²): If R arrow 2R, the area A = 4π R² increases by 2² = 4 times (A arrow 4A). Therefore, intensity becomes I arrow (I₀)/(4).

Pattern Recognition

Volume ratio cubed root dictates radius multiplier. The square of that radius multiplier is the area multiplier, which is the exact inverse of the intensity multiplier.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Q46 jee_main_2026_28_january_evening Beats
Two tuning forks A and B are sounded together giving rise to 8 beats in 2 s. When fork A is loaded with wax, the beat frequency is reduced to 4 beats in 2 s. If the original frequency of tuning fork B is 380 Hz, then the original frequency of tuning fork A is ____ Hz.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 384 to 384

Solution

Related Formula
fbeat = |fA - fB|
Core Logic

Initial beat frequency fbeat1 = 8 beats2 s = 4 Hz. Therefore, |fA - fB| = 4. Given fB = 380 Hz, the original frequency of A could be: fA = 380 + 4 = 384 Hz OR fA = 380 - 4 = 376 Hz.

Step 1: Check with Wax Loading

When fork A is loaded with wax, its frequency fA decreases. The new beat frequency fbeat2 = 4 beats2 s = 2 Hz.

Case 1: If fA = 384 Hz, loading wax drops it to say 382 Hz. The new beat frequency becomes |382 - 380| = 2 Hz. This matches the given condition.

Case 2: If fA = 376 Hz, loading wax drops it to say 374 Hz. The new beat frequency would become |374 - 380| = 6 Hz. This does NOT match the condition.

Step 2: Conclusion

The original frequency of tuning fork A must be 384 Hz.

Pattern Recognition

Loading wax always DECREASES the frequency. If decreasing the unknown frequency causes the beat frequency to DECREASE, the unknown frequency must have been initially higher than the known standard.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Q6 jee_main_2025_02_april_evening Equation of Travelling Wave
A sinusoidal wave of wavelength 7.5 cm travels a distance of 1.2 cm along the x-direction in 0.3 sec. The crest P is at x = 0 at t = 0 sec and maximum displacement of the wave is 2 cm . Which equation correctly represents this wave?
  • A. y = 2 (0.83x - 3.35t) cm
  • B. y = 2 (0.83x - 3.5t) cm
  • C. y = 2 (3.35x - 0.83t) cm
  • D. y = 2 (0.13x - 0.5t) cm

Solution

Related Formula
  • Wave function (moving along +x direction) with a peak at x=0, t=0:
y(x, t) = A (kx - ω t)
  • Wave number:
k = (2π)/(λ)
  • Wave speed:
v = (ω)/(k)
Core Logic

Given parameters:

  • Wavelength λ = 7.5 cm
  • Distance travelled Δ x = 1.2 cm in Δ t = 0.3 s
  • Maximum displacement (amplitude) A = 2 cm
  • Let's calculate the wave parameters:

  • Wave number (k):
k = (2π)/(7.5) = (20π)/(75) = (4π)/(15) ≈ 0.838 rad/cm
  • Wave speed (v):
v = (Δ x)/(Δ t) = (1.2)/(0.3) = 4 cm/s
  • Angular frequency (ω):
ω = v · k = 4 × (4π)/(15) = (16π)/(15) ≈ 3.35 rad/s

Since the crest is at x=0 at t=0, y(0,0) = 2 = A. This boundary condition demands a cosine function.

Step 1: Write wave equation

Substitute A, k, and ω into the standard form:

y(x, t) = 2 (0.83x - 3.35t) cm

This perfectly matches Option (1).

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Wavelength and speed to determine travelling wave equation. Trap: Choosing sine instead of cosine. Since the crest (maximum displacement) is at x=0, t=0, y(0,0) must equal A, which is satisfied only by the cosine function. Shortcut: Calculate k = 2π / 7.5 ≈ 0.83. This immediately eliminates Options (3) and (4). Calculate speed v = 4, so ω = 4 × 0.83 ≈ 3.35, which points directly to Option (1).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Q2 jee_main_2025_03_april_evening Resonance Column and Organ Pipes
In the resonance experiment, two air columns (closed at one end) of 100~cm and 120~cm long, give 15 beats per second when each one is sounding in the respective fundamental modes. The velocity of sound in the air column is :
  • A. 335~m/s
  • B. 370~m/s
  • C. 340~m/s
  • D. 360~m/s

Solution

Related Formula

For an air column closed at one end, the fundamental frequency f is given by:

f = (v)/(4l)

where v is the velocity of sound and l is the length of the air column.

Core Logic

Given parameters:

  • l₁ = 100~cm = 1.0~m
  • l₂ = 120~cm = 1.2~m
  • Beats per second (f₁ - f₂) = 15
Step 1: Write the equation for beat frequency

Since l₁ < l₂, the frequency f₁ > f₂. Hence:

Beat frequency = f₁ - f₂ = (v)/(4l₁) - (v)/(4l₂) 15 = (v)/(4) ( (1)/(l₁) - (1)/(l₂) )
Step 2: Solve for velocity of sound (v)

Substitute the lengths in meters:

15 = (v)/(4) ( (1)/(1.0) - (1)/(1.2) ) 15 = (v)/(4) ( 1 - (5)/(6) ) 15 = (v)/(4) ( (1)/(6) ) 15 = (v)/(24) v = 15 × 24 = 360~m/s
Pattern Recognition

Beat problems involving standing waves in organ pipes can be calculated faster by remembering that f ∝ (1)/(l). This allows setting up the proportion v = 4 · Δ f · (l₁ l₂)/(l₂ - l₁) directly as a short-cut.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Q1 jee_main_2025_07_april_morning Beats
Two harmonic waves moving in the same direction superimpose to form a wave x = a (1.5t) (50.5t) where t is in seconds. Find the period with which they beat (close to nearest integer)
  • A. 6 ~s
  • B. 4 ~s
  • C. 1 ~s
  • D. 2 ~s

Solution

Related Formula

The product of cosines can be transformed into a sum using the trigonometric identity:

A B = (1)/(2) [ (A + B) + (A - B)]

The beat frequency fbeat is given by:

fbeat = |f₁ - f₂| = | (ω₁ - ω₂)/(2π) |

The beat period Tbeat is:

Tbeat = 1fbeat
Core Logic

Rewrite the superposition equation:

x = a (1.5t) (50.5t)

Apply the identity with A = 50.5t and B = 1.5t:

x = (a)/(2) [ (52t) + (49t)]

Here, the two component frequencies are:

ω₁ = 52 ~rad/s f₁ = (52)/(2π) ω₂ = 49 ~rad/s f₂ = (49)/(2π)

Calculate the beat frequency:

fbeat = f₁ - f₂ = (52 - 49)/(2π) = (3)/(2π) ~Hz
Step 1: Calculate Beat Period

The time period of beats is:

Tbeat = 1fbeat = (2π)/(3) ≈ (2 × 3.14)/(3) = 2.09 ~s

Rounding to the nearest integer gives 2 ~s.

Pattern Recognition

Sees: product of two cosines with significantly different coefficients ω₁ and ω₂. Shortcut: The beat period is simply 2π divided by the difference between the two component frequencies, where the component frequencies are (ωaverage ± ωenvelope). The difference is 2 × ωenvelope = 2 × 1.5 = 3 ~rad/s. Thus, T = 2π / 3 ≈ 2 ~s.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

More Waves Questions — jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning

Practice all Waves previous-year questions →

Rankbit System
JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%) | JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%)