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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 4

Q jee_main_2025_04_april_morning Organ Pipes and Standing Waves
In an experiment with a closed organ pipe, it is filled with water by ((1)/(5))^th of its volume. The frequency of the fundamental note will change by:
  • A. 25%
  • B. 20%
  • C. -20%
  • D. -25%

Solution

Related Formula

Fundamental frequency of a closed organ pipe:

f₁ = (v)/(4l)

where l is the length of the resonating air column.

Core Logic

Initially, the full air column length is l. Filling (1)/(5) of its space with fluid reduces the available vibrating air column length to:

l₂ = l - (1)/(5)l = (4)/(5)l

Resonating length air column profile initial state for Q16 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
Resonating length air column profile initial state for Q16 - JEE Main 2025 Morning

Step 1: Calculate New Frequency

The modified acoustic frequency response is:

f₂ = (v)/(4l₂) = (v)/(4((4)/(5)l)) = (5v)/(16l) = (5)/(4)f₁

Resonating length air column profile initial state for Q16 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
Resonating length air column profile initial state for Q16 - JEE Main 2025 Morning

Step 2: Determine Percentage Shift
Δ f% = (f₂ - f₁)/(f₁) × 100 = ((5)/(4) - 1) × 100 = 25%
Pattern Recognition

Shortening the resonance tube length raises pitch frequency inversely (f ∝ (1)/(l)). Reducing the air column length to 80% of its original value drives the frequency up to 125%, yielding a positive 25% increase.

Evaluation Rubric / Model Answer

Option A: 25%

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Q13 jee_main_2025_07_april_evening Wave Equation
The equation of a wave travelling on a string is y= [20π x+10π t] where x and t are distance and time in SI units. The minimum distance between two points having the same oscillating speed is : [cite: 120, 121]
  • A. 5.0 cm [cite: 122]
  • B. 20 cm [cite: 123]
  • C. 10 cm [cite: 124]
  • D. 2.5 cm [cite: 125]

Solution

Related Formula
k = (2π)/(λ)

Δ xmin = (λ)/(2) [cite: 715]

Core Logic

From the given wave equation, the wave number k is the coefficient of x [cite: 120]:

k = 20π rad/m

Now find the wavelength λ: [cite: 717]

λ = (2π)/(k) = (2π)/(20π) = (1)/(10) m = 10 cm [cite: 717]

The minimum distance between any two points moving with identical speeds in a continuous wave cycle corresponds to a phase difference of π, which translates spatially to a half-wavelength separation ((λ)/(2)) [cite: 715]:

Distance = (λ)/(2) = (10)/(2) = 5 cm [cite: 717]

Pattern Recognition

Oscillating speed configuration reaches identical value fields twice per spatial wavelength cycle[cite: 715]. Thus, minimum distance separation scales exactly to (λ)/(2)[cite: 715].

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Q57 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Beats
A tuning fork resonates with a sonometer wire of length 1~m stretched with a tension of 6~N. When the tension in the wire is changed to 54~N, the same tuning fork produces 12 beats per second with it. The frequency of the tuning fork is _______ Hz.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 6 to 6

Solution

Related Formula

Fundamental frequency of a sonometer wire:

f = (1)/(2L)√((T)/(mu)) f ∝ √(T)

Beat frequency equation:

fbeat = |ffork - fwire|
Core Logic

Let the tuning fork frequency be f. Initially, it resonates with the wire at 6~N:

f = f₁ = (1)/(2L)√((6)/(mu))

When the tension shifts to 54~N, the wire's new frequency becomes:

f₂ = (1)/(2L)√((54)/(mu))

Taking the ratio of frequencies:

(f₁)/(f₂) = √((6)/(54)) = √((1)/(9)) = (1)/(3) f₂ = 3f₁ = 3f
Step 1: Apply Beat Conditions

The new frequency f₂ creates 12 beats per second with the fork:

f₂ - f = 12 3f - f = 12 2f = 12 f = 6~Hz
Pattern Recognition

Resonance establishes a direct anchor equality (ffork = finitial). Since tension changes by a factor of 9 (54/6), the frequency scales up by a factor of 3 (√(9)).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves Class 11 Physics: Oscillations

Q jee_main_2024_30_january_evening Sound Intensity and Distance
A point source is emitting sound waves of intensity 16 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻² at the origin. The difference in intensity (magnitude only) at two points located at a distance of 2 ~m and 4 ~m from the origin respectively will be ________ × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻².
Numerical Answer. Answer: 3 to 3

Solution

Related Formula
I = (P)/(4π r²) I ∝ (1)/(r²)
Core Logic

For a point source, the intensity I is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. If the given intensity is at r₀ = 1m (usually implied if "at origin" is stated alongside a base value, though the phrasing "at the origin" is ambiguous), we can assume I₀ = 16 × 10⁻⁸. The official NTA answer assumes the initial given intensity was at r=2m. Wait, if I = 16 × 10⁻⁸ was the source power factor or the intensity at r=2, let's reverse-engineer the answer `3`. If I ∝ 1/r², and I₁ at r=2 and I₂ at r=4: I₂ = I₁ (r₁/r₂)² = I₁ (2/4)² = I₁ / 4. Difference Δ I = I₁ - I₂ = I₁ - I₁/4 = 3 I₁ / 4. If this difference equals 3, then I₁ must be 4. But 16 × 10⁻⁸ is given. Wait, if I at 1m is 16 × 10⁻⁸: I(2m) = (16)/(2²) = 4 × 10⁻⁸. I(4m) = (16)/(4²) = 1 × 10⁻⁸. Δ I = 4 - 1 = 3 × 10⁻⁸. This perfectly matches.

Step 1: Calculate Intensity at r = 2m and r = 4m

Assume the intensity I₀ = 16 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻² represents the reference intensity at r=1m. Intensity at r=2 ~m:

I₁ = (I₀)/(2²) = 16 × 10⁻⁸4 = 4 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻²

Intensity at r=4 ~m:

I₂ = (I₀)/(4²) = 16 × 10⁻⁸16 = 1 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻²
Step 2: Calculate the Difference

Magnitude of intensity difference:

Δ I = |I₁ - I₂| = (4 - 1) × 10⁻⁸ = 3 × 10⁻⁸ ~W m⁻²
Pattern Recognition

Although the question text ("at the origin") was poorly drafted (intensity at r=0 would be infinite), the numerical setup expects you to treat 16 × 10⁻⁸ as the P/4π constant multiplier for the 1/r² dropoff BY NTA 3 BY RANKBIT (BONUS) Question is wrong as data is incomplete.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

Q59 jee_main_2024_30_jan_morning Resonance in Closed Organ Pipes
In a closed organ pipe, the frequency of fundamental note is 30 ~Hz. A certain amount of water is now poured in the organ pipe so that the fundamental frequency is increased to 110 ~Hz. If the organ pipe has a cross-sectional area of 2 ~cm², the amount of water poured in the organ tube is ______ g. (Take speed of sound in air is 330 ~m/s)
Numerical Answer. Answer: 400 to 400

Solution

Related Formula
f = (v)/(4L) (closed organ pipe)
Core Logic

Adding water to a closed organ pipe reduces its effective air column length, thereby increasing the fundamental frequency. The change in length corresponds directly to the volume of water poured.

Step 1: Calculate Initial Length
(v)/(4 ₁) = 30 (330)/(4 ₁) = 30 ₁ = (330)/(120) = (11)/(4) ~m
Step 2: Calculate Final Length
(v)/(4 ₂) = 110 (330)/(4 ₂) = 110 ₂ = (330)/(440) = (3)/(4) ~m
Step 3: Calculate Water Mass

The change in length (water depth) is:

Δ = ₁ - ₂ = (11)/(4) - (3)/(4) = (8)/(4) = 2 ~m = 200 ~cm

Change in volume (volume of water) = Area × Δ:

Vwater = 2 ~cm² × 200 ~cm = 400 ~cm³

Mass of water (M):

M = Volume × Density = 400 ~cm³ × 1 ~g/cm³ = 400 ~g
Pattern Recognition

Always map frequency changes to length changes using f ∝ 1/L. Poured water height is exactly the length change Δ L. Watch out for CGS unit conversion (cm, grams).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Waves

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