Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]PhysicsWave Motion and Waves on a String
A heavy but uniform rope of length L is suspended from a ceiling. If the rope is given a sudden sideways jerk at the bottom, how long will it take for the pulse to reach the ceiling?
Options
- AL g
- BL 2g
- C4L g
- D2L g
Correct answer
C. 4L g
Step-by-step solution
Let the mass of the rope be M and its length be L . The linear mass density is = M L . Consider a point at a distance x from the bottom of the rope. The tension T at this point is due to the weight of the rope below it. T = ( x) g The speed of the transverse pulse at a distance x from the bottom is given by: v = T = x g = gx Since v = dx dt , we have: dx dt = gx dt = dx gx Integrating both sides to find the total time t taken by the pulse to travel from the bottom ( x = 0 ) to the ceiling ( x = L ): t = ₀^ L dx gx