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Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
Exam
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Wave Motion and Waves on a String

Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1] · Physics · Wave Motion and Waves on a String

The figure displays two wave pulses on a string at t = 0 ,...

The figure displays two wave pulses on a string at t=0t = 0, travelling in opposite directions with an identical wave speed of 50 cm s−150 \text{ cm s}^{-1}. Among the times t=4 mst = 4 \text{ ms}, 6 ms6 \text{ ms}, 8 ms8 \text{ ms}, and 12 ms12 \text{ ms}, at which instant will the string have zero displacement everywhere?
The figure displays two wave pulses on a string at t = 0 , travelling in opposite directions with an identical wave

Options

  1. A12 ms12 \text{ ms}
  2. B6 ms6 \text{ ms}
  3. C4 ms4 \text{ ms}
  4. D8 ms8 \text{ ms}

Correct answer

D. 8 ms8 \text{ ms}

Step-by-step solution

The initial position of the first wave pulse (positive displacement) is from x=2 mmx = 2 \text{ mm} to x=6 mmx = 6 \text{ mm}. It is travelling in the positive x-direction.

The initial position of the second wave pulse (negative displacement) is from x=10 mmx = 10 \text{ mm} to x=14 mmx = 14 \text{ mm}. It is travelling in the negative x-direction.

The wave speed is given as v=50 cm s−1=500 mm s−1v = 50 \text{ cm s}^{-1} = 500 \text{ mm s}^{-1}.

At any time tt, the position of the first pulse is [2+vt,6+vt][2 + vt, 6 + vt] and the position of the second pulse is [10−vt,14−vt][10 - vt, 14 - vt].

For the string to have zero displacement everywhere, the positive pulse must completely overlap with the negative pulse. This requires their positions to be identical:

2+vt=10−vt2 + vt = 10 - vt

2vt=8  ⟹  vt=4 mm2vt = 8 \implies vt = 4 \text{ mm}

Substituting the value of vv:

500×t=4500 \times t = 4

t=4500 s=0.008 st = \dfrac{4}{500} \text{ s} = 0.008 \text{ s}

Converting to milliseconds:

t=8 mst = 8 \text{ ms}

At t=8 mst = 8 \text{ ms}, both pulses exactly overlap between x=6 mmx = 6 \text{ mm} and x=10 mmx = 10 \text{ mm}, cancelling each other out completely.
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