Tag: interference of sound waves

Questions Related to interference of sound waves

The ratio of intensities of two waves that produce interference pattern is 16:1, then the ratio of maximum and minimum intensities in the pattern is :

  1. 25:9

  2. 9:25

  3. 1: 4

  4. 4:1


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Let the intensities of the two waves be $I _1$ and $I _2$.
Given :  $I _1:I _2 = 16:1$
Ratio of maximum and minimum intensities  $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \bigg(\dfrac{\sqrt{I _1}  +\sqrt{I _2}}{\sqrt{I _1} - \sqrt{I _2}}\bigg)^2$
Or   $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \bigg(\dfrac{\sqrt{\frac{I _1}{I _2}}  +1}{\sqrt{\frac{I _1}{I _2}} - 1}\bigg)^2$

Or  $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \bigg(\dfrac{\sqrt{16}  +1}{\sqrt{16} - 1}\bigg)^2 = \bigg(\dfrac{4+1}{4-1}\bigg)^2$
$\implies  \ $  $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \dfrac{25}{9}$

Consider the superposition of N harmonic waves of equal amplitude and frequency. If N is a very large number determine the resultant intensity in terms of the intensity $\left( { I } _{ 0 } \right)$ of each component wave for the condition when the component waves have identical phases.

  1. ${ NI } _{ 0 }$

  2. ${ N }^{ 2 }{ I } _{ 0 }$

  3. $\sqrt { N } { I } _{ 0 }$

  4. ${ I } _{ 0 }$


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

As all the waves are in phase and having same amplitude and frequency

So, the intensities will simply get add to give the resultant intensity
$\Rightarrow (Intensity) _{Resultant}=(I _0+I _0+.....I _0)-N\quad times\ \quad\quad\quad\quad\quad=NI _0$

Two waves having their intensities in the ratio 9:1 produce interference. In the interference pattern, the ratio of maximum to minimum intensity is equal to

  1. 2:1

  2. 9:1

  3. 3:1

  4. 4:1


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Let the intensities of the two waves be $I _1$ and $I _2$.
Given :  $I _1:I _2 = 9:1$
Ratio of maximum and minimum intensities  $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \bigg(\dfrac{\sqrt{I _1}  +\sqrt{I _2}}{\sqrt{I _1} - \sqrt{I _2}}\bigg)^2$
Or   $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \bigg(\dfrac{\sqrt{\frac{I _1}{I _2}}  +1}{\sqrt{\frac{I _1}{I _2}} - 1}\bigg)^2$

Or  $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \bigg(\dfrac{\sqrt{9}  +1}{\sqrt{9} - 1}\bigg)^2 = \bigg(\dfrac{3+1}{3-1}\bigg)^2$
$\implies  \ $  $\dfrac{I _{max}}{I _{min}} = \dfrac{16}{4} = \dfrac{4}{1}$

Assertion - Two sinusoidal waves on the same string exhibit interference.
Reason - these waves, add or cancel out according to the principle of superposition

  1. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion

  2. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion

  3. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect

  4. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

When there are two sinusoidal waves in a string, they cause interference of the waves. The principle of superposition is basic to the phenomenon of interference.

So, the assertion and reason both are correct and the reason is the correct explanation for the assertion.

Which of the following is true?

  1. Both the light and sound waves exhibit interference

  2. Light waves exhibit interference

  3. Sound waves exhibit interference

  4. Neither sound waves nor light waves exhibit interference


Correct Option: A