Physics · Wave Motion and Sound
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A tuning fork having angular frequency equal 440Hz produces sound waves which travel with the speed of 340 m/s. What is the separation between a compression and the adjacent rarefaction of the sound waves?
- A
0.57 m
- B
0.38 m
- C
0.77 m
- D
0.87 m
Step 1:First, find the wavelength of the sound wave using the formula:wavelength = speed ÷ frequency= 340 ÷ 440= 0.7727 meters
Step 2:In a longitudinal wave like sound, the distance between a compression and the next rarefaction is half of the wavelength.
So, separation = 0.7727 ÷ 2= 0.38635 meters
This option is incorrect, since it is smaller than half the correct wavelength
This option is correct. A compression and the adjacent rarefaction in a sound wave are half a wavelength apart (i.e., λ/2). λ= fv = 340/440 = 0.7727 ≈ 0.77 m. Since a compression and the adjacent rarefaction are half a wavelength apart, we divide by 2:
λ/2 = 0.77/2 =0.385
This option is incorrect. This is the full wavelength, not half.
This option is incorrect, because it is larger than the actual wavelength.
Tagged under Physics · Wave Motion and Sound · 2024