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Chapter 17: Waves—II

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Waves play a crucial role in understanding phenomena from the sound of a rocket launch to the tracking of its speed using radar. Building on the foundational wave concepts from Chapter 16 (Waves—I), this chapter explores advanced topics in wave mechanics. For JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET students, mastering these concepts is essential, as they frequently appear in problems involving sound, motion, and high-speed phenomena. This chapter, Waves—II, covers sound waves and their properties, the Doppler effect, wave intensity and the inverse square law, and shock waves and applications, providing detailed explanations, derivations, solved examples, and practical applications to ensure conceptual clarity and problem-solving proficiency.

17.1 Sound Waves and Their Properties

Sound waves are longitudinal mechanical waves that propagate through a medium via compressions and rarefactions. This section explores their properties, a fundamental topic for JEE/NEET acoustics problems.

Characteristics of Sound Waves

  • Speed of Sound: In a medium, v=Bρ, where B is the bulk modulus and ρ is the density. In air at 20°C, v343m/s.
  • Frequency and Pitch: Frequency f determines pitch; human hearing range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
  • Amplitude and Loudness: Amplitude A relates to loudness; larger amplitude means louder sound.
  • Wave Equation: p(x,t)=p0sin(kxωt), where p is pressure variation, p0 is pressure amplitude.
  • Displacement Form: Displacement ξ(x,t)=ξ0sin(kxωt), related to pressure via p=Bξx.

Speed of Sound in Different Media

  • Gases: v=γPρ, where γ is the adiabatic index, P is pressure. For air, γ1.4.
  • Liquids: v=Bρ, e.g., water (B2.2×109Pa, ρ=1000kg/m3, v1480m/s).
  • Solids: v=Yρ, where Y is Young’s modulus (longitudinal waves).

Pressure and Displacement Relationship

The pressure variation in a sound wave is related to displacement: p=Bξx. For ξ=ξ0sin(kxωt), p=Bkξ0cos(kxωt), showing a phase difference of π/2 between pressure and displacement.

Derivation: Speed of Sound in a Gas (v=γPρ)
For an ideal gas, sound propagates adiabatically. The bulk modulus for an adiabatic process is B=γP, where γ is the adiabatic index and P is the pressure. Using the general speed of sound formula v=Bρ, substitute B=γP:

v=γPρ

For air at 20°C, P1.013×105Pa, ρ1.2kg/m3, γ1.4, so v343m/s.

Derivation: Pressure-Displacement Relationship
For a sound wave, displacement ξ(x,t)=ξ0sin(kxωt). The fractional volume change is ξx=kξ0cos(kxωt). Pressure variation: p=Bξx=Bkξ0cos(kxωt). Pressure amplitude: p0=Bkξ0.

Derivation: Speed Dependence on Temperature in a Gas
For an ideal gas, P=ρRTM, where R is the gas constant, T is temperature (K), M is molar mass. Substitute into v=γPρ: v=γRTM. Thus, vT, so speed increases with temperature.

Derivation: Particle Velocity in a Sound Wave
For ξ=ξ0sin(kxωt), particle velocity is vparticle=ξt=ωξ0cos(kxωt). Maximum particle velocity: vmax=ωξ0.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves the speed of sound in air at 27°C (γ=1.4, R=8.31J/mol·K, M=0.029kg/mol). Find the speed.

  • Solution:
    T=27+273=300K. Use v=γRTM:v=1.4×8.31×3000.029=34830.029120103.45346.6m/sRound to 347m/s.
    • JEE Tip: Speed increases with temperature; use absolute temperature (K). Common error: Using Celsius directly, underestimating v.

Solved Example: A NEET problem involves a sound wave ξ=0.001sin(2πx400πt) (in SI units). Find the maximum particle velocity.

  • Solution:
    vparticle=ξt=0.001×400πcos(2πx400πt). Maximum: vmax=0.001×400π1.257m/s.
    • NEET Tip: Maximum particle velocity occurs when cos=1; ω is the coefficient of t. Common error: Confusing particle velocity with wave speed.

Solved Example: A JEE Advanced problem involves a sound wave in water (B=2.2×109Pa, ρ=1000kg/m3). Find the speed.

  • Solution:
    v=Bρ=2.2×1091000=2.2×1061483m/s.
    • JEE Tip: Speed in liquids is higher than in gases due to higher B; matches expected value for water (~1480 m/s). Common error: Using gas formula without adjusting for medium.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves a sound wave with k=2rad/m, p0=0.5Pa in air (B=1.4×105Pa). Find the displacement amplitude.

  • Solution:
    p0=Bkξ0, so ξ0=p0Bk=0.51.4×105×21.79×106m.
    • JEE Tip: Displacement amplitude is small for sound waves; ensure consistent units. Common error: Forgetting k in the denominator.

Application: Sound wave properties apply to acoustics (e.g., concert halls), medical imaging (e.g., ultrasound), and rocketry (e.g., launch noise analysis).

17.2 The Doppler Effect

The Doppler effect describes the change in frequency of a wave due to relative motion between the source and observer, a key concept for JEE/NEET problems involving sound and motion.

Doppler Effect for Sound

When a source moves relative to an observer, the observed frequency f differs from the source frequency f:

f=f(v+vovvs)
  • v: Speed of sound in the medium.
  • vo: Speed of the observer (positive toward the source).
  • vs: Speed of the source (positive away from the observer).

Cases

  • Source Moving Toward Observer, Observer Stationary: vo=0, vs<0, so f>f.
  • Observer Moving Toward Source, Source Stationary: vs=0, vo>0, so f>f.
  • General Motion: Use the formula with appropriate signs for vo and vs.

Doppler Effect for Light (Relativistic)

For light, the non-relativistic formula doesn’t apply due to the constant speed c. The relativistic Doppler effect gives:

f=f1β1+β,whereβ=vc

This applies to high-speed sources (e.g., in astrophysics), but JEE/NEET typically focuses on sound.

Derivation: Doppler Effect for Sound
Consider a source moving at speed vs away from a stationary observer (vo=0). The source emits waves at frequency f, so the time between emissions is T=1f. In one period, the source moves a distance vsT, and the wavelength observed is increased: λ=λ+vsT=vf+vsf=v+vsf. The observed frequency is f=vλ=vv+vsf=fvv+vs. Generalize for moving observer: f=f(v+vovvs).

Derivation: Frequency Shift for Source Moving Toward Observer
If the source moves toward the observer (vs<0), use vs=|vs| in f=f(vvvs): f=f(vv(|vs|))=f(vv+|vs|), showing f>f.

Derivation: Doppler Effect in Rocket Tracking
A rocket (source) moving at vs=100m/s toward a stationary observer emits sound at f=400Hz (v=340m/s). Observed frequency: f=400(340340100)=400×340240567Hz, used in tracking.

Derivation: Temperature Dependence of Doppler Effect
The speed of sound v depends on temperature: vT. If temperature changes, v changes, affecting f. For a 10% increase in T, v increases by ~5%, altering the Doppler shift.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves a car moving at 20m/s toward a stationary observer, emitting a horn at 500Hz (v=340m/s). Find the observed frequency.

  • Solution:
    vs=20m/s (toward observer), vo=0. Use f=f(vvvs):f=500(340340(20))=500(340360)500×0.944472HzCorrection: Source moving toward observer increases frequency: f=500(34034020)=500×340320531.25Hz.
    • JEE Tip: Sign convention is critical; vs is negative when the source approaches. Common error: Incorrect sign for vs, leading to a decreased frequency.

Solved Example: A NEET problem involves an observer moving at 30m/s toward a stationary source emitting 600Hz (v=340m/s). Find the observed frequency.

  • Solution:
    vo=30m/s, vs=0. Use f=f(v+vov):f=600(340+30340)=600×370340653.5Hz
    • NEET Tip: Observer motion toward the source increases frequency; use the numerator to adjust. Common error: Forgetting to include v in the denominator.

Solved Example: A JEE Advanced problem involves a rocket moving at 50m/s away from an observer, emitting 400Hz (v=340m/s). Find f.

  • Solution:
    vs=50m/s, vo=0. f=400(340340+50)=400×340390348.7Hz.
    • JEE Tip: Source moving away decreases frequency; relevant for rocket tracking (your interest, April 19, 2025). Common error: Using incorrect sign for vs.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves a source and observer both moving toward each other at 10m/s (f=1000Hz, v=340m/s). Find f.

  • Solution:
    vo=10m/s, vs=10m/s. f=1000(340+10340(10))=1000×350350=1000×35331060.6Hz.
    • JEE Tip: Both moving toward each other increases f; simplify fractions carefully. Common error: Incorrect handling of signs for relative motion.

Application: The Doppler effect applies to radar (e.g., speed guns), astronomy (redshift), and rocketry (e.g., tracking rocket velocity via frequency shifts, aligning with your interest, April 19, 2025).

17.3 Wave Intensity and the Inverse Square Law

Wave intensity measures the power transmitted by a wave per unit area, a key concept for understanding sound and light wave propagation in JEE/NEET problems.

Wave Intensity

Intensity I is the power per unit area:

I=PA

For a sound wave, I is proportional to the square of the pressure amplitude: I=p022ρv, where p0 is the pressure amplitude, ρ is density, and v is the speed of sound.

Inverse Square Law

For a point source emitting waves spherically (e.g., sound, light), intensity decreases with distance r:

I=P4πr2

Thus, I1r2. The amplitude A or pressure amplitude p0 decreases as:

A1r,p01r

Decibel Scale

Sound intensity level is measured in decibels (dB):

β=10log10(II0)

where I0=1012W/m2 (threshold of hearing).

Derivation: Intensity of a Sound Wave (I=p022ρv)
For a sound wave, the energy flux is related to pressure and particle velocity. Average power per unit area: I=12p0vmax, where vmax=p0ρv (from impedance of the medium). Substitute: I=12p0(p0ρv)=p022ρv.

Derivation: Inverse Square Law (I1r2)
A point source emits power P isotropically. At distance r, the power spreads over a spherical surface of area 4πr2. Intensity: I=P4πr2. Since P is constant, I1r2. Amplitude scales as AI1r.

Derivation: Decibel Scale
Define intensity level β relative to I0=1012W/m2: β=10log10(II0). A 10 dB increase corresponds to a 10-fold increase in I (since log1010=1).

Derivation: Intensity in Rocket Launch Noise
A rocket launch produces I=106W/m2 at r=10m. At r=100m, I=106×(10100)2=104W/m2, reducing noise impact, critical for launch safety.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves a sound wave with p0=0.2Pa in air (ρ=1.2kg/m3, v=340m/s). Find the intensity.

  • Solution:
    I=p022ρv=(0.2)22×1.2×340=0.048164.9×105W/m2.
    • JEE Tip: Intensity scales with p02; ensure units match (Pa² over kg/m³·m/s gives W/m²). Common error: Forgetting the factor of 2 in the denominator.

Solved Example: A NEET problem involves a point source emitting P=100W at r=5m. Find the intensity.

  • Solution:
    I=P4πr2=1004π(5)2=1004π×250.318W/m2.
    • NEET Tip: Use 4πr2 for spherical waves; intensity decreases as 1/r2. Common error: Using 2πr (cylindrical waves) instead.

Solved Example: A JEE Advanced problem involves a sound intensity I=106W/m2. Find the intensity level in dB (I0=1012W/m2).

  • Solution:
    β=10log10(II0)=10log10(1061012)=10log10(106)=10×6=60dB.
    • JEE Tip: Each factor of 10 in intensity adds 10 dB; 106 means 60 dB. Common error: Using natural log instead of base-10 log.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves a rocket launch with I=105W/m2 at r=20m. Find I at r=40m.

  • Solution:
    I1r2, so I=105×(2040)2=105×14=2.5×104W/m2.
    • JEE Tip: Inverse square law applies to spherical waves; relevant for launch noise (your interest, April 19, 2025). Common error: Using linear scaling (I1r).

Application: Wave intensity applies to acoustics (e.g., sound design), medical physics (e.g., ultrasound intensity), and rocketry (e.g., launch noise levels, aligning with your interest, April 19, 2025).

17.4 Shock Waves and Applications

Shock waves occur when an object moves faster than the speed of sound in a medium, creating a sudden pressure change, a phenomenon often tested in JEE/NEET high-speed motion problems.

Shock Waves and Mach Number

A shock wave forms when an object’s speed v exceeds the speed of sound vs, with Mach number M=vvs. For M>1, a conical wavefront (Mach cone) forms, with angle θ given by:

sinθ=vsv=1M

Sonic Boom

A sonic boom is the audible shock wave produced when an object (e.g., a supersonic jet) exceeds the speed of sound, causing a sudden pressure jump heard as a loud bang.

Applications

  • Supersonic Flight: Shock waves affect aircraft design (e.g., drag, stability).
  • Medical Physics: Shock waves are used in lithotripsy to break kidney stones.
  • Rocketry: Shock waves during launches impact structural design and ground safety.

Derivation: Mach Cone Angle (sinθ=1M)
Consider a source moving at speed v>vs. In time t, the source travels distance vt, while the sound wave travels vst. The wavefront forms a cone with the source at the apex. The half-angle θ of the cone satisfies: sinθ=vstvt=vsv=1M, where M=vvs.

Derivation: Pressure Jump in a Shock Wave
Across a shock wave, pressure jumps due to compression. Using the Rankine-Hugoniot relations (simplified for JEE/NEET), the pressure ratio scales with M2: P2P12γM2γ+1, showing a significant increase for high M.

Derivation: Shock Wave in Rocket Launch
A rocket at v=680m/s (vs=340m/s in air) has M=680340=2. Mach angle: sinθ=12, θ=30. This cone angle affects ground impact zones.

Derivation: Energy Dissipation in Shock Waves
Shock waves dissipate energy via compression and heat. The entropy increase across a shock scales with (M21)3, showing higher dissipation for stronger shocks.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves a jet flying at 680m/s (vs=340m/s). Find the Mach number and cone angle.

  • Solution:
    M=vvs=680340=2. Mach angle: sinθ=1M=12, θ=30.
    • JEE Tip: Mach number determines shock wave behavior; θ decreases as M increases. Common error: Using cosθ instead of sinθ.

Solved Example: A NEET problem involves a rocket at M=3 (vs=340m/s). Find the speed and cone angle.

  • Solution:
    v=Mvs=3×340=1020m/s. sinθ=13, θ19.5.
    • NEET Tip: Higher M means a narrower cone; use sinθ=1M. Common error: Forgetting to convert sinθ to an angle.

Solved Example: A JEE Advanced problem involves a shock wave with M=2, γ=1.4. Estimate the pressure ratio across the shock.

  • Solution:
    P2P12γM2γ+1=2×1.4×42.4=11.22.44.67.
    • JEE Tip: Shock waves cause large pressure jumps; simplified formula works for JEE. Common error: Using incorrect γ for the medium.

Solved Example: A JEE Main problem involves a rocket launch at v=510m/s (vs=340m/s). Find M and θ.

  • Solution:
    M=510340=1.5. sinθ=11.5=23, θ41.8.
    • JEE Tip: Shock waves during launches (your interest, April 19, 2025) affect safety zones; compute M first. Common error: Incorrect sign in sinθ.

Application: Shock waves apply to aerodynamics (e.g., supersonic aircraft), medicine (e.g., lithotripsy), and rocketry (e.g., shock wave analysis during launches, aligning with your interest, April 19, 2025).

Summary and Quick Revision

  • Sound Waves: v=γPρ (gas), v=Bρ (liquid/solid). p=Bξx, p0=Bkξ0. Particle velocity: vmax=ωξ0. vT.
  • Doppler Effect: f=f(v+vovvs). Source toward observer: f>f. Observer toward source: f>f. Light (relativistic): f=f1β1+β, β=vc.
  • Wave Intensity: I=p022ρv. Inverse square law: I=P4πr2, I1r2, A1r. Decibel: β=10log10(II0), I0=1012W/m2.
  • Shock Waves: M=vvs, sinθ=1M (Mach cone). Pressure jump: P2P12γM2γ+1.
  • Applications: Acoustics, radar, medical imaging, supersonic flight, rocket launches.
  • JEE/NEET Tips: Use correct signs in Doppler formula, compute vs first for shock waves, apply inverse square law for spherical waves, convert intensity to dB using base-10 log, verify significant figures (April 14, 2025), distinguish particle and wave speeds.
  • SI Units: Speed (m/s), frequency (Hz), intensity (W/m²), pressure (Pa), Mach number (dimensionless).

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