WAVES-Objective Questions for Entrance Exams The chapter Waves forms a vital bridge between basic mechanics and advanced physical phenomena encountered in sound, optics, and modern physics. In competitive examinations such as JEE (Main & Advanced), NEET, AIIMS, BITSAT, KVPY, Olympiads, and State Engineering Exams, questions from waves are not merely formula-based but demand a deep conceptual understanding of wave motion, superposition, interference, standing waves, Doppler effect, and acoustics. These examinations repeatedly test a student’s ability to interpret wave equations, analyze phase relationships, apply boundary conditions in strings and organ pipes, and logically deduce results from physical situations rather than rote memorization.
The objective questions compiled here are carefully modelled on frequently repeated patterns and classic questions that have appeared across multiple years and exam formats. Each problem is designed to strengthen conceptual clarity, improve problem-solving speed, and develop the analytical thinking required under exam pressure. The explanations are concise, mathematically sound, and aligned with NCERT Class XI Physics while also incorporating the depth expected in higher-level competitive exams. Mastery of these questions equips students with a strong foundation to tackle both numerical and conceptual challenges, ensuring confidence and precision in one of the most scoring yet conceptually rich chapters of physics.
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Q1
A wave on a stretched string is represented by \( y = 0.02 \sin(4\pi x - 200\pi t) \). The speed of the wave is (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 1998)
(A) \(25\,\text{m s}^{-1}\)
(B) \(50\,\text{m s}^{-1}\)
(C) \(100\,\text{m s}^{-1}\)
(D) \(200\,\text{m s}^{-1}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q2
The ratio of maximum particle velocity to wave velocity in a transverse wave is (Exam: NEET Year: 2019)
(A) \(A\)
(B) \(kA\)
(C) \(\omega A\)
(D) \(\frac{A}{\lambda}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q3
In a stationary wave, the distance between a node and the adjacent antinode is (Exam: AIIMS Year: 2014)
(A) \(\frac{\lambda}{2}\)
(B) \(\frac{\lambda}{4}\)
(C) \(\lambda\)
(D) \(\frac{3\lambda}{4}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q4
The fundamental frequency of a stretched string fixed at both ends is \(f\). The frequency of the third harmonic is (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2003)
(A) \(2f\)
(B) \(3f\)
(C) \(4f\)
(D) \(6f\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q5
Sound waves cannot be polarized because they are (Exam: NEET Year: 2016)
(A) Longitudinal
(B) Transverse
(C) Mechanical
(D) Electromagnetic
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (A)
Q6
Two waves of same frequency interfere. The condition for destructive interference is (Exam: JEE Main Year: 2021)
(A) Path difference \(n\lambda\)
(B) Path difference \((2n+1)\lambda\)
(C) Path difference \(\frac{(2n+1)\lambda}{2}\)
(D) Path difference \(\frac{n\lambda}{2}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q7
The speed of sound in air increases with (Exam: NEET Year: 2020)
(A) Increase in humidity
(B) Increase in pressure
(C) Decrease in temperature
(D) Increase in density
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (A)
Q8
In a stretched string, wave speed depends on (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2001)
(A) Amplitude
(B) Frequency
(C) Tension and linear density
(D) Length of string
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q9
A tuning fork produces resonance in a resonance tube when the air column length is (Exam: AIIMS Year: 2011)
(A) \(\frac{\lambda}{4}\)
(B) \(\frac{\lambda}{2}\)
(C) \(\frac{3\lambda}{4}\)
(D) Both a and c
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (D)
Q10
Beats are produced due to difference in (Exam: BITSAT Year: 2018)
(A) Amplitude
(B) Phase
(C) Frequency
(D) Wavelength
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q11
A source of sound approaches a stationary observer with speed \(u\). The apparent frequency heard is (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2006)
(A) \(f\left(1+\frac{u}{v}\right)\)
(B) \(f\left(1-\frac{u}{v}\right)\)
(C) \(\frac{fv}{v+u}\)
(D) \(\frac{fv}{v-u}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (D)
Q12
In a standing wave, the points where displacement is always zero are called (Exam: NEET Year: 2017)
(A) Antinodes
(B) Crests
(C) Nodes
(D) Troughs
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q13
The fundamental frequency of an open organ pipe of length \(L\) is (Exam: AIIMS Year: 2010)
(A) \(\frac{v}{4L}\)
(B) \(\frac{v}{2L}\)
(C) \(\frac{v}{L}\)
(D) \(\frac{2v}{L}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q14
The intensity of a wave is proportional to (Exam: JEE Main Year: 2020)
(A) Amplitude
(B) Frequency
(C) Square of amplitude
(D) Wavelength
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q15
Two waves of equal amplitude interfere destructively. Resultant intensity is (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 1995)
(A) Zero
(B) Half
(C) Double
(D) Same as one wave
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (A)
Q16
Phase difference between two successive nodes in a stationary wave is (Exam: KVPY Year: 2013)
(A) \(0\)
(B) \(\pi\)
(C) \(\frac{\pi}{2}\)
(D) \(2\pi\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q17
The speed of sound in a gas is independent of (Exam: NEET Year: 2015)
(A) Temperature
(B) Density
(C) Pressure (at constant temperature)
(D) Humidity
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q18
If tension in a stretched string is quadrupled, wave speed becomes (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2008)
(A) Half
(B) Double
(C) Four times
(D) Same
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q19
The number of beats per second produced by two tuning forks of frequencies 256 Hz and 260 Hz is (Exam: BITSAT Year: 2019)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q20
In a closed pipe, only which harmonics are present? (Exam: NEET Year: 2021)
(A) Even
(B) Odd
(C) All
(D) Prime
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q21
The ratio of wavelength of fundamental note in closed pipe to open pipe of same length is (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2004)
(A) 1:1
(B) 2:1
(C) 1:2
(D) 4:1
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q22
Doppler effect is observed only when (Exam: AIIMS Year: 2012)
(A) Source moves
(B) Observer moves
(C) Medium moves
(D) There is relative motion
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (D)
Q23
The energy transported by a wave depends on (Exam: JEE Main Year: 2019)
(A) Frequency only
(B) Amplitude only
(C) Amplitude and frequency
(D) Wavelength only
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q24
Group velocity is given by (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2002)
(A) \(\frac{\omega}{k}\)
(B) \(\frac{d\omega}{dk}\)
(C) \(vk\)
(D) \(\frac{dk}{d\omega}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q25
Phase velocity of a wave is (Exam: KVPY Year: 2015)
(A) Particle velocity
(B) Velocity of energy transport
(C) Velocity of wave crest
(D) Zero
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q26
A wave reflects from a rigid boundary with phase change of (Exam: NEET Year: 2018)
(A) \(0\)
(B) \(\pi\)
(C) \(\frac{\pi}{2}\)
(D) \(2\pi\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q27
End correction is applied because (Exam: AIIMS Year: 2011)
(A) Pipe walls vibrate
(B) Air vibrates outside the pipe
(C) Pipe length changes
(D) Sound leaks
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q28
Speed of sound is maximum in (Exam: NEET Year: 2014)
(A) Solids
(B) Liquids
(C) Gases
(D) Vacuum
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (A)
Q29
If frequency of wave doubles, its wavelength becomes (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 1999)
(A) Same
(B) Double
(C) Half
(D) Four times
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q30
A wave carries (Exam: JEE Main Year: 2022)
(A) Matter
(B) Energy
(C) Medium
(D) Mass
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q31
Standing waves are formed due to (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2007)
(A) Refraction
(B) Diffraction
(C) Interference
(D) Polarization
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q32
Distance between two successive antinodes is (Exam: NEET Year: 2016)
(A) \(\lambda\)
(B) \(\frac{\lambda}{2}\)
(C) \(\frac{\lambda}{4}\)
(D) \(2\lambda\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q33
The wave equation represents (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2000)
(A) SHM
(B) Progressive wave
(C) Standing wave
(D) Circular motion
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q34
If linear density of string increases, wave speed (Exam: JEE Main Year: 2021)
(A) Increases
(B) Decreases
(C) Remains same
(D) Becomes zero
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q35
Maximum displacement occurs at (Exam: NEET Year: 2013)
(A) Node
(B) Antinode
(C) Midpoint
(D) Fixed end
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q36
Sound intensity level is measured in (Exam: AIIMS Year: 2009)
(A) Hertz
(B) Decibel
(C) Joule
(D) Pascal
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q37
The phenomenon responsible for hearing a sound around a corner is (Exam: NEET Year: 2019)
(A) Reflection
(B) Refraction
(C) Diffraction
(D) Interference
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q38
Phase difference between displacement and velocity in SHM is (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 1997)
(A) \(0\)
(B) \(\frac{\pi}{2}\)
(C) \(\pi\)
(D) \(2\pi\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q39
Which wave property changes on reflection? (Exam: KVPY Year: 2014)
(A) Frequency
(B) Speed
(C) Phase
(D) Wavelength
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q40
The loudness of sound depends on (Exam: NEET Year: 2012)
(A) Frequency
(B) Wavelength
(C) Intensity
(D) Speed
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q41
Which of the following is not a mechanical wave? (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2005)
(A) Sound wave
(B) Water wave
(C) Light wave
(D) Seismic wave
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q42
A wave travelling in opposite direction is represented by (Exam: JEE Main Year: 2020)
(A) \(kx-\omega t\)
(B) \(kx+\omega t\)
(C) \(\omega t-kx\)
(D) Both b and c
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (D)
Q43
Which factor does not affect speed of sound in air? (Exam: NEET Year: 2011)
(A) Temperature
(B) Humidity
(C) Density
(D) Amplitude
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (D)
Q44
Beats are heard clearly when frequency difference is (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 1996)
(A) Very large
(B) Very small
(C) Zero
(D) Infinite
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q45
In stationary waves, energy transfer is (Exam: AIIMS Year: 2013)
(A) Maximum
(B) Minimum
(C) Zero
(D) Variable
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q46
Phase difference between two points separated by \(\lambda\) is (Exam: NEET Year: 2018)
(A) \(0\)
(B) \(\pi\)
(C) \(2\pi\)
(D) \(\frac{\pi}{2}\)
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q47
Which wave phenomenon explains echo? (Exam: JEE Main Year: 2017)
(A) Diffraction
(B) Refraction
(C) Reflection
(D) Interference
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q48
The pitch of sound depends on (Exam: NEET Year: 2015)
(A) Amplitude
(B) Frequency
(C) Speed
(D) Intensity
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (B)
Q49
A string fixed at one end and free at the other supports (Exam: IIT-JEE Year: 2009)
(A) All harmonics
(B) Even harmonics
(C) Odd harmonics
(D) No harmonics
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Q50
Which condition is necessary for interference? (Exam: Olympiad Year: 2016)
(A) Same amplitude
(B) Same phase
(C) Coherent sources
(D) Same speed
Reveal Answer
✅ Correct: (C)
Frequently Asked Questions
A wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium or space and transfers energy without causing any permanent displacement of matter.
Wave motion is the propagation of oscillations from one point to another in a medium due to restoring forces and inertia of particles.
No, wave motion involves transfer of energy only; particles oscillate about their mean positions.
Mechanical waves are waves that require a material medium for propagation, such as sound waves and water waves.
Non-mechanical waves do not require a material medium and can propagate through vacuum, for example electromagnetic waves.
Transverse waves are waves in which particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
Waves on a stretched string, ripples on the surface of water, and electromagnetic waves are examples.
Longitudinal waves are waves in which particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
Sound waves in air and compression waves in solids are examples of longitudinal waves.
Wavelength is the distance between two successive points in the same phase of vibration, such as consecutive crests or compressions.
The SI unit of wavelength is metre (m).
Frequency is the number of complete oscillations made by a particle of the medium per second.
The SI unit of frequency is hertz (Hz).
Time period is the time taken by a particle of the medium to complete one full oscillation.
Frequency is the reciprocal of time period, given by \( f = \frac{1}{T} \).
