Free Stationary Waves MCQs with Answers
45 Stationary Waves MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Stationary waves form when two waves of the same frequency and amplitude travel in opposite directions and interfere. The topic covers nodes, antinodes, wavelength, phase, resonance, and the allowed frequencies on strings and in air columns. Unlike progressive waves, stationary waves do not transfer energy from one point to another.
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45 questions · page 1 of 3
- A. two identical waves travel in the same direction
- B. two identical waves travel in opposite directions and superpose
- C. a wave is absorbed by a wall
- D. a single wave travels through a very long medium
Explanation: Usually the incident wave and its own reflection interfere, producing a pattern with fixed nodes of zero displacement and antinodes of…
Correct answer: two identical waves travel in opposite directions and superpose- A. one wavelength
- B. half a wavelength
- C. a quarter of a wavelength
- D. two wavelengths
Explanation: Nodes recur every half wavelength, with an antinode midway between each pair, so measuring the node separation is the standard way of…
Correct answer: half a wavelength- A. λ
- B. λ/2
- C. λ/4
- D. λ/8
Explanation: In a stationary wave, adjacent nodes are separated by half a wavelength, λ/2, and adjacent antinodes are also separated by λ/2.
Correct answer: λ/24. The first overtone of a stretched string of given length is 320 Hz. The first harmonic is_________?
- A. 320 Hz
- B. 640 Hz
- C. 160 Hz
- D. 480 Hz
Explanation: For a stretched string fixed at both ends, the first overtone is the second harmonic, so its frequency is twice the fundamental frequency.
Correct answer: 160 Hz- A. decreases
- B. increases
- C. remains the same
- D. any of above
Explanation: For a stretched wire, the frequency is proportional to the square root of its tension, f = (1/2L)√(T/μ).
Correct answer: increases- A. always an node in formed
- B. always an antinode is formed
- C. neither node nor antinode is formed
- D. sometimes a node and sometimes an antinode is formed
Explanation: At the closed end of an air column, the air cannot move, so the displacement is always zero and a displacement node forms.
Correct answer: always an node in formed- A. antinodes
- B. nodes
- C. troughs
- D. crests
Explanation: In a stationary wave, an antinode is a point where the particles vibrate with maximum amplitude, while a node remains at zero amplitude.
Correct answer: antinodes- A. The velocity of particles becomes zero at the nodes.
- B. The velocity of particles becomes maximum at the nodes.
- C. The velocity of particles varies unpredictably at the nodes.
- D. The velocity of particles remains constant but non-zero at the nodes.
Explanation: The correct answer is that the velocity of particles at the nodes remains constant but non-zero.
Correct answer: The velocity of particles remains constant but non-zero at the nodes.- A. Outside the pipe.
- B. At the closed end of the pipe
- C. At the opened end of the pipe
- D. Near the middle point of the pipe
Explanation: In a closed air column, stationary waves form with nodes at the closed end and antinodes at the open end.
Correct answer: At the closed end of the pipe- A. 25 m/s
- B. 50 m/s
- C. 100 m/s
- D. 200 m/s
Explanation: * Understanding the relationship between nodes and wavelength: The distance between two consecutive nodes of a wave is equal to half a…
Correct answer: 200 m/s- A. λ/2
- B. λ/4
- C. λ
- D. 2λ
Explanation: * Since antinodes are located exactly halfway between nodes, the distance from a node to the very next antinode is half the distance…
Correct answer: λ/4- A. I only
- B. II only
- C. I and II.
- D. between I and II.
Explanation: C) I and II.Here's why: * Nodes: Nodes are points on a stationary wave where there is no displacement, meaning the string remains…
Correct answer: I and II.- A. length of the prong.
- B. force on the tuning fork.
- C. mass attached to the prong.
- D. nature of the material of the tuning fork.
Explanation: Length of the prong: Shorter prongs generally result in higher frequencies, while longer prongs produce lower frequencies.
Correct answer: force on the tuning fork.- A. Potential only
- B. Kinetic only
- C. A combination of both forms of energy
- D. There is no energy in stationary waves
Explanation: There is no energy transfer in stationary waves, but the energy of the antinodes keeps on changing from potential to kinetic energy.
Correct answer: Kinetic only- A. The tension, length and mass per unit length of the string
- B. The tension and mass per unit length of the string only
- C. The length and mass per unit length of the string only
- D. The tension and length of the string only
Explanation: The following is the solution: The frequencies of the harmonic series on a string are determined by the length of the string (L), the…
Correct answer: The tension, length and mass per unit length of the string- A. 90 degree
- B. 180 degreee
- C. 270 degree
- D. 150 degree
Explanation: The ange between node and antinode is 90 degree.The angle between two nodes or two antinodes (or adjacent crests and troughs) is 180…
Correct answer: 90 degree- A. fn = n * fl
- B. fn = n + fl
- C. fn =fl/ n
- D. n * fn = fl
Explanation: The correct relationship between the number of loops (n) in a vibrating spring and the frequency (f) of the stationary waves set up on the…
Correct answer: fn = n * fl- A. A
- B. B
- C. C
- D. D
Explanation: 1 full wavelength is 2π or 360°, so half wavelength will have a 180° difference or π.
Correct answer: D- A. 0.20 m
- B. 0.40 m
- C. 0.80m
- D. 1.60m
Explanation: Option C is correct since according to the formula for standing waves in an open pipe, the fundamental frequency is : v/2L.
Correct answer: 0.80m- A. 0 DEG
- B. 90 DEG
- C. 180 DEG
- D. 270 DEG
Explanation: Option C is correct since the formula becomes L=lambda, where L is the length of the tube.
Correct answer: 180 DEGStationary Waves MCQs: common questions
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There are 45 Stationary Waves MCQs in the Physics bank, shown 20 to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.
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