Waves Practice Questions
JEE · Physics · 1492 free MCQs with instant results and detailed explanations.
1492
Total
369
Easy
640
Medium
483
Hard
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Topics in Waves
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
223
Superposition
241
Standing Waves
204
Beats
208
Doppler Effect
205
Speed of Sound
217
Organ Pipes and Strings
194
Sample Questions from Waves
Here are 10 sample questions. Start a quiz to get randomized questions with scoring.
Q1
Easy
What type of wave is characterized by particle motion that is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation?
A.
Transverse wave
B.
Longitudinal wave
C.
Surface wave
D.
Standing wave
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
In a transverse wave, particles move up and down while the wave travels horizontally, making their motion perpendicular to the wave direction.
Q2
Easy
Which of the following is an example of a longitudinal wave?
A.
Sound wave
B.
Light wave
C.
Water wave
D.
Seismic S-wave
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Sound waves compress and expand the medium in the same direction as the wave travels, which is characteristic of longitudinal waves.
Q3
Easy
In which medium do transverse waves typically NOT propagate?
A.
Solid
B.
Liquid
C.
Gas
D.
All of the above
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
Transverse waves cannot propagate in gases because the particles in gases are too far apart to transmit shear stress, which is necessary for transverse wave motion.
Q4
Medium
A wave on a string is described by the equation y(x, t) = A sin(kx - ωt). What does 'k' represent in this equation?
A.
Wave speed
B.
Wave number
C.
Amplitude
D.
Frequency
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
'k' is the wave number, which is defined as 2π divided by the wavelength, indicating how many wave cycles exist in a unit distance.
Q5
Medium
If the frequency of a longitudinal wave is doubled while the medium's properties remain unchanged, what happens to the wavelength?
A.
It doubles
B.
It halves
C.
It remains the same
D.
It quadruples
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Wavelength and frequency are inversely related in a wave. Doubling the frequency halves the wavelength if the wave speed remains constant.
Q6
Medium
What type of wave is produced when a tuning fork vibrates in air?
A.
Transverse wave
B.
Longitudinal wave
C.
Surface wave
D.
Electromagnetic wave
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Sound waves generated by a vibrating tuning fork in air are longitudinal waves, where the displacement of the air molecules is parallel to the wave propagation direction.
Q7
Medium
Which of the following statements is true about transverse and longitudinal waves?
A.
Only transverse waves can travel in a vacuum.
B.
Longitudinal waves have particles vibrating perpendicular to wave direction.
C.
Transverse waves cannot travel through liquids.
D.
Longitudinal waves can travel through solids.
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: D
Longitudinal waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases as they rely on compression and rarefaction, while transverse waves cannot propagate through fluids.
Q8
Hard
In a longitudinal wave, which of the following statements accurately describes the regions of compression and rarefaction?
A.
Regions of compression have particles farther apart
B.
Regions of rarefaction have higher pressure
C.
Regions of compression have particles closer together
D.
Regions of rarefaction are stationary
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
In a longitudinal wave, regions of compression are where the particles are closer together, while regions of rarefaction are where they are further apart.
Q9
Hard
A tuning fork produces a sound wave as a transverse wave on a string. If the frequency is doubled, how does this affect the speed of the wave on the string, assuming tension stays constant?
A.
Speed doubles
B.
Speed remains the same
C.
Speed halves
D.
Speed increases by a factor of √2
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
The speed of a wave on a string is determined by the tension and the mass per unit length, not the frequency. Therefore, if tension is constant, speed remains the same regardless of frequency changes.
Q10
Hard
If a transverse wave on a string is described by the equation y(x, t) = A sin(kx - ωt), what does the parameter k represent?
A.
Angular frequency
B.
Wave number
C.
Amplitude
D.
Phase constant
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
In the wave equation, k is the wave number, which is defined as the number of wavelengths per unit distance, k = 2π/λ.
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Waves — JEE Physics Practice Questions Online
This page contains 1492 practice MCQs for the chapter Waves in JEE Physics. The questions are organized by difficulty — 369 easy, 640 medium, 483 hard — so you can choose the right level for your preparation.
Every question includes a detailed explanation to help you understand the concept, not just memorize answers. Take a timed quiz to simulate exam conditions, or practice at your own pace with no time limit. This chapter covers 7 topics, giving you comprehensive coverage of the entire chapter.