Q.The earth has a radius of 6400 km. The inner core of 1000 km radius is solid. Outside it, there is a region from 1000 km to a radius of 3500 km which is in molten state. Then again from 3500 km to 6400 km the earth is solid. Only longitudinal (P) waves can travel inside a liquid. Assume that the P wave has a speed of 8 km s−1 in solid parts and of 5 km s−1 in liquid parts of the earth. An earthquake occurs at some place close to the surface of the earth. Calculate the time after which it will be recorded in a seismometer at a diametrically opposite point on the earth if wave travels along diameter?
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Free Fall
Free Fall: The Intuition
Imagine you're holding a ball in your hand. The moment you let go, it drops. That's free fall — but only the simplest version. The real idea is more interesting.
Think about what happens when you drop a feather and a hammer on Earth. The feather flutters down slowly; the hammer crashes straight down. Most people say the hammer falls faster because it's heavier. That's wrong. The feather is slowed by air resistance — the air pushes up against its large surface area. The hammer, being dense and compact, cuts through air easily.
Now imagine doing the same experiment on the Moon. There's no air. When Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott dropped a hammer and a feather on the Moon, they hit the ground at the exact same time. That's free fall: falling under the influence of gravity alone, with no other forces acting.
The Precise Statement
Free fall is the motion of an object under the sole influence of gravity. No air resistance, no thrust, no tension — only the gravitational force.
In free fall, every object — regardless of mass, shape, or size — accelerates downward at the same rate. On Earth, that acceleration is approximately g=9.8m/s2 (often taken as 10m/s2 for quick calculations).
What This Means Mathematically
If you drop an object from rest, its motion is described by three simple equations (assuming downward is positive):
- Velocity after time t: v=gt
- Distance fallen after time t: s=21gt2
- Relation between velocity and distance: v2=2gs
These come directly from the equations of motion with constant acceleration a=g.
v=u+gtands=ut+21gt2andv2=u2+2gs
For free fall from rest, u=0.
The Key Insight That Confuses Most Students
Free fall does NOT mean "falling downward." An object thrown upward is also in free fall from the moment it leaves your hand until it lands. Why? Because the only force acting on it during that entire journey is gravity (ignoring air). It slows down going up, stops at the top, then speeds up coming down — all with the same constant acceleration g downward.
A common mistake: thinking that an object at the top of its path (where velocity is zero) has zero acceleration. No. At the top, gravity still pulls downward with g=9.8m/s2. The object is still in free fall.
Real-World vs. Ideal Free Fall
On Earth, true free fall is rare because air resistance is almost always present. A skydiver is in free fall only for the first few seconds — until air resistance builds up and balances gravity, at which point they reach terminal velocity and are no longer accelerating. That's not free fall anymore. …
The problem involves calculating the travel time of a P-wave through different layers of the Earth, each with a distinct speed. The key idea is that the total travel time is the sum of the times spent in each medium, where time is distance divided by speed.
- The wave travels along the diameter from one surface to the diametrically opposite point. The Earth's radius is 6400 km.
- Distance in solid parts: From 6400 km to 3500 km (outer solid) and from 1000 km to 0 km (inner solid). Along the full diameter, this distance is 2×((6400−3500)+(1000−0)) km =2×(2900+1000) km =2×3900 km =7800 km.
- Distance in liquid parts: From 3500 km to 1000 km (molten region). Along the full diameter, this distance is 2×(3500−1000) km =2×2500 km =5000 km. …
An earthquake's P-wave travels along the Earth's diameter, passing through distinct solid and liquid layers at different speeds. The total travel time is found by summing the time spent in each layer. The total time taken is 1975 s.
The problem asks us to calculate the total time a P-wave takes to travel from an earthquake's origin near the Earth's surface to a seismometer located at the diametrically opposite point on the surface, specifically along the diameter. The core concept here is that the Earth's interior is not uniform; it consists of different layers (solid and molten) through which seismic waves travel at different speeds. P-waves (primary waves) are compressional waves that can propagate through both solids and liquids, but their speed depends on the medium's properties. To find the total travel time, we must determine the distance the wave travels in each type of medium (solid and liquid) and then sum the individual travel times for those segments.
Here is a step-by-step solution:
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Understand the Earth's structure and wave speeds:
The Earth has a total radius of R=6400 km. The problem describes the internal structure in terms of radial distances from the center:
- Inner Core: Solid, from r=0 km to r=1000 km.
- Molten Region: Liquid, from r=1000 km to r=3500 km.
- Outer Solid Region: Solid, from r=3500 km to r=6400 km (the surface).
The P-wave speeds are given as:
- vsolid=8 km s−1 in solid parts.
- vliquid=5 km s−1 in liquid parts.
-
Determine the path and segment distances:
The earthquake occurs near the surface (r=6400 km), and the wave travels along the diameter to the diametrically opposite point on the surface (r=6400 km on the other side). This path passes directly through the Earth's center. We can break this path into two symmetrical halves: from the surface to the center, and from the center to the opposite surface.
Let's calculate the distance traveled in each layer for one half of the diameter (from surface to center):
- Outer Solid Region: The wave travels from r=6400 km down to r=3500 km. Distance d1=6400 km−3500 km=2900 km. (Solid)
- Molten Region: The wave travels from r=3500 km down to r=1000 km. Distance d2=3500 km−1000 km=2500 km. (Liquid)
- Inner Core (Solid): The wave travels from r=1000 km down to r=0 km (the center). Distance d3=1000 km−0 km=1000 km. (Solid)
The path from the center to the opposite surface is identical in terms of layer thicknesses. Therefore, the total distances in solid and liquid parts for the entire diameter are:
- Total distance in solid parts (Dsolid): Dsolid=2×(d1+d3)=2×(2900 km+1000 km)=2×3900 km=7800 km.
- Total distance in liquid parts (Dliquid): Dliquid=2×d2=2×2500 km=5000 km. …
Step 1: Along one half of the diameter (surface to centre), find the thickness of each layer: outer solid =6400−3500=2900 km; molten (liquid) =3500−1000=2500 km; inner core (solid) =1000−0=1000 km.
Step 2: Double each thickness for the full surface-to-surface diameter (the path is symmetric through the centre):
Dsolid=2(2900+1000)=7800 km,Dliquid=2(2500)=5000 km.
Check: 7800+5000=12800 km=2×6400 km — matches the full diameter. ✓ …
Showing the 12 most recent of 20 on this concept.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.If a source of sound initially at rest is moving away from a stationery observer with an acceleration of 11ms−2, then the time taken for the frequency of sound heard by the observer to become 10% less than the frequency of source is (Speed of sound in air =330ms−1) (A) 4.4s (B) 1.1s (C) 2.2s (D) 3.3s
›Reveal solutionSolution
The problem uses the Doppler effect for a source moving away from a stationary observer. The observed frequency drops to 90% of the source frequency when the source reaches a certain speed; using the relation between speed, acceleration, and time gives the answer as 3.3 s, option (D).
Concept & Intuition
When a source of sound moves away from a stationary observer, the observed frequency is lower than the source frequency. The Doppler formula tells us exactly how much lower based on the source’s speed. Here, the source starts from rest and accelerates uniformly, so its speed increases linearly with time. We need the time when the observed frequency is 10% less — meaning it is 90% of the source frequency. That gives a specific source speed, and from acceleration we find the time.
Step-by-step solution
- Write the Doppler effect formula for a source moving away from a stationary observer. For a stationary observer and a moving source, the observed frequency f′ is:
f′=v+vsvf
where v=330m/s is the speed of sound, vs is the speed of the source (positive when moving away), and f is the source frequency.
- Set the condition for a 10% decrease. A 10% decrease means the observed frequency is 90% of the source frequency:
f′=0.9f
Substitute into the Doppler formula:
0.9f=330+vs330f
Cancel f (assuming non-zero):
0.9=330+vs330
- Solve for the source speed vs. Rearranging:
0.9(330+vs)=330
297+0.9vs=330
0.9vs=33
vs=0.933=9330=36.6m/s
So vs=3110m/s exactly.
- Relate speed to time under constant acceleration. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.If t1 is time taken for a body to cool from temperature of 80∘C to 75∘C and t2 is time taken to cool from 75∘C to 70∘C, then t1:t2= (Temperature of surroundings =30∘C) (A) 19:21 (B) 17:19 (C) 7:9 (D) 9:11
›Reveal solutionSolution
By Newton's law of cooling each interval drops the same 5∘C, so the time is inversely proportional to the mean excess temperature: t1:t2=17:19.
Setup. For a small temperature drop, Newton's law of cooling gives
tΔθ=k(θmean−θs),θs=30∘C.
Both intervals have the same drop Δθ=5∘C, so t∝θmean−θs1.
Interval 1 (80→75): mean =77.5∘C, excess =77.5−30=47.5.
t1∝47.55. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.A body P of mass 3 kg at rest is dropped from a height of 250 m from the ground. At the same moment another body Q of mass 2 kg is thrown vertically upwards from the ground with a velocity of 50ms−1. Both the bodies travel along the same straight line in opposite directions. The velocity of body Q when the centre of mass of the system of the bodies P and Q reaches the maximum height is (Acceleration due to gravity =10ms−2) (A) 25ms−1 (B) 30ms−1 (C) 40ms−1 (D) 20ms−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The centre of mass starts upward at 20m/s and decelerates at g; it peaks when vcm=0 at t=2s, when Q's velocity is 30m/s — option (B).
Take upward as positive. Only gravity acts, so both bodies have acceleration −g=−10m/s2.
Velocities as functions of time.
vP=−10t(P dropped from rest),vQ=50−10t.
Velocity of the centre of mass (mP=3, mQ=2):
vcm=53(−10t)+2(50−10t)=5100−50t=20−10t. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-04-FN1 markMCQQ.A solid sphere is rolling down without slipping on an inclined plane of length 21 m with an acceleration of 5 ms−2. The time taken by a circular disc to roll down without slipping to reach the bottom from the top of the same inclined plane is (A) 5 s (B) 9 s (C) 3 s (D) 6 s
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that the acceleration of a rolling body down an incline depends on its moment of inertia. Using the sphere’s acceleration to find the incline’s slope, then applying the disc’s acceleration to find its time, gives 3 seconds.
When a rigid body rolls without slipping down an inclined plane, its linear acceleration is not simply gsinθ (as for a sliding block). Part of the gravitational potential energy goes into rotational kinetic energy, so the acceleration is reduced by a factor that depends on the body’s moment of inertia.
For any rolling object of radius R and moment of inertia I=kmR2 (where k is a dimensionless constant), the acceleration down an incline of angle θ is:
a=1+kgsinθ
This is a standard result derived from combining Newton’s second law for translation and rotation, with the no-slip condition a=αR.
For a solid sphere, k=52, so asphere=1+52gsinθ=75gsinθ.
For a circular disc (or solid cylinder), k=21, so adisc=1+21gsinθ=32gsinθ.
The problem gives the sphere’s acceleration as 5 m/s2. This lets us find gsinθ, which is the same for both bodies on the same incline. Then we can find the disc’s acceleration and, using the constant-acceleration equation, the time to cover the 21 m length.
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Find gsinθ from the sphere’s motion.
For the sphere: as=75gsinθ=5.
So gsinθ=5×57=7 m/s2.
-
Find the disc’s acceleration.
For the disc: ad=32gsinθ=32×7=314 m/s2.
-
Find the time taken by the disc.
Both start from rest, so using s=21at2 with s=21 m: …
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- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-05-FN1 markMCQQ.One second after projection, the horizontal and vertical velocities of a projectile are found to be equal and after one more second, the motion of the projectile is along the horizontal. The horizontal range of the projectile is (Acceleration due to gravity =10ms−2) (A) 10 m (B) 20 m (C) 30 m (D) 40 m
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key is to use the given velocity conditions to find the initial velocity components. The horizontal range is 40m, so the correct option is (D).
The problem gives you two snapshots of a projectile’s motion. At t=1s, the horizontal and vertical velocity components are equal. One second later — at t=2s — the velocity is purely horizontal, meaning the vertical component has become zero. That second condition tells you exactly when the projectile reaches its highest point: at t=2s. From there, you can work backwards to find the initial vertical velocity, and then use the first condition to find the horizontal velocity. The range follows directly.
Let’s go step by step.
- Interpret the “motion along the horizontal” condition. At t=2s, the projectile’s velocity is horizontal. That means vy=0 at t=2s. For a projectile under constant gravity g=10m/s2 (taking upward as positive), the vertical velocity obeys
vy=uy−gt,
where uy is the initial vertical velocity. Setting vy=0 at t=2s:
0=uy−(10)(2)⇒uy=20m/s.
- Use the “equal velocities” condition at t=1s. At t=1s, the horizontal and vertical speeds are equal. The horizontal velocity is constant: vx=ux (no acceleration horizontally). The vertical velocity at t=1s is
vy(1)=uy−g(1)=20−10=10m/s.
The condition ∣vx∣=∣vy∣ at this instant gives
ux=10m/s.
(Both are positive, so no sign confusion.)
- Find the time of flight. …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-03-AN1 markMCQQ.The frequency of sound heard by an observer moving towards a stationary source with certain speed is n1 and if the observer moves away from the same source with same speed, the frequency of sound heard by the observer is n2. If the speed of sound in air is 340ms−1 and n1:n2=71:65, then speed of observer is (A) 36 kmph (B) 27 kmph (C) 15 kmph (D) 54 kmph
›Reveal solutionSolution
The moving-observer Doppler ratio n2n1=v−vov+vo=6571 gives vo=15 m/s=54 kmph.
Concept
With a stationary source and an observer moving at speed vo, the frequency heard is raised when approaching and lowered when receding:
n1=nvv+vo,n2=nvv−vo
Their ratio depends only on vo and the speed of sound v:
n2n1=v−vov+vo=6571
Solving for the observer's speed …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-03-FN1 markMCQQ.The frequency of sound heard by an observer moving towards a stationary source with certain speed is n1 and if the observer moves away from the same source with same speed, the frequency of sound heard by the observer is n2. If the speed of sound in air is 340ms−1 and n1:n2=71:65, then speed of observer is (A) 27 kmph (B) 15 kmph (C) 54 kmph (D) 36 kmph
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Doppler effect for a moving observer gives frequencies n1=n0vv+vo and n2=n0vv−vo. Their ratio 71/65 yields vo=15m/s=54km/h, so the correct option is (C).
The key idea is the Doppler effect for a moving observer and a stationary source. When the observer moves, the effective speed of sound relative to the observer changes, altering the perceived frequency. The ratio of frequencies when moving toward vs. away directly gives the observer’s speed without needing the source frequency.
-
Set up the Doppler formulas
For a stationary source emitting frequency n0 and speed of sound v=340m/s, the frequency heard by an observer moving with speed vo is:
- Toward the source: n1=n0vv+vo
- Away from the source: n2=n0vv−vo (The plus/minus is because the observer’s motion changes the relative speed of sound.)
-
Use the given ratio
We are told n1:n2=71:65, so:
n2n1=6571
Substitute the expressions:
n0vv−von0vv+vo=v−vov+vo=6571
- Solve for vo Cross-multiply:
65(v+vo)=71(v−vo)
Expand:
65v+65vo=71v−71vo
Bring terms together:
65vo+71vo=71v−65v
136vo=6v
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- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-AN1 markMCQQ.A steel pendulum clock manufactured at 32∘C and working at 47∘C is nearly (Coefficient of linear expansion of steel =12×10−6/∘C) (A) 7.8 s slow per day (B) 7.8 s fast per day (C) 15.6 s slow per day (D) 15.6 s fast per day
›Reveal solutionSolution
A pendulum clock runs slower at higher temperatures because the pendulum rod expands, increasing its length and thus its period. The fractional change in time is half the fractional change in length. For a 15°C rise, the clock loses about 7.8 seconds per day, so the correct option is (A).
The key concept here is thermal expansion of the pendulum rod. A pendulum’s period depends on its length: T=2πL/g. When the temperature rises, the rod expands, making L larger, so the period increases. A longer period means the clock ticks less frequently — it runs slow. The question asks how many seconds per day it loses.
We need the fractional change in period. For small changes, we can use calculus or a simple approximation.
-
Find the change in length.
The rod’s length changes by ΔL=L0αΔT, where α=12×10−6/∘C and ΔT=47−32=15∘C.
So L0ΔL=αΔT=12×10−6×15=180×10−6=1.8×10−4.
-
Relate period change to length change.
From T=2πL/g, take the natural log: lnT=ln(2π)+21lnL−21lng.
Differentiate: TdT=21LdL.
For small changes, TΔT≈21LΔL.
So TΔT=21×1.8×10−4=9.0×10−5.
-
Interpret the sign.
Since ΔL>0, ΔT>0 — the period increases. The clock ticks less often, so it loses time. It will be slow.
-
Calculate the time lost per day.
One day has 24×3600=86400 seconds. …
-
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-AN1 markMCQQ.A car moving towards a cliff emits sound of frequency ‘n’. If the difference in frequencies of the horn and its echo heard by the driver of the car is 10% of ‘n’, then the speed of the car is nearly (Speed of sound in air is 336ms−1) (A) 16ms−1 (B) 18ms−1 (C) 30ms−1 (D) 33ms−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The problem involves the Doppler effect for sound: the driver hears both the direct horn frequency and the echo reflected from the cliff. The difference between these two frequencies is given as 10% of the original frequency. Solving the Doppler equations yields the car’s speed as approximately 16m/s, which corresponds to option (A).
Concept and Intuition
The driver emits a sound of frequency n while moving toward a stationary cliff. The cliff acts as a “listener” that receives a higher frequency (because the source is approaching). The cliff then reflects that sound, becoming a stationary source emitting that higher frequency. The driver, still moving toward the cliff, now hears this reflected sound at an even higher frequency. The echo frequency is thus shifted twice: once on the way to the cliff, and once on the way back. The problem states that the difference between the echo frequency and the original horn frequency is 10% of n, i.e., 0.1n. We set up the Doppler equations and solve for the car’s speed.
Step-by-step solution
- Frequency heard by the cliff (first Doppler shift) The car (source) moves toward the stationary cliff (observer) with speed vc. The frequency received at the cliff is:
n1=n⋅v−vcv
where v=336m/s is the speed of sound. The cliff is a stationary observer, so the formula uses the source moving toward observer.
- Frequency heard by the driver from the echo (second Doppler shift) The cliff now acts as a stationary source emitting frequency n1. The driver (observer) moves toward this source with speed vc. The frequency heard by the driver is:
n2=n1⋅vv+vc
Here the observer moves toward a stationary source, so we add the observer’s speed.
- Combine the two shifts Substitute n1 into the expression for n2:
n2=n⋅v−vcv⋅vv+vc=n⋅v−vcv+vc
So the echo frequency is simply n2=n⋅v−vcv+vc.
- Use the given frequency difference The difference between the echo frequency and the original horn frequency is:
n2−n=0.1n
Substitute n2:
n⋅v−vcv+vc−n=0.1n
Divide through by n (nonzero):
v−vcv+vc−1=0.1 …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-FN1 markMCQQ.A car moving towards a cliff emits sound of frequency 'n'. If the difference in frequencies of the horn and its echo heard by the driver of the car is 10% of 'n', then the speed of the car is nearly (Speed of sound in air is 336ms−1) (A) 30ms−1 (B) 18ms−1 (C) 16ms−1 (D) 33ms−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The driver hears both the direct horn frequency and the echo from the cliff (which is Doppler-shifted twice). The difference is 10% of the original frequency, leading to a car speed of about 16m/s.
The key here is to track the frequency shifts carefully. The horn emits frequency n from the moving car. The driver hears two sounds: the direct sound from the horn (which is Doppler-shifted because the car is moving toward the driver — but wait, the driver is in the car, so the source and observer move together). The echo comes from the sound reflecting off the cliff, which acts like a stationary observer then a stationary source.
Let’s break it down.
-
Direct sound heard by the driver
The car is the source of frequency n, and the driver is the observer — both move together at speed vc. Since source and observer have zero relative velocity, the direct sound is heard at the original frequency n. No Doppler shift here.
-
Echo heard by the driver
The sound travels to the cliff and back. First, the cliff (stationary) receives sound from the approaching car. The frequency heard by the cliff is:
n1=nv−vcv
where v=336m/s is the speed of sound and vc is the car’s speed. The cliff then acts as a stationary source re-emitting n1 toward the approaching car. The driver (observer) moves toward this source, so the frequency heard by the driver is:
n2=n1vv+vc=nv−vcv⋅vv+vc=nv−vcv+vc
- Difference in frequencies The driver hears the direct sound at n and the echo at n2. The difference is:
n2−n=n(v−vcv+vc−1)=n(v−vc2vc)
This difference is given as 10% of n, i.e., 0.1n. So: …
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- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-30-FN1 markMCQQ.A body is allowed to fall freely under gravity from a height of 15 m from the ground. At a point in its path, if the kinetic energy of the body is 200% more than its potential energy, then the velocity of the body at that point is (Acceleration due to gravity =10 ms−2) (A) 6 ms−1 (B) 20 ms−1 (C) 10 ms−1 (D) 15 ms−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
When a body falls freely, its total mechanical energy (kinetic + potential) remains constant. By using the given condition that kinetic energy is 200% more than potential energy at a certain point, and applying conservation of energy from the initial height, we find the velocity at that point to be 15 ms−1.
When a body falls freely under gravity, assuming no air resistance, its total mechanical energy remains constant. This is a fundamental principle known as the conservation of mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy.
- Potential Energy (PE): This is the energy stored in an object due to its position or state. For an object at a height h above a reference level (usually the ground), its gravitational potential energy is given by PE=mgh, where m is the mass and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
- Kinetic Energy (KE): This is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. For an object with mass m moving with velocity v, its kinetic energy is given by KE=21mv2.
As the body falls, its height decreases, so its potential energy decreases. Since total mechanical energy is conserved, this decrease in potential energy must be compensated by an increase in kinetic energy, meaning the body speeds up.
The problem states a specific condition: at a certain point, the kinetic energy is 200% more than its potential energy. This means if the potential energy is PE′, the kinetic energy KE′ is PE′+200% of PE′, which simplifies to KE′=PE′+2PE′=3PE′. We can use this relationship along with the conservation of mechanical energy to find the velocity.
Here's how to solve the problem step-by-step:
-
Calculate the initial total mechanical energy:
The body starts falling freely from a height of 15 m. "Freely falling" implies its initial velocity is 0 ms−1.
- Initial height, H=15 m.
- Initial velocity, u=0 ms−1.
- Acceleration due to gravity, g=10 ms−2.
The initial potential energy (PEinitial) is:
PEinitial=mgH=m×10 ms−2×15 m=150m J
The initial kinetic energy ($KE_{initial}$) is:KEinitial=21mu2=21m(0)2=0 J
The total initial mechanical energy ($E_{total}$) is:Etotal=PEinitial+KEinitial=150m+0=150m J
- Express energies at the point in question:
Let the body be at a height h′ from the ground at the point where the given condition applies, and let its velocity at this point be v′.
- Potential energy at this point (PE′) is:
PE′=mgh′=m×10 ms−2×h′=10mh′ J
* Kinetic energy at this point ($KE'$) is:KE′=21mv′2 J
- Apply the given condition: The problem states that the kinetic energy is 200% more than its potential energy.
KE′=PE′+(200% of PE′)
KE′=PE′+2PE′
KE′=3PE′
Substitute the expressions for $KE'$ and $PE'$:21mv′2=3(10mh′)
Divide both sides by $m$:21v′2=30h′
This gives us a relationship between $v'^2$ and $h'$: $$v'^2 = 60h' \quad \text{(Equation 1)}$$ … - TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-30-FN1 markMCQQ.When a long hollow steel pipe is struck with a hammer at one end, two sounds are heard at the other end. If the time interval between the two sounds heard is 0.53 s, then the length of the pipe is (Speed of sound in steel is 5100 ms−1 and speed of sound in air is 330 ms−1) (A) 153 m (B) 174 m (C) 187 m (D) 270 m
›Reveal solutionSolution
The two sounds travel through steel and air at different speeds; the time difference gives the pipe length. The length is 187 m.
The key idea is that when you strike one end of a long steel pipe, the sound reaches the other end through two different paths: one through the steel itself (the pipe material) and one through the air inside the pipe. Since sound travels much faster in steel than in air, the sound through steel arrives first, and the sound through air arrives later. The time interval you hear is the difference between these two travel times.
This is a classic problem of two media with different speeds. The distance travelled is the same — the length of the pipe — so we can write the time for each path as distance divided by speed. The difference between these times is given, and we solve for the length.
-
Let the length of the pipe be L metres.
Time taken by sound through steel: ts=vsL, where vs=5100 m/s.
Time taken by sound through air: ta=vaL, where va=330 m/s.
-
The sound through air arrives later, so the time interval is:
ta−ts=0.53 s
- Substitute the expressions:
330L−5100L=0.53
- Take L common:
L(3301−51001)=0.53
- Compute the bracket. Find a common denominator (LCM of 330 and 5100). 330=33×10, 5100=51×100. It's easier to compute directly:
3301=330×51005100and51001=330×5100330
So:
3301−51001=330×51005100−330=330×51004770
- Simplify the fraction. Divide numerator and denominator by 30:
330×5100÷304770÷30=330×170159
(Check: 330×5100÷30=330×170).
Now simplify further: 330×170=56100. So:
3301−51001=56100159
- Reduce 56100159. Both are divisible by 3: 159÷3=53, 56100÷3=18700. So: …
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