Q. Two wires are in unison. If the tension in one of the wires is increased by 2%, 5 beats are produced per second. The initial frequency of each wire is

A) $200\ Hz$
B) $400\ Hz$
C) $500\ Hz$
D) $1000\ Hz$
Explanation

(c) $n \propto \sqrt{T} \Rightarrow \frac{\mathrm{\Delta}n}{n} = \frac{\mathrm{\Delta}T}{2T}$
If tension increases by 2%, then frequency must increases by 1%.
If initial frequency $n_{1} = n$ then final frequency $n_{2} - n_{1} = 5$
$\Rightarrow \frac{101}{100}n - n = 5 \Rightarrow n = 500Hz$
Short trick : If you can remember then apply following formula to solve such type of problems.
Initial frequency of each wire $(n)$
$= \frac{(Number\ of\ beats\ heard\ per\ sec) \times 200}{(per\ centage\ change\ in\ tension\ of\ the\ wire)}$
Here $n = \frac{5 \times 200}{2} = 500Hz$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.

Want more practice?
Practice Waves MCQs