438 CHAPTER 13 | Mechanical Waves

and can be detected at seismographs at many locations around the globe. In addi-
tion, because a relatively large fraction of the wave energy continues to be reflected
at each encounter with the surface, the wave can propagate for a long time. Data are
available showing seismograph activity for several hours after an earthquake, a result
of the repeated reflections of seismic waves from the surface.
Another example of the reflection of seismic waves is available in the technology
of oil exploration. A “thumper truck” applies large impulsive forces to the ground,
resulting in low-energy seismic waves propagating into the Earth. Specialized mi-
crophones are used to detect the waves reflected from various boundaries between
layers under the surface. By using computers to map out the underground structure
corresponding to these layers, it is possible to detect layers likely to contain oil.

SUMMARY |
A transverse wave is a wave in which the elements of the The speed of a transverse wave traveling on a stretched
medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction string of mass per unit length  and tension T is
of the wave velocity. An example is a wave moving along a
T
stretched string. v5 13.21b

Longitudinal waves are waves in which the elements of the
medium move back and forth parallel to the direction of the When a pulse traveling on a string meets a fixed end, the
wave velocity. Sound waves in air are longitudinal. pulse is reflected and inverted. If the pulse reaches a free
Any one-dimensional wave traveling with a speed of v in end, it is reflected but not inverted.
the positive x direction can be represented by a wave func- The power transmitted by a sinusoidal wave on a stretched
tion of the form y 5 f (x 2 vt). Likewise, the wave function string is
for a wave traveling in the negative x direction has the form P 5 122A2v 13.24b
y 5 f (x 1 vt). The change in frequency of a sound wave heard by an
The wave function for a one-dimensional sinusoidal wave observer whenever there is relative motion between a wave
traveling to the right can be expressed as source and the observer is called the Doppler effect. When
the source and observer are moving toward each other, the
y 5 A sin 32 (x 2 vt)4 13.5b observer hears a higher frequency than the true frequency
of the source. When the source and observer are moving
where A is the amplitude,  is the wavelength, and v is the away from each other, the observer hears a lower frequency
wave speed. The angular wave number k and angular fre- than the true frequency of the source. The following general
quency  are defined as follows: equation provides the observed frequency:
2 v 1 vO
k ;

13.8b f 95 1v 2 v 2f
S
13.31b
2
; 5 2f 13.9b A positive value is used for vO or vS for motion of the observer
T or source toward the other, and a negative sign is used for
where T is the period of the wave and f is its frequency. motion away from the other.

Analysis Model for Problem Solving |

Traveling Wave. The wave speed of a sinusoidal wave is
l 
v5 5 f 13.6, 13.12b
T
A sinusoidal wave can be expressed as

S y 5 A sin (kx 2 t) 13.10b

v
 | Objective Questions 439

denotes answer available in Student

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS | Solutions Manual/Study Guide

1. Which of the following statements is not necessarily true 10. A source vibrating at constant frequency generates a sinu-
regarding mechanical waves? (a) They are formed by soidal wave on a string under constant tension. If the power
some source of disturbance. (b) They are sinusoidal in delivered to the string is doubled, by what factor does the
nature. (c) They carry energy. (d) They require a medium amplitude change? (a) a factor of 4 (b) a factor of 2 (c) a
through which to propagate. (e) The wave speed depends factor of 2 (d) a factor of 0.707 (e) cannot be predicted
on the properties of the medium in which they travel.
11. A source of sound vibrates with constant frequency. Rank
2. The distance between two successive peaks of a sinusoidal the frequency of sound observed in the following cases from
wave traveling along a string is 2 m. If the frequency of highest to the lowest. If two frequencies are equal, show their
this wave is 4 Hz, what is the speed of the wave? (a) 4 m/s equality in your ranking. All the motions mentioned have the
(b) 1 m/s (c) 8 m/s (d) 2 m/s (e) impossible to answer same speed, 25 m/s. (a) The source and observer are station-
from the information given ary. (b) The source is moving toward a stationary observer.
3. Rank the waves represented by the following functions from (c) The source is moving away from a stationary observer.
the largest to the smallest according to (i) their amplitudes, (d) The observer is moving toward a stationary source.
(ii) their wavelengths, (iii) their frequencies, (iv) their pe- (e) The observer is moving away from a stationary source.
riods, and (v) their speeds. If the values of a quantity are 12. (a) Can a wave on a string move with a wave speed that is
equal for two waves, show them as having equal rank. For all greater than the maximum transverse speed vy,max of an ele-
functions, x and y are in meters and t is in seconds. (a) y 5 ment of the string? (b) Can the wave speed be much greater
4 sin (3x 2 15t) (b) y 5 6 cos (3x 1 15t 2 2) (c) y 5 8 sin than the maximum element speed? (c) Can the wave speed
(2x 1 15t) (d) y 5 8 cos (4x 1 20t) (e) y 5 7 sin (6x 2 24t) be equal to the maximum element speed? (d) Can the wave
4. If you stretch a rubber hose and pluck it, you can observe a speed be less than vy,max?
pulse traveling up and down the hose. (i) What happens to 13. If one end of a heavy rope is attached to one end of a light-
the speed of the pulse if you stretch the hose more tightly? weight rope, a wave can move from the heavy rope into the
(a) It increases. (b) It decreases. (c) It is constant. (d) It lighter one. (i) What happens to the speed of the wave?
changes unpredictably. (ii) What happens to the speed if you (a) It increases. (b) It decreases. (c) It is constant. (d) It
fill the hose with water? Choose from the same possibilities. changes unpredictably. (ii) What happens to the frequency?
5. When all the strings on a Choose from the same possibilities. (iii) What happens to
guitar (Fig. OQ13.5) are the wavelength? Choose from the same possibilities.
Aaron Graubart/Getty Images

stretched to the same ten- 14. If a 1.00-kHz sound source moves at a speed of 50.0 m/s
sion, will the speed of a toward a listener who moves at a speed of 30.0 m/s in a
wave along the most mas- direction away from the source, what is the apparent fre-
sive bass string be (a) faster, quency heard by the listener? (a) 796 Hz (b) 949 Hz
(b) slower, or (c) the same (c) 1 000 Hz (d) 1 068 Hz (e) 1 273 Hz
as the speed of a wave on
the lighter strings? Alterna- 15. As you travel down the high-
Figure OQ13.5
tively, (d) is the speed on way in your car, an ambu-
the bass string not necessarily any of these answers? lance approaches you from
the rear at a high speed
6. By what factor would you have to multiply the tension in
(Fig. OQ13.15) sounding
a stretched string so as to double the wave speed? Assume
its siren at a frequency of
the string does not stretch. (a) a factor of 8 (b) a factor of 4

© Anthony Redpath/Corbis
500 Hz. Which statement
(c) a factor of 2 (d) a factor of 0.5 (e) You could not change
is correct? (a) You hear a
the speed by a predictable factor by changing the tension.
frequency less than 500 Hz.
7. A sound wave can be characterized as (a) a transverse wave, (b) You hear a frequency
(b) a longitudinal wave, (c) a transverse wave or a longitu- equal to 500 Hz. (c) You
dinal wave, depending on the nature of its source, (d) one hear a frequency greater
that carries no energy, or (e) a wave that does not require a than 500 Hz. (d) You hear Figure OQ13.15
medium to be transmitted from one place to the other. a frequency greater than
500 Hz, whereas the ambulance driver hears a frequency
8. Two sirens A and B are sounding so that the frequency from
lower than 500 Hz. (e) You hear a frequency less than 500 Hz,
A is twice the frequency from B. Compared with the speed
whereas the ambulance driver hears a frequency of 500 Hz.
of sound from A, is the speed of sound from B (a) twice as
fast, (b) half as fast, (c) four times as fast, (d) one-fourth as 16. Assume a change at the source of sound reduces the wave-
fast, or (e) the same? length of a sound wave in air by a factor of 2. (i) What
happens to its frequency? (a) It increases by a factor of 4.
9. Table 13.1 shows the speed of sound is typically an order of
(b) It increases by a factor of 2. (c) It is unchanged. (d) It
magnitude larger in solids than in gases. To what can this
decreases by a factor of 2. (e) It changes by an unpredict-
higher value be most directly attributed? (a) the difference
able factor. (ii) What happens to its speed? Choose from the
in density between solids and gases (b) the difference in
same possibilities as in part (i).
compressibility between solids and gases (c) the limited size
of a solid object compared to a free gas (d) the impossibility 17. Suppose an observer and a source of sound are both at
of holding a gas under significant tension rest relative to the ground and a strong wind is blowing
440 CHAPTER 13 | Mechanical Waves

away from the source toward the observer. (i) What ef- observed wavelength? Choose from the same possibilities
fect does the wind have on the observed frequency? (a) It as in part (i). (iii) What effect does the wind have on the
causes an increase. (b) It causes a decrease. (c) It causes observed speed of the wave? Choose from the same pos-
no change. (ii) What effect does the wind have on the sibilities as in part (i).

denotes answer available in Student

CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS | Solutions Manual/Study Guide

1. The Tunguska event. On June 30, 1908, a meteor burned up 8. You are driving toward a cliff and honk your horn. Is there
and exploded in the atmosphere above the Tunguska River a Doppler shift of the sound when you hear the echo? If
valley in Siberia. It knocked down trees over thousands of so, is it like a moving source or a moving observer? What if
square kilometers and started a forest fire, but produced the reflection occurs not from a cliff, but from the forward
no crater and apparently caused no human casualties. A edge of a huge alien spacecraft moving toward you as you
witness sitting on his doorstep outside the zone of falling drive?
trees recalled events in the following sequence. He saw a
9. If you steadily shake one end of a taut rope three times each
moving light in the sky, brighter than the Sun and descend-
second, what would be the period of the sinusoidal wave set
ing at a low angle to the horizon. He felt his face become
up in the rope?
warm. He felt the ground shake. An invisible agent picked
him up and immediately dropped him about a meter from 10. (a) If a long rope is hung from a ceiling and waves are sent
where he had been seated. He heard a very loud protracted up the rope from its lower end, why does the speed of the
rumbling. Suggest an explanation for these observations waves change as they ascend? (b) Does the speed of the
and for the order in which they happened. ascending waves increase or decrease? Explain.
2. (a) How would you create a longitudinal wave in a stretched 11. The radar systems used by police to detect speeders are sen-
spring? (b) Would it be possible to create a transverse wave sitive to the Doppler shift of a pulse of microwaves. Discuss
in a spring? how this sensitivity can be used to measure the speed of
a car.
3. Why is a pulse on a string considered to be transverse?
12. How can an object move with respect to an observer so that
4. Older auto-focus cameras sent out a pulse of sound and
the sound from it is not shifted in frequency?
measured the time interval required for the pulse to reach
an object, reflect off of it, and return to be detected. Can air 13. In an earthquake, both S (trans-
temperature affect the camera’s focus? New cameras use a verse) and P (longitudinal) waves
more reliable infrared system. propagate from the focus of the
earthquake. The focus is in the
5. When a pulse travels on a taut
ground radially below the epicen-
string, does it always invert upon
ter on the surface (Fig. CQ13.13).
reflection? Explain.
Assume the waves move in straight
6. Does the vertical speed of an ele- lines through uniform mate-
ment of a horizontal, taut string, rial. The S waves travel through
through which a wave is travel- the Earth more slowly than the
© [Link]/Colin Orthner

Figure CQ13.13
ing, depend on the wave speed? P waves (at about 5 km/s versus
Explain. 8 km/s). By detecting the time of arrival of the waves at a
seismograph, (a) how can one determine the distance to
7. Explain how the distance to a
the focus of the earthquake? (b) How many detection sta-
lightning bolt (Fig. CQ13.7) can
tions are necessary to locate the focus unambiguously?
be determined by counting the
seconds between the flash and
the sound of thunder. Figure CQ13.7

PROBLEMS |

The problems found in this chapter may be assigned denotes Master It tutorial available in Enhanced
online in Enhanced WebAssign. WebAssign
1. denotes straightforward problem; 2. denotes intermediate denotes asking for quantitative and conceptual reasoning
problem; 3. denotes challenging problem denotes symbolic reasoning problem
1. denotes full solution available in the Student Solutions Manual/ denotes “paired problems” that develop reasoning with
Study Guide symbols and numerical values
1. denotes problems most often assigned in Enhanced denotes Watch It video solution available in Enhanced
WebAssign. WebAssign
denotes biomedical problem
denotes guided problem
 | Problems 441

Section 13.1 Propagation of a Disturbance wavelength, (c) the frequency, and (d) the speed of the
wave.
1. At t 5 0, a transverse pulse in a wire is described by the
function 9. Consider the sinusoidal wave of Example 13.2 with the wave
function
6.00
y5 y 5 0.150 cos (15.7x 2 50.3t )
x 2 1 3.00
where x and y are in meters and t is in seconds. At a certain
where x and y are in meters. If the pulse is traveling in the
instant, let point A be at the origin and point B be the clos-
positive x direction with a speed of 4.50 m/s, write the func-
est point to A along the x axis where the wave is 60.08 out of
tion y(x, t) that describes this pulse.
phase with A. What is the coordinate of B ?
2. Ocean waves with a crest-to-crest distance of 10.0 m
10. A transverse wave on a string is described by the wave
can be described by the wave function
function
y(x, t) 5 0.800 sin [0.628(x 2 vt)] 
where x and y are in meters, t is in seconds, and v 5
1
y 5 0.120 sin x 1 4t
8 2
1.20 m/s. (a) Sketch y(x, t) at t 5 0. (b) Sketch y(x, t) at where x and y are in meters and t is in seconds. Determine
t 5 2.00 s. (c) Compare the graph in part (b) with that for (a) the transverse speed and (b) the transverse acceleration
part (a) and explain similarities and differences. (d) How at t 5 0.200 s for an element of the string located at x 5
has the wave moved between graph (a) and graph (b)? 1.60 m. What are (c) the wavelength, (d) the period, and
(e) the speed of propagation of this wave?
Section 13.2 Analysis Model: Traveling Wave 11. A sinusoidal wave is traveling along a rope. The oscillator
that generates the wave completes 40.0 vibrations in 30.0 s.
3. The wave function for a traveling wave on a taut string is A given crest of the wave travels 425 cm along the rope in
(in SI units) 10.0 s. What is the wavelength of the wave?

1
y(x, t) 5 0.350 sin 10t 2 3x 1
4 2 12. A sinusoidal wave traveling in the negative x direction
(to the left) has an amplitude of 20.0 cm, a wavelength
(a) What are the speed and direction of travel of the wave? of 35.0 cm, and a frequency of 12.0 Hz. The transverse
(b) What is the vertical position of an element of the string position of an element of the medium at t 5 0, x 5 0 is
at t 5 0, x 5 0.100 m? What are (c) the wavelength and y 5 23.00 cm, and the element has a positive velocity here.
(d) the frequency of the wave? (e) What is the maximum We wish to find an expression for the wave function de-
transverse speed of an element of the string? scribing this wave. (a) Sketch the wave at t 5 0. (b) Find
4. Show that the wave function y 5 e b(x2vt) is a solution the angular wave number k from the wavelength. (c) Find
of the linear wave equation (Eq. 13.20), where b is a the period T from the frequency. Find (d) the angular fre-
constant. quency  and (e) the wave speed v. (f) From the informa-
tion about t 5 0, find the phase constant . (g) Write an
5. The string shown expression for the wave function y(x, t).
in Figure P13.5 is driven
at a frequency of 5.00 Hz. 13. When a particular wire is vibrating with a frequency of
S
v 4.00 Hz, a transverse wave of wavelength 60.0 cm is pro-
The amplitude of the
motion is A 5 12.0 cm, Figure P13.5
duced. Determine the speed of waves along the wire.
and the wave speed is v 5 14. A transverse sinusoidal wave on a string has a period T 5
20.0 m/s. Furthermore, the wave is such that y 5 0 at x 5 0 and 25.0 ms and travels in the negative x direction with a speed
t 5 0. Determine (a) the angular frequency and (b) the wave of 30.0 m/s. At t 5 0, an element of the string at x 5 0 has
number for this wave. (c) Write an expression for the wave a transverse position of 2.00 cm and is traveling downward
function. Calculate (d) the maximum transverse speed and with a speed of 2.00 m/s. (a) What is the amplitude of the
(e) the maximum transverse acceleration of an element of wave? (b) What is the initial phase angle? (c) What is the
the string. maximum transverse speed of an element of the string?
6. For a certain transverse wave, the distance between two suc- (d) Write the wave function for the wave.
cessive crests is 1.20 m, and eight crests pass a given point
along the direction of travel every 12.0 s. Calculate the wave Section 13.3 The Speed of Transverse Waves on Strings
speed.
15. A steel wire of length 30.0 m and a copper wire of length
7. (a) Write the expression for y as a function of x and t in 20.0 m, both with 1.00-mm diameters, are connected end to
SI units for a sinusoidal wave traveling along a rope in end and stretched to a tension of 150 N. During what time
the negative x direction with the following characteristics: interval will a transverse wave travel the entire length of the
A 5 8.00 cm,  5 80.0 cm, f 5 3.00 Hz, and y(0, t) 5 0 at two wires?
t 5 0. (b) What If? Write the expression for y as a function
16. Why is the following situation impossible? An astronaut on the
of x and t for the wave in part (a) assuming y(x, 0) 5 0 at the
Moon is studying wave motion using the apparatus discussed
point x 5 10.0 cm.
in Example 13.4 and shown in Figure 13.11. He measures
8. A wave is described by y 5 0.020 0 sin (kx 2 t), where the time interval for pulses to travel along the horizontal
k 5 2.11 rad/m,  5 3.62 rad/s, x and y are in meters, wire. Assume the horizontal wire has a mass of 4.00 g and a
and t is in seconds. Determine (a) the amplitude, (b) the length of 1.60 m and assume a 3.00-kg object is suspended
442 CHAPTER 13 | Mechanical Waves

from its extension around the pulley. The astronaut finds (a) Write the function that describes this wave traveling in
that a pulse requires 26.1 ms to traverse the length of the the positive x direction. (b) Determine the power being
wire. supplied to the string.
17. An Ethernet cable is 4.00 m long. The cable has a mass 24. A taut rope has a mass of 0.180 kg and a length of 3.60 m.
of 0.200 kg. A transverse pulse is produced by plucking one What power must be supplied to the rope so as to gener-
end of the taut cable. The pulse makes four trips down and ate sinusoidal waves having an amplitude of 0.100 m and
back along the cable in 0.800 s. What is the tension in the a wavelength of 0.500 m and traveling with a speed of
cable? 30.0 m/s?
18. Review. A light string with 25. A sinusoidal wave on a string is described by the wave
a mass per unit length of function
8.00 g/m has its ends tied y 5 0.15 sin(0.80x 2 50t)
to two walls separated by
where x and y are in meters and t is in seconds. The mass
a distance equal to three-
per unit length of this string is 12.0 g/m. Determine (a) the
fourths the length of the
speed of the wave, (b) the wavelength, (c) the frequency,
string (Fig. P13.18). An ob-
and (d) the power transmitted by the wave.
ject of mass m is suspended
from the center of the 26. Sinusoidal waves 5.00 cm in amplitude are to be trans-
string, putting a tension Figure P13.18
mitted along a string that has a linear mass density of
in the string. (a) Find an 4.00 3 1022 kg/m. The source can deliver a maximum
expression for the transverse wave speed in the string as a power of 300 W, and the string is under a tension of 100 N.
function of the mass of the hanging object. (b) What should What is the highest frequency f at which the source can
be the mass of the object suspended from the string if the operate?
wave speed is to be 60.0 m/s?
19. Transverse waves travel with a speed of 20.0 m/s on a
string under a tension of 6.00 N. What tension is required Section 13.6 Sound Waves
for a wave speed of 30.0 m/s on the same string? Note: Use the following values as needed unless otherwise
20. A piano string having a mass per unit length equal to specified. The equilibrium density of air at 208C is  5
5.00 3 1023 kg/m is under a tension of 1 350 N. Find the 1.20 kg/m3. Pressure variations DP are measured relative to
speed with which a wave travels on this string. atmospheric pressure, 1.013 3 105 N/m2. (1 N/m2 5 1 Pa (pas-
cal). See Section 15.1.) The speed of sound in air is v 5 343
m/s. Use Table 13.1 to find speeds of sound in other media.
Section 13.4 Reflection and Transmission
Problem 55 in Chapter 2 can also be assigned with this
21. A series of pulses, each of amplitude 0.150 m, are sent down section.
a string that is attached to a post at one end. The pulses are
reflected at the post and travel back along the string with- 27. A dolphin (Fig. P13.27)
out loss of amplitude. When two waves are present on the in seawater at a tempera-
same string, the net displacement of a particular element of ture of 258C emits a sound
the string is the sum of the displacements of the individual wave directed toward the
waves at that point. What is the net displacement of an ele- ocean floor 150 m below.
ment at a point on the string where two pulses are crossing How much time passes be-
(a) if the string is rigidly attached to the post and (b) if the fore it hears an echo?
Stephen Frink/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images
end at which reflection occurs is free to slide up and down?
28. Suppose you
hear a clap of thunder
Section 13.5 Rate of Energy Transfer by Sinusoidal
16.2 s after seeing the as-
Waves on Strings
sociated lightning strike.
22. A horizontal string can transmit a maximum power P0 The speed of light in air is
(without breaking) if a wave with amplitude A and angular 3.00 3 108 m/s. (a) How
frequency  is traveling along it. To increase this maxi- far are you from the light-
mum power, a student folds the string and uses this “dou- ning strike? (b) Do you
ble string” as a medium. Assuming the tension in the two need to know the value of
strands together is the same as the original tension in the the speed of light to an-
single string and the angular frequency of the wave remains swer? Explain. Figure P13.27
the same, determine the maximum power that can be trans-
29. Many artists sing very high notes in ad lib ornaments and ca-
mitted along the “double string.”
denzas. The highest note written for a singer in a published
23. A long string carries a wave; a 6.00-m segment of the score was F-sharp above high C, 1.480 kHz, for Zerbinetta in
string contains four complete wavelengths and has a mass the original version of Richard Strauss’s opera Ariadne auf
of 180 g. The string vibrates sinusoidally with a frequency of Naxos. (a) Find the wavelength of this sound in air. (b) In
50.0 Hz and a peak-to-valley displacement of 15.0 cm. (The response to complaints, Strauss later transposed the note
“peak-to-valley” distance is the vertical distance from the down to F above high C, 1.397 kHz. By what increment did
farthest positive position to the farthest negative position.) the wavelength change?
 | Problems 443

30. A bat (Fig. P13.30) can where s is in micrometers, x is in meters, and t is in sec-
detect very small objects, such onds. Find (a) the amplitude, (b) the wavelength, and
as an insect whose length is (c) the speed of this wave. (d) Determine the instanta-
approximately equal to one neous displacement from equilibrium of the elements of
wavelength of the sound the the medium at the position x 5 0.050 0 m at t 5 3.00 ms.
bat makes. If a bat emits chirps (e) Determine the maximum speed of the element’s oscil-
at a frequency of 60.0 kHz and latory motion.

Hugh Lansdown/[Link]
the speed of sound in air is 340
36. Calculate the pressure amplitude of a 2.00-kHz sound wave
m/s, what is the smallest insect
in air, assuming that the displacement amplitude is equal to
the bat can detect?
2.00 3 1028 m.
31. Write an expression that de-
37. A sound wave in air has a pressure amplitude equal to
scribes the pressure variation
4.00 3 1023 Pa. Calculate the displacement amplitude of
as a function of position and
the wave at a frequency of 10.0 kHz.
time for a sinusoidal sound
wave in air. Assume the speed Figure P13.30 38. A rescue plane flies horizontally at a constant speed
of sound is 343 m/s,  5 searching for a disabled boat. When the plane is directly
0.100 m, and DPmax 5 0.200 Pa. above the boat, the boat’s crew blows a loud horn. By the
time the plane’s sound detector receives the horn’s sound,
32. An ultrasonic tape measure uses frequencies above 20 MHz
the plane has traveled a distance equal to half its altitude
to determine dimensions of structures such as buildings. It
above the ocean. Assuming it takes the sound 2.00 s to reach
does so by emitting a pulse of ultrasound into air and then
the plane, determine (a) the speed of the plane and (b) its
measuring the time interval for an echo to return from a
altitude.
reflecting surface whose distance away is to be measured.
The distance is displayed as a digital readout. For a tape Section 13.7 The Doppler Effect
measure that emits a pulse of ultrasound with a frequency of
22.0 MHz, (a) what is the distance to an object from which 39. A driver travels northbound on a highway at a speed of
the echo pulse returns after 24.0 ms when the air tempera- 25.0 m/s. A police car, traveling southbound at a speed
ture is 268C? (b) What should be the duration of the emit- of 40.0 m/s, approaches with its siren producing sound
ted pulse if it is to include ten cycles of the ultrasonic wave? at a frequency of 2 500 Hz. (a) What frequency does the
(c) What is the spatial length of such a pulse? driver observe as the police car approaches? (b) What
frequency does the driver detect after the police car
33. Ultrasound is passes him? (c) Repeat parts (a) and (b) for the case
used in medicine both when the police car is behind the driver and travels
for diagnostic imaging northbound.
(Fig. P13.33) and for ther-
apy. For diagnosis, short 40. Expectant parents are thrilled to hear their unborn
baby’s heartbeat, revealed by an ultrasonic detector that
B. Benoit/Photo Researchers, Inc.

pulses of ultrasound are

passed through the pa- produces beeps of audible sound in synchronization with
tient’s body. An echo re- the fetal heartbeat. Suppose the fetus’s ventricular wall
flected from a structure of moves in simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of
interest is recorded, and 1.80 mm and a frequency of 115 beats per minute. (a) Find
the distance to the struc- the maximum linear speed of the heart wall. Suppose a
ture can be determined source mounted on the detector in contact with the moth-
from the time delay for er’s abdomen produces sound at 2 000 000.0 Hz, which
Figure P13.33
the echo’s return. To re- travels through tissue at 1.50 km/s. (b) Find the maxi-
veal detail, the wavelength of the reflected ultrasound must mum change in frequency between the sound that arrives
be small compared to the size of the object reflecting the at the wall of the baby’s heart and the sound emitted by
wave. The speed of ultrasound in human tissue is about the source. (c) Find the maximum change in frequency be-
1 500 m/s (nearly the same as the speed of sound in water). tween the reflected sound received by the detector and that
(a) What is the wavelength of ultrasound with a frequency emitted by the source.
of 2.40 MHz? (b) In the whole set of imaging techniques, 41. Standing at a crosswalk, you hear a frequency of
frequencies in the range 1.00 MHz to 20.0 MHz are used. 560 Hz from the siren of an approaching ambulance. After
What is the range of wavelengths corresponding to this the ambulance passes, the observed frequency of the siren
range of frequencies? is 480 Hz. Determine the ambulance’s speed from these
34. An experimenter wishes to generate in air a sound observations.
wave that has a displacement amplitude of 5.50 3 1026 m. 42. A block with a speaker bolted to it is connected to a spring hav-
The pressure amplitude is to be limited to 0.840 Pa. ing spring constant k 5 20.0 N/m as shown in Figure P13.42
What is the minimum wavelength the sound wave can (page 444). The total mass of the block and speaker is
have? 5.00 kg, and the amplitude of this unit’s motion is 0.500 m.
35. A sinusoidal sound wave moves through a medium and The speaker emits sound waves of frequency 440 Hz. De-
is described by the displacement wave function termine the highest and lowest frequencies heard by the
person to the right of the speaker. Assume that the speed of
s(x, t) 5 2.00 cos (15.7x 2 858t) sound is 343 m/s.
444 CHAPTER 13 | Mechanical Waves

earthquake also radiates a

Rayleigh wave that travels at
4.50 km/s. In addition to P
and S waves, Rayleigh waves
are a third type of seismic
wave that travels along the
surface of the Earth rather ⬚
than through the bulk of the
Earth. (a) Which of these two
Figure P13.48
seismic waves arrives at B first?
Figure P13.42 (b) What is the time differ-
ence between the arrivals of these two waves at B?
43. A siren mounted on the roof of a firehouse emits sound at a
frequency of 900 Hz. A steady wind is blowing with a speed
of 15.0 m/s. Taking the speed of sound in calm air to be Additional Problems
343 m/s, find the wavelength of the sound (a) upwind of
49. Review. A block of mass
the siren and (b) downwind of the siren. Firefighters are
M 5 0.450 kg is attached to
approaching the siren from various directions at 15.0 m/s.
one end of a cord of mass
What frequency does a firefighter hear (c) if she is ap-
0.003 20 kg; the other end
proaching from an upwind position so that she is moving in
of the cord is attached to a
the direction in which the wind is blowing and (d) if she is
fixed point. The block ro-
approaching from a downwind position and moving against
tates with constant angular
the wind?
speed in a circle on a fric-
44. Why is the following situation impossible? At the Summer Olym- tionless, horizontal table
pics, an athlete runs at a constant speed down a straight as shown in Figure P13.49.
track while a spectator near the edge of the track blows a Through what angle does Figure P13.49 Problems 49, 65,
note on a horn with a fixed frequency. When the athlete the block rotate in the and 66.
passes the horn, she hears the frequency of the horn fall by time interval during which
the musical interval called a minor third. That is, the fre- a transverse wave travels
quency she hears drops to five-sixths its original value. along the string from the center of the circle to the block?
45. Review. A tuning fork vibrating at 512 Hz falls from rest and 50. Review. A block of
accelerates at 9.80 m/s2. How far below the point of release mass M, supported by a
is the tuning fork when waves of frequency 485 Hz reach the string, rests on a friction-
release point? less incline making an
angle  with the horizon-
46. Submarine A travels horizontally at 11.0 m/s through
tal (Fig. P13.50). The
ocean water. It emits a sonar signal of frequency f 5
length of the string is L,
5.27 3 103 Hz in the forward direction. Submarine B is in u
and its mass is m ,, M.
front of submarine A and traveling at 3.00 m/s relative to
Derive an expression for
the water in the same direction as submarine A. A crewman
the time interval required
in submarine B uses his equipment to detect the sound Figure P13.50
for a transverse wave to
waves (“pings”) from submarine A. We wish to determine
travel from one end of the
what is heard by the crewman in submarine B. (a) An ob-
string to the other.
server on which submarine detects a frequency f 9 as de-
scribed by Equation 13.31? (b) In Equation 13.31, should 51. Review. A 2.00-kg block hangs from a rubber cord, being
the sign of vS be positive or negative? (c) In Equation 13.31, supported so that the cord is not stretched. The unstretched
should the sign of vO be positive or negative? (d) In Equa- length of the cord is 0.500 m, and its mass is 5.00 g. The
tion 13.31, what speed of sound should be used? (e) Find “spring constant” for the cord is 100 N/m. The block is re-
the frequency of the sound detected by the crewman on leased and stops momentarily at the lowest point. (a) Deter-
submarine B. mine the tension in the cord when the block is at this lowest
point. (b) What is the length of the cord in this “stretched”
Section 13.8 Context Connection: Seismic Waves position? (c) If the block is held in this lowest position, find
the speed of a transverse wave in the cord.
47. A seismographic station receives S and P waves from an
earthquake, separated in time by 17.3 s. Assume the waves 52. Review. A block of mass M hangs from a rubber cord.
have traveled over the same path at speeds of 4.50 km/s and The block is supported so that the cord is not stretched. The
7.80 km/s. Find the distance from the seismograph to the unstretched length of the cord is L 0, and its mass is m, much
focus of the quake. less than M. The “spring constant” for the cord is k. The
block is released and stops momentarily at the lowest point.
48. Two points A and B on the surface of the Earth are at the (a) Determine the tension in the string when the block is at
same longitude and 60.08 apart in latitude as shown in Fig- this lowest point. (b) What is the length of the cord in this
ure P13.48. Suppose an earthquake at point A creates a P “stretched” position? (c) If the block is held in this lowest
wave that reaches point B by traveling straight through the position, find the speed of a transverse wave in the cord.
body of the Earth at a constant speed of 7.80 km/s. The
 | Problems 445

53. A police car is traveling east at 40.0 m/s along a straight road, standing below. Assume the man requires a time interval of
overtaking a car ahead of it moving east at 30.0 m/s. The po- Δt to respond to the warning. How close to the sidewalk can
lice car has a malfunctioning siren that is stuck at 1 000 Hz. the flowerpot fall before it is too late for a warning shouted
(a) What would be the wavelength in air of the siren sound from the balcony to reach the man in time? Use the symbol
if the police car were at rest? (b) What is the wavelength in v for the speed of sound.
front of the police car? (c) What is it behind the police car?
59. Trucks carrying garbage to the town dump form a nearly
(d) What is the frequency heard by the driver being chased?
steady procession on a country road, all traveling at 19.7 m/s
54. “The wave” is a particular type of pulse that can propagate in the same direction. Two trucks arrive at the dump every
through a large crowd gathered at a sports arena (Fig. P13.54). 3 min. A bicyclist is also traveling toward the dump, at
The elements of the medium are the spectators, with zero 4.47 m/s. (a) With what frequency do the trucks pass the
position corresponding to their being seated and maximum cyclist? (b) What If? A hill does not slow down the trucks,
position corresponding to their standing and raising their but makes the out-of-shape cyclist’s speed drop to 1.56 m/s.
arms. When a large fraction of the spectators participates in How often do the trucks whiz past the cyclist now?
the wave motion, a somewhat stable pulse shape can develop.
60. A rope of total mass m and length L is suspended ver-
The wave speed depends on people’s reaction time, which
tically. Analysis shows that for short transverse pulses, the
is typically on the order of 0.1 s. Estimate the order of mag-
waves above a short distance from the free end of the rope
nitude, in minutes, of the time interval required for such a
can be represented to a good approximation by the linear
pulse to make one circuit around a large sports stadium. State
wave equation discussed in Section 13.2. Show that a trans-
the quantities you measure or estimate and their values.
verse pulse travels the length of the rope in a time interval
that is given approximately by Dt < 2 L/g . Suggestion: First
find an expression for the wave speed at any point a distance
x from the lower end by considering the rope’s tension as
resulting from the weight of the segment below that point.
Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

61. The ocean floor is underlain by a layer of basalt that consti-

tutes the crust, or uppermost layer, of the Earth in that re-
gion. Below this crust is found denser periodotite rock that
forms the Earth’s mantle. The boundary between these two
layers is called the Mohorovicic discontinuity (“Moho” for
short). If an explosive charge is set off at the surface of the
Figure P13.54 basalt, it generates a seismic wave that is reflected back out
at the Moho. If the speed of this wave in basalt is 6.50 km/s
55. A pulse traveling along a string of linear mass density  and the two-way travel time is 1.85 s, what is the thickness of
is described by the wave function this oceanic crust?
y 5 [A0e2bx] sin (kx 2 t) 62. Assume an object of mass M is suspended from the bot-
where the factor in the square brackets is said to be the am- tom of the rope of mass m and length L in Problem 60.
plitude. (a) What is the power P(x) carried by this wave at a (a) Show that the time interval for a transverse pulse to
point x? (b) What is the power P(0) carried by this wave at travel the length of the rope is
the origin? (c) Compute the ratio P(x)/P(0).
L
56. (a) Show that the speed of longitudinal waves along a spring
Dt 5 2
mg
1 M1m2 M2
of force constant k is v 5 kL/, where L is the unstretched (b) What If? Show that the expression in part (a) reduces
length of the spring and  is the mass per unit length. (b) A to the result of Problem 60 when M 5 0. (c) Show that for
spring with a mass of 0.400 kg has an unstretched length of m ,, M, the expression in part (a) reduces to
2.00 m and a force constant of 100 N/m. Using the result
you obtained in part (a), determine the speed of longitudi- mL
Dt 5
nal waves along this spring. Mg
57. A flowerpot is knocked off a window 63. To measure her speed, a skydiver carries a buzzer emit-
ledge from a height d 5 20.0 m above the ting a steady tone at 1 800 Hz. A friend on the ground at
sidewalk as shown in Figure P13.57. It falls the landing site directly below listens to the amplified sound
toward an unsuspecting man of height he receives. Assume the air is calm and the speed of sound
h 5 1.75 m who is standing below. Assume is independent of altitude. While the skydiver is falling at
the man requires a time interval of Δt 5 terminal speed, her friend on the ground receives waves
0.300 s to respond to the warning. How of frequency 2 150 Hz. (a) What is the skydiver’s speed of
close to the sidewalk can the flowerpot fall descent? (b) What If? Suppose the skydiver can hear the
before it is too late for a warning shouted sound of the buzzer reflected from the ground. What fre-
from the balcony to reach the man in time? quency does she receive?
58. A flowerpot is knocked off a balcony 64. Why is the following situation impossible? Tsunamis are ocean
from a height d above the sidewalk as Figure P13.57 surface waves that have enormous wavelengths (100 to
shown in Figure P13.57. It falls toward Problems 57 and 200 km), and the propagation speed for these waves is
an unsuspecting man of height h who is 58. v < gdavg, where davg is the average depth of the water. An
446 CHAPTER 13 | Mechanical Waves

earthquake on the ocean floor in the Gulf of Alaska pro- where u is the speed of the train and v is the speed of sound.
duces a tsunami that reaches Hilo, Hawaii, 4 450 km away, in (b) Calculate this difference for a train moving at a speed of
a time interval of 5.88 h. (This method was used in 1856 to 130 km/h. Take the speed of sound in air to be 340 m/s.
estimate the average depth of the Pacific Ocean long before
71. The Doppler equation presented in the text is valid when
soundings were made to give a direct determination.)
the motion between the observer and the source occurs on
65. Review. A block of mass M 5 0.450 kg is attached to one end a straight line so that the source and observer are moving
of a cord of mass m 5 0.003 20 kg; the other end of the cord either directly toward or directly away from each other. If
is attached to a fixed point. The block rotates with constant this restriction is relaxed, one must use the more general
angular speed  5 10.0 rad/s in a circle on a frictionless, Doppler equation
horizontal table as shown in Figure P13.49. What time inter- v 1 vO cos O
val is required for a transverse wave to travel along the string
from the center of the circle to the block?
f 95 1 v 2 v cos  2 f
S S

where O and S are defined in Figure P13.71a. Use the

66. Review. A block of mass M is attached to one end of a
preceding equation to solve the following problem. A train
cord of mass m; the other end of the cord is attached to a
moves at a constant speed of v 5 25.0 m/s toward the in-
fixed point. The block rotates with constant angular speed
tersection shown in Figure P13.71b. A car is stopped near
 in a circle on a frictionless, horizontal table as shown in
the crossing, 30.0 m from the tracks. The train’s horn emits
Figure P13.49. What time interval is required for a trans-
a frequency of 500 Hz when the train is 40.0 m from the
verse wave to travel along the string from the center of the
intersection. (a) What is the frequency heard by the pas-
circle to the block?
sengers in the car? (b) If the train emits this sound continu-
67. A bat, moving at 5.00 m/s, is chasing a flying ously and the car is stationary at this position long before
insect. If the bat emits a 40.0-kHz chirp and receives back the train arrives until long after it leaves, what range of fre-
an echo at 40.4 kHz, (a) what is the speed of the insect? quencies do passengers in the car hear? (c) Suppose the
(b) Will the bat be able to catch the insect? Explain. car is foolishly trying to beat the train to the intersection
and is traveling at 40.0 m/s toward the tracks. When the car
68. A sound wave moves down a cylinder as in Active
is 30.0 m from the tracks and the train is 40.0 m from the
Figure 13.19. Show that the pressure variation of the wave
intersection, what is the frequency heard by the passengers
is described by DP 5 6v  smax
2 2 s 2, where s 5 s(x, t) is in the car now?
given by Equation 13.25.
S
v
69. A string on a musical instrument is held under tension S
u v
T and extends from the point x 5 0 to the point x 5 L. The
string is overwound with wire in such a way that its mass per
unit length (x) increases uniformly from 0 at x 5 0 to L
at x 5 L. (a) Find an expression for (x) as a function of x u
S
over the range 0 # x # L. (b) Find an expression for the v
time interval required for a transverse pulse to travel the
length of the string.
70. A train whistle (f 5 400 Hz) sounds higher or lower in fre-
quency depending on whether it approaches or recedes.
(a) Prove that the difference in frequency between the ap-
proaching and receding train whistle is Figure P13.71
2u/v
Df 5 f
1 2 u2/v2