Longitudinal sound waves are produced in a steel rail where the speed of sound is
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Waves Sound and Physical Optics · Waves Sound and Physical Optics
Problem
Longitudinal sound waves are produced in a steel rail where the speed of sound is 5000m/s. Two waves in the rail have time periods of 50μs and 80μs respectively. These waves subsequently emerge into the surrounding air in which the speed of sound is 340m/s.
(i) Calculate the frequency of each wave while it is travelling in steel.
(ii) Determine the wavelength of each wave in steel.
(iii) After entering air their frequencies remain the same. Find the wavelength of each wave in air.
(iv) Which of the two waves has the higher pitch in air? Justify your answer with calculations.