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NEET PHYSICSEasy

Sound waves travel at 350 m/s350 \text{ m/s} through warm air and at 3500 m/s3500 \text{ m/s} through brass. The wavelength of a 700 Hz700 \text{ Hz} acoustic wave as it enters brass from warm air:

A

increases by factor 20

B

increases by factor 10

C

decreases by factor 20

D

decreases by factor 10

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Identify the Constant Property: When a wave passes from one medium to another (e.g., from air to brass), its frequency (ff) remains constant.
  2. Relate Wavelength and Speed: The speed of a wave is given by the formula v=fλv = f\lambda. Since the frequency ff is constant, the wavelength λ\lambda is directly proportional to the wave speed vv (i.e., λv\lambda \propto v).
  3. Calculate the Ratio: We can find the change in wavelength by taking the ratio of the speeds in the two media: λbrassλair=vbrassvair\frac{\lambda_{\text{brass}}}{\lambda_{\text{air}}} = \frac{v_{\text{brass}}}{v_{\text{air}}} λbrassλair=3500 m/s350 m/s=10\frac{\lambda_{\text{brass}}}{\lambda_{\text{air}}} = \frac{3500 \text{ m/s}}{350 \text{ m/s}} = 10
  4. Conclusion: The wavelength in brass is 10 times the wavelength in air. Therefore, the wavelength increases by a factor of 10.
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