AP Physics 2 : AP Physics 2

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #131 : Ap Physics 2

What is the beat frequency if f1 = 200Hz and f2 = 150Hz? 

Possible Answers:

100Hz

350Hz

35Hz

50Hz

200Hz

Correct answer:

50Hz

Explanation:

Beat frequency is the difference between the two frequencies.

200Hz – 150Hz = 50Hz

Example Question #1 : Doppler Effect

A sound source with a frequency of 790Hz moves away from a stationary observer at a rate of 15m/s. What frequency does the observer hear?

The speed of sound is 340m/s.

Possible Answers:

757Hz

655Hz

775Hz

826Hz

Correct answer:

757Hz

Explanation:

In this scenario the Doppler effect is described by the following equation. 

Using the values from the problem, we know that vo is zero and vf is 15m/s. v is 340m/s and fs is 790Hz.

Example Question #74 : Mcat Physical Sciences

A fire truck emits an 880Hz siren. As the truck approaches an obeserver on the sidewalk, he perceives the pitch to be 950Hz. Approximately what pitch does he hear after the truck passes and is moving away? Assume the truck's velocity remains constant, and that the velocity of sound in air is 340m/s.

Possible Answers:

820Hz

810Hz

800Hz

830Hz

840Hz

Correct answer:

820Hz

Explanation:

The equation for Doppler effect is   , where the + sign applies when the source and observer are moving farther apart, and the - sign applies when they are moving closer together. In these equations, v is the speed of sound, 340m/s,  is the frequency of sound emitted by the source,  is the freqency perceived by the observer, and  is the relative velocity between the source and observer.

We can apply this equation to the first part of the motion, as the truck moves closer to the observer, to solve for the velocity of the truck.

Now we can plug this velocity into the equation again for when the truck moves farther away from the observer and solve for .

Example Question #1 : Waves

At a local concert, a speaker is set up to produce low-pitched base sounds with a frequency range of 20Hz to 200Hz, which can be modeled as  sine waves. In a simplified model, the sound waves the speaker produces can be modeled as a cylindrical pipe with one end closed that travel through the air at a velocity of , where T is the temperature in °C.

As a person walks towards the speaker, the frequency he or she hears __________.

Possible Answers:

decreases

increases

remains the same

increases or decreases, depending on temperature

Correct answer:

increases

Explanation:

This question is asking us how the frequency changes when one object moves directly towards another; thus, this is a Doppler effect problem. Remembering back to our Doppler effect formula, we know that, where f is the frequency heard by the recipient (the person at the concert), vr is the velocity of the receiver, vs is the velocity of the source, and f0 is the original frequency.

In our case, the speaker is not moving, so vs is zero. vr is positive when the person is walking towards the speaker, so the frequency heard will be higher than the original frequency.

Example Question #2 : Waves

At a local concert, a speaker is set up to produce low-pitched base sounds with a frequency range of 20Hz to 200Hz, which can be modeled as  sine waves. In a simplified model, the sound waves the speaker produces can be modeled as a cylindrical pipe with one end closed that travel through the air at a velocity of , where T is the temperature in °C.

A person runs away from the speaker at 3m/s, while it creates a 200Hz sound wave. What frequency does he or she hear?

Use 340m/s for the speed of sound.

Possible Answers:

198.2Hz

220.9Hz

201.3Hz

190.7Hz

Correct answer:

198.2Hz

Explanation:

This question is asking us how the frequency changes when one object moves directly away from another; thus, this is a Doppler effect problem. Remembering back to our Doppler effect formula, we know that, where f is the frequency heard by the recipient (the person at the concert), vr is the velocity of the receiver, vs is the velocity of the source, and f0 is the original frequency. 

In our case, the speaker is not moving, so vs is zero. vr is negative when the person is walking towards the speaker, so the frequency heard will be lower than the original frequency. We can calculate the heard frequency using our equation.

Example Question #1 : Intensity And Decibels

Which statement best explains why sound intensity is lessened when a wall is placed between the source and listener?

Possible Answers:

Sound frequency is lower in solid than air

Part of the sound energy is reflected by the solid

Sound wavelength is shorter in solid than air

Sound travels more slowly in solid than air

Correct answer:

Part of the sound energy is reflected by the solid

Explanation:

When a sound wave contacts a surface, it transfers longitudinal vibration into the solid. Because of the increased density in the solid, these longitudinal compressions actually speed up and increase in wavelength. The frequency of the sound remains constant.

Only some of the sound energy is transferred to the solid, however. When the wave impacts the solid, some of the energy is bounced of the surface and reflected back to the source as an echo. This reduction of energy accounts for the lessened intensity experienced by a listener on the opposite side of the wall. Energy is also lost to internal reflection within the wall.

Example Question #1 : Doppler Effect

The source of a sound moves away from the listener. The listener has the impression that the source is __________.

Possible Answers:

higher in amplitude

higher in tone

lower in velocity

lower in pitch

Correct answer:

lower in pitch

Explanation:

The formula for the Doppler effect is:

Only frequency of the sound is affected by the Doppler effect; velocity and amplitude remain unchanged. When the source is moving away from the observer the velocity of the source is added to the speed of light.

This increases the value of the denominator, decreasing the value of the observed frequency. Frequency corresponds to pitch or tone; a lower observed frequency will result in a lower observed pitch.

Example Question #1 : Waves

You are jogging on the sidewalk at a rate of . A police car behind you is patrolling at a rate of when it turns on its siren. If the siren has a frequency of , is the frequency you perceive higher or lower than the frequency emitted?

Possible Answers:

Higher because the overall distance between you and the siren is decreasing

Lower because the overall distance between you and the siren is increasing

Higher because the siren is traveling the same direction as you

Neither higher nor lower because the doppler effect only affects sounds at lower frequencies

Lower because you are running slower than the police car

Correct answer:

Higher because the overall distance between you and the siren is decreasing

Explanation:

The doppler effect states that if two objects are moving closer together, perceived frequencies for emitted waves will be higher. If you are jogging away from the car at , but the car is traveling at , the overall distance between you and the siren is decreasing. You will hear a higher frequency than what the siren is emitting.

The numerator is subtracted when the observer moves away from the source. The denominator is subtracted when the source moves toward the observer. In this problem both terms would be subtracted, but the denominator would be decreased by more than the numerator. This would result in a fraction greater than one, and an overall increase in the final frequency.

Example Question #1 : Sound

A star emits visible color at . If the star is moving away from a stationary observer, which of the following cannot be the wavelength observed?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The Doppler effect accounts for observed frequency versus actual frequency emitted by a sound or light source. The equation for the Doppler effect is:

The numerator terms are summed when the observer moves toward the source, and the denominator terms are summed when the source moves away from the observer. In this question, we know that the source moves away from the observer; therefore, the observed frequency will be less than the actual frequency because the denominator in the equation will increase.

The question, however, asks about wavelength. If the frequency decreases, then the wavelength must increase according to the equation:

Velocity will remain constant (the speed of light). Any change in frequency will cause a change in wavelength via their direct relationship in the given equation.

Example Question #1 : General Principles And Properties

A stretched string of length L, mass M, and tension T is vibrating at its fundamental frequency. Which of the following changes takes place if the vibration frequency of the string increases, but tension and mass density remain constant?

Possible Answers:

None of the other options

Velocity increases

Wavelength decreases

More than one of the other options

Number of nodes decreases

Correct answer:

Wavelength decreases

Explanation:

We can use the equation  together with . If T is constant, v cannot change assuming the mass density, m/L, is constant. Thus,  must be constant; if f increases,  must decrease.

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