MCQMediumJEE 2025Superposition Principle & Standing Waves

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

A closed organ and an open organ tube filled by two different gases having the same bulk modulus but different densities ρ1\rho_1 and ρ2\rho_2, respectively. The frequency of the 9th harmonic of the closed tube is identical with the 4th harmonic of the open tube. If the length of the closed tube is 10cm10 \, \text{cm} and the density ratio of the gases is ρ1:ρ2=1:16\rho_1 : \rho_2 = 1 : 16, then the length of the open tube is:

  • A

    207cm\frac{20}{7} \, \text{cm}

  • B

    157cm\frac{15}{7} \, \text{cm}

  • C

    209cm\frac{20}{9} \, \text{cm}

  • D

    159cm\frac{15}{9} \, \text{cm}

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A closed tube of length L1=10cmL_1 = 10 \, \text{cm} contains a gas of density ρ1\rho_1, and an open tube of length L2L_2 contains a gas of density ρ2\rho_2. Both gases have the same bulk modulus. The 9th harmonic of the closed tube has the same frequency as the 4th harmonic of the open tube.

Find: The length L2L_2 of the open tube.

For the closed organ pipe,

f9=9v14L1f_{9} = \frac{9v_1}{4L_1}

and for the open organ pipe,

f4=4v22L2=2v2L2f_{4} = \frac{4v_2}{2L_2} = \frac{2v_2}{L_2}

Since these frequencies are identical,

9v14L1=2v2L2\frac{9v_1}{4L_1} = \frac{2v_2}{L_2}

So,

L2=8L1v29v1L_2 = \frac{8L_1v_2}{9v_1}

The speed of sound in a gas is

v=Bρv = \sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho}}

Since the bulk modulus BB is the same for both gases,

v1v2=ρ2ρ1\frac{v_1}{v_2} = \sqrt{\frac{\rho_2}{\rho_1}}

Given ρ1:ρ2=1:16\rho_1 : \rho_2 = 1 : 16,

v1v2=161=4\frac{v_1}{v_2} = \sqrt{\frac{16}{1}} = 4

Thus,

v2v1=14\frac{v_2}{v_1} = \frac{1}{4}

Substitute into the expression for L2L_2:

L2=8×10cm×149L_2 = \frac{8 \times 10 \, \text{cm} \times \frac{1}{4}}{9} L2=209cmL_2 = \frac{20}{9} \, \text{cm}

Therefore, the length of the open tube is 209cm\frac{20}{9} \, \text{cm}. The correct option is C.

Use the speed ratio directly

Given: Same bulk modulus for both gases and density ratio ρ1:ρ2=1:16\rho_1 : \rho_2 = 1 : 16.

Find: The open tube length.

From

v=Bρv = \sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho}}

with the same BB,

v1ρv \propto \frac{1}{\sqrt{\rho}}

Hence,

v1v2=4\frac{v_1}{v_2} = 4

and

v2v1=14\frac{v_2}{v_1} = \frac{1}{4}

Now use frequency equality:

9v14L1=4v22L2\frac{9v_1}{4L_1} = \frac{4v_2}{2L_2}

Rearranging,

L2=8L1v29v1L_2 = \frac{8L_1v_2}{9v_1}

Substitute L1=10cmL_1 = 10 \, \text{cm} and v2v1=14\frac{v_2}{v_1} = \frac{1}{4}:

L2=8×109×14=209cmL_2 = \frac{8 \times 10}{9} \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{20}{9} \, \text{cm}

Therefore, the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Using the same harmonic formula for both tubes is incorrect. A closed tube supports only odd harmonics with frequency fn=nv4Lf_n = \frac{nv}{4L}, while an open tube has fn=nv2Lf_n = \frac{nv}{2L}. Always choose the formula according to the boundary conditions of the pipe.

  • Taking the speed of sound proportional to ρ\sqrt{\rho} is wrong. Since v=Bρv = \sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho}}, the speed is inversely proportional to ρ\sqrt{\rho} when the bulk modulus is the same. So the denser gas has the lower sound speed.

  • Reversing the density ratio while forming v1v2\frac{v_1}{v_2} leads to the wrong answer. From ρ1:ρ2=1:16\rho_1 : \rho_2 = 1 : 16, we get v1v2=ρ2ρ1=4\frac{v_1}{v_2} = \sqrt{\frac{\rho_2}{\rho_1}} = 4, not 14\frac{1}{4}.

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