MCQEasyJEE 2025Wave Motion Basics

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion AA and the other as Reason RR: Assertion AA: A sound wave has higher speed in solids than in gases. Reason RR: Gases have higher value of Bulk modulus than solids.

  • A

    AA is false but RR is true

  • B

    Both AA and RR are true and RR is the correct explanation of AA

  • C

    Both AA and RR are true but RR is NOT the correct explanation of AA

  • D

    AA is true but RR is false

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Assertion AA states that a sound wave has higher speed in solids than in gases. Reason RR states that gases have higher value of Bulk modulus than solids.

Find: Determine which option correctly describes the truth of AA and RR.

The speed of sound in a medium is given by

v=Bρv = \sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho}}

where BB is the bulk modulus and ρ\rho is the density of the medium.

In solids, the value of bulk modulus is very high, so solids resist compression much more strongly than gases. Therefore, sound travels faster in solids than in gases. Hence, Assertion AA is true.

The statement in Reason RR is incorrect because gases do not have higher bulk modulus than solids. In fact, solids generally have a much higher bulk modulus than gases. Hence, Reason RR is false.

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Using Physical Properties

Given: Two statements are provided as Assertion AA and Reason RR.

Find: Check the correctness of both statements.

  1. Evaluate Assertion AA. Sound travels faster in solids than in gases because solids are much more rigid and have stronger elastic properties.

  2. Evaluate Reason RR. The reason says that gases have higher bulk modulus than solids. This is false because solids generally have much higher bulk modulus, while gases are highly compressible.

  3. Conclude. Since Assertion AA is true and Reason RR is false, the correct choice is AA is true but RR is false.

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Common mistakes

  • Students often think higher density alone makes sound slower in solids. This is incomplete because speed depends on both elasticity and density through v=Bρv = \sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho}}. Compare the much larger bulk modulus of solids as well.

  • A common mistake is to assume gases have higher bulk modulus because they spread easily. This is wrong because easy compression means lower bulk modulus, not higher. Remember that solids are much less compressible.

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