Chapter 9 Question 5
 
a. Discuss how the phase relationship between two electrical signals is determined by using a double beam oscilloscope. 3 marks
 
c0905a.gif (14691 bytes)
Two signals of the same frequency and a constant phase difference are fed to the CRO at the inputs Y1 and Y2 with common earth.
From the display, the separation t between the two crests is measured. The horizontal extent T for a complete wave is also measured. The phase difference is given by
 
The horizontal axis on the screen is similar to time axis since the waveforms on a CRO are always displayed from left to right. For two adjacent crests, the crest on the left leads the crest on the right.
b. Devise an experiment to show how the phase of vibration of air molecules varies with position along the direction of propagation of a sound wave. Hence, discuss how you can determine the speed of sound using the same set up. 4 marks
 
c0905b.gif (22997 bytes) 1
In this experiment, the CRO receives and displays both the signals from the signal generator and the microphone. As the microphone is moved along the metre rule, the waveform Q shifts, revealing a change in phase difference between the two signals. 1
If the microphone moves through a distance such that the phase difference between the signals P and Q resumes it old value, the distance moved by the microphone is exactly one wavelength l. 1
Knowing the frequency of the sound waves (which is the frequency of the signal generator), the wave speed is
  1
c. State and explain how you can use a stroboscope to determine the frequency of water waves in a ripple tank. Discuss how the viewed pattern of the water waves changes if the rotational speed of the stroboscope that freeze the pattern is slightly increased or decreased. 5 marks
 
A stroboscope can freeze the waves in a ripple tank when the strobe frequency is a fraction of the wave frequency or a multiple of the wave frequency. 1
However, if the strobe frequency is higher than the wave frequency, the frozen pattern has a reduction in wavelength. 1
Thus, if the stroboscope is rotated at the maximum speed and freezes the wave pattern without any apparent reduction in wavelength, then the wave frequency is equal to the strobe frequency. 1
If the strobe frequency is increased slightly, the wave has not completed one cycle. Thus, the viewed pattern seems to move backward (towards the source.) 1
If the strobe frequency is decreased slightly, the wave has completed slightly more than one cycle. Thus, the viewed pattern seems to move forward. 1
 
d. What is meant by the refraction of waves? Discuss how the Snell’s Law can be verified using the theory in wave. 4 marks
 
Refraction of waves is the change in direction of propagation as the waves move obliquely across the interface between two medium, which is accompanied with a change in wave speed. 1
Snell's Law
c0905c.gif (11206 bytes) 1
Suppose it takes time t for XY to reach X'Y' and the wave velocities in medium 1 and medium 2 are c1 and c2 respectively. We have
 
Let q1 and q2 be the angles that XY and X'Y' make with the boundary respectively. From the diagram,
  1
Thus,
  1
 
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1