Questions from Modern Physics

Q: If all planets had the same average density, how would the

If all planets had the same average density, how would the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of a planet depend on its radius?

Q: What kinds of energy are associated with waves on a stretched string

What kinds of energy are associated with waves on a stretched string? How could you detect such energy experimentally?

Q: The amplitude of a wave decreases gradually as the wave travels down

The amplitude of a wave decreases gradually as the wave travels down a long, stretched string. What happens to the energy of the wave when this happens?

Q: For the wave motions discussed in this chapter, does the speed

For the wave motions discussed in this chapter, does the speed of propagation depend on the amplitude? What makes you say this?

Q: The speed of ocean waves depends on the depth of the water

The speed of ocean waves depends on the depth of the water; the deeper the water, the faster the wave travels. Use this to explain why ocean waves crest and “break” as they near the shore.

Q: Think of several examples in everyday life of motions that are,

Think of several examples in everyday life of motions that are, at least approximately, simple harmonic. In what respects does each differ from SHM?

Q: Adjacent antinodes of a standing wave on a string are 15.

Adjacent antinodes of a standing wave on a string are 15.0 cm apart. A particle at an antinode oscillates in simple harmonic motion with amplitude 0.850 cm and period 0.0750 s. The string lies along t...

Q: Does a tuning fork or similar tuning instrument undergo SHM? Why

Does a tuning fork or similar tuning instrument undergo SHM? Why is this a crucial question for musicians?

Q: The four strings on a violin have different thicknesses, but are

The four strings on a violin have different thicknesses, but are all under approximately the same tension. Do waves travel faster on the thick strings or the thin strings? Why? How does the fundamenta...

Q: Which takes more fuel: a voyage from the earth to the

Which takes more fuel: a voyage from the earth to the moon or from the moon to the earth? Explain.