StreakPeaked· Practice

ExamsJEE AdvancedPhysics

When a person blows into one end of a long pipe, creating a high-pressure air pulse that moves through it, what happens when this pulse reaches the opposite end of the pipe?

  1. A high-pressure pulse begins moving back through the pipe if the far end is open.
  2. A low-pressure pulse begins moving back through the pipe if the far end is open.
  3. A low-pressure pulse begins moving back through the pipe if the far end is closed.
  4. A high-pressure pulse begins moving back through the pipe if the far end is closed.

Correct answer: A low-pressure pulse begins moving back through the pipe if the far end is open.

Solution

A high-pressure (compression) pulse reaching the OPEN end of a pipe reflects as a low-pressure (rarefaction) pulse, since an open end is a pressure node. So a low-pressure pulse travels back if the far end is open (option index 1). The stored answer (index 2) wrongly requires a closed end.

Related JEE Advanced Physics questions

⚔️ Practice JEE Advanced Physics free + battle 1v1 →