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Most Repeated MDCAT Physics: Wave Motion and Sound MCQs
The most repeated Wave Motion and Sound questions in MDCAT Physics, measured from 377 real past papers. Wave Motion and Sound contributed 497 questions across those papers, and 19 distinct questions recurred with the same verified answer across 2 or more different exam years — listed below (ranked by how many years each recurs in), with the answer, an explanation, and the exact years.
Measured from 377 real past papers · updated July 2026
- 1Repeated in 3 yearsWave Motion and Sound
A distant star is receding from the Earth with a speed of 1.4o x 107 m/s. It emits light of frequency 4.57 x 1014 Hz. The speed of light is 3.0 x 108 m/s. The Doppler effect formula can be used with light waves. What will bethe frequency of this light when detected on Earth?
- A2.04 x 1013 Hz
- B4.36 x 1014 Hz✓
- C4.57 X 1014 Hz
- D4.79 X 1014 Hz
Explanation
Given: v (receding speed) = 1.40 x 10^7 m/s f_source (emitted frequency) = 4.57 x 10^14 Hz c (speed of light) = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s Doppler effect formula for light: f_observed = f_source * sqrt((1 - v/c) / (1 + v/c)) Calculations: v/c = (1.40 x 10^7 m/s) / (3.0 x 10^8 m/s) = 0.0466666... sqrt((1 - v/c) / (1 + v/c)) = sqrt((1 - 0.0466666...) / (1 + 0.0466666...)) sqrt((1 - v/c) / (1 + v/c)) = sqrt(0.9533333 / 1.0466666) sqrt((1 - v/c) / (1 + v/c)) = sqrt(0.9108108) sqrt((1 - v/c) / (1 + v/c)) = 0.9543641 (approximately) f_observed = 4.57 x 10^14 Hz * 0.9543641 f_observed = 4.361936 x 10^14 Hz Result: f_observed = 4.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2022, 2023, 2024
- 2Repeated in 3 yearsWave Motion and Sound
There are different types of waves that exist in this universe. Which of the following waves do Not need any material medium to travel?
- ASound waves
- BLight waves✓
- CWater waves
- DEarthquake waves
Explanation
Light waves are electromagnetic waves that do not require a material medium to travel. They can travel through a vacuum, as demonstrated by sunlight reaching Earth from the Sun.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2018, 2023, 2024
- 3Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
Doppler's effect is applicable to:
- ASound waves
- BRadio waves
- CElectromagnetic waves
- DAll of these✓
Explanation
Doppler's effect applies to all options (A, B, C). It describes the change in frequency of waves due to relative motion between the source and observer. For sound, it's apparent in pitch shifts; for radio and electromagnetic waves, in frequency shifts affecting observed wavelength.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2007, 2023
- 4Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
How many types of modulations are possible with sinusoidal carrier?
- AOnly one
- BTwo
- CThree✓
- DFour
Explanation
The carrier signal is a sine wave at the carrier frequency. The sine wave has three characteristics that can be altered. The term that may be varied is the carrier voltage Ec, the carrier frequency FC, and the carrier phase angle θ. So three forms of modulations are possible.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2016, 2018
- 5Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
Which of the following are the application of Doppler's effect?
- AHologram technology
- BTo obtain the frequency of the matter waves
- CDetermining speed of light in mediums
- DSending radar signals✓
Explanation
The applications of doppler effects are tracking satellite, measuring speed of automobile by traffic police, sending radar signals, VOR, homosonde, sonar and spectral analysis of light emitted by stars.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024
- 6Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
Longitudinal waves exhibit:
- APolarization
- BParticle nature
- CProperty of energy transmission in space
- DPhenomena of superposition of waves✓
Explanation
In air column and wind instruments, longitudinal waves produce superposition. Hence, option D is correct.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024
- 7Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
The product of frequency and wavelength of a wave equals to:
- ADisplacement of the wave
- BAmplitude of the wave
- CSpeed of the wave✓
- DTime period of the wave
Explanation
As v= fλ So the product of frequency and wavelength is equal to speed of wave.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024
- 8Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
The distance between two consecutive nodes or anti-nodes is:
- Aλ/4
- Bλ
- Cλ/2✓
Explanation
Option C is correct.The distance between two consecutive nodes or antinodes is half of the wavelength. A node is a point on a standing wave where the displacement is zero. An antinode is a point on a standing wave where the displacement is maximum. The distance between two consecutive nodes or antinodes is half of the wavelength λ/2 because the wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points on a wave that is in the same phase.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024
- 9Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
The waves which do not require any medium for their propagation are called:
- AMechanical waves
- BSound waves
- CTidal waves
- DElectromagnetic waves✓
Explanation
Waves that do not require any medium for their propagation are called electromagnetic waves.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2005, 2014
- 10Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
The wave velocity in any medium depends upon:
- AElasticity
- BDensity
- CHomogeneity
- DAll of the above✓
Explanation
The correct answer is D, "All of the above" because the wave velocity in any medium depends on all of these factors: elasticity, density, and homogeneity. - Elasticity affects how well a material can transmit mechanical waves. More elastic materials allow for faster wave propagation. - Density plays a role because waves travel at different speeds through materials with different densities. For example, sound waves travel faster in denser materials. - Homogeneity refers to the uniformity of a medium. A more homogeneous medium allows for more consistent wave propagation.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2010, 2023
- 11Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
The number of loops in stationary waves depends upon:
- Avelocity of waves
- Bwavelength of waves
- Cnature of the medium
- Dfrequency of waves✓
Explanation
No. of loops in stationary waves depend on frequency of waves.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2011, 2023
- 12Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
We can hear sound around the corner but cannot see because of:
- Ainterference
- Bdiffraction✓
- Cpolarization
- Ddispersion
Explanation
The diffraction of sound waves around a corner is noticeable. Therefore, sound can be heard around corners but cannot be seen.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2011, 2023
- 13Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
In a vibrating cord the point where the particles are stationary is called:
- ACrest
- BAnti-node
- CNode✓
- DTrough
Explanation
A node is a point along a standing wave where the wave has minimum amplitude. All the particles of the string execute SHM except nodes.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2013, 2014
- 14Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
Molecular theory for metals is also called as:
- AElectron pool theory
- BValence bond theory
- CBand Theory✓
- DNone of these options are correct
Explanation
The molecular theory for metals is also called as band theory. Band theory is a quantum mechanical model that describes the behavior of electrons in solids. It is based on the idea that the electrons in a solid can be grouped into bands, which are ranges of energy levels that the electrons can occupy. In metals, the valence electrons (the electrons in the outermost shell) are delocalized, which means that they are not bound to any individual atom. Instead, they are free to move throughout the metal. This is why metals are good conductors of electricity.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2016, 2019
- 15Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
A wave is characterised by the physical parameters:
- AAmplitude, wavelength and acceleration
- BFrequency, wavelength and acceleration
- CWavelength, frequency and speed of wave✓
- DDisplacement, wavelength and speed of wave
Explanation
A wave is typically characterized by the following physical parameters:1. Wavelength (λ): The distance between two consecutive points on the wave that are in phase with each other.2. Frequency (f): The number of oscillations or cycles of the wave per second.3. Speed of wave (v): The distance traveled by the wave per unit time.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2022, 2023
- 16Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
Which of the following factors does not affect the speed of sound in air?
- ADensity of gas
- BMoisture in air
- CTemperature
- DPressure of gas✓
Explanation
The factor that does not significantly affect the speed of sound in air (under normal conditions) is pressure of gas. Here's why:Temperature: The speed of sound in air is directly proportional to the square root of the absolute temperature. As temperature increases, the speed of sound increases. This is the most significant factor. Moisture in air (Humidity): Increased humidity slightly increases the speed of sound. This is because lighter water molecules replace some of the heavier nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air, slightly decreasing the density.Density of gas: In general, the speed of sound is inversely proportional to the square root of the density of the medium.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2023, 2024
- 17Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
Two tuning forks are sounded, one has a frequency of 250 Hz while the other has a frequency of 245 Hz. What is the frequency of the beats?
- A250 Hz
- B245 Hz
- C5 Hz✓
- D10 Hz
- E235 Hz
Explanation
Beat frequency i.e,number of beats per second is equal to the difference between the two combining frequencies. Hence, there will be 250-245= 5 Hz.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2013, 2016
- 18Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
Those waves in which the particle of medium have displacement along the direction of propagation of waves are known as:
- ALongitudinal waves✓
- BTransverse waves
- CSimple waves
- DElectromagnetic waves
Explanation
A longitudinal wave is a type of wave that travels in the direction of the medium, but a transverse wave is another type of wave that travels in the direction of the medium.So the correct option is A.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2014, 2015
- 19Repeated in 2 yearsWave Motion and Sound
At points where the displacements of two waves cancel each other's effect. the path difference is an odd integral multiple of half the wavelength. This effect is known as:
- AConstructive interference
- BDestructive interference✓
- CStationary interference
- DSimple interference
Explanation
Destructive interference at a point between the two waves takes place if the path difference between the waves at that point is equal to odd integral multiple of half wavelength of the wave.So, path difference Δx=(n+1/2)λWhere n must be an integer.
Appeared in the past papers of: 2014, 2015