Physics · Chapter 7 of 11

Waves: BPSC & UPPCS Prelims PYQs

16 previous-year questions on Waves. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.

1. 1. 71st BPSC Prelims 2025

   In which medium, the speed of sound is maximum?

   1. AWater
   2. BSteel
   3. CAir
   4. DHydrogen
   Answer and explanation →

2. 2. UPPSC Prelims 2025

   Arrange the following electromagnetic radiations in decreasing order of their frequencies:

   • 1. Gamma rays
   • 2. Ultraviolet rays
   • 3. Radio waves
   • 4. X-rays
   1. A4, 1, 3, 2
   2. B4, 1, 2, 3
   3. C1, 4, 2, 3
   4. D1, 4, 3, 2
   Answer and explanation →

3. 3. UPPSC Prelims 2025

   Assertion (A): Voices of men and women are different. Reason (R): Length and thickness of vocal cord is different in men and women.

   1. ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
   2. B(A) is true, but (R) is false
   3. C(A) is false, but (R) is true
   4. DBoth (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
   Answer and explanation →

4. 4. 68th BPSC Prelims 2023

   Shrillness of sound is determined by

   1. Avelocity of sound
   2. Bamplitude of sound
   3. Cwavelength of sound
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

5. 5. 68th BPSC Prelims 2023

   Before playing the orchestra in a musical concert, a sitarist tries to adjust the tension and pluck the string suitably. By doing so, he/she is adjusting

   1. Afrequency of the sitar string with the frequency of other musical instruments
   2. Bamplitude of sound
   3. Cintensity of sound
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

6. 6. 67th BPSC Prelims 2022

   Which of the following rays/waves are used to know the growth of the fetus in the womb?

   1. AX-rays
   2. BMicrowaves
   3. CUltrasonic waves
   4. DUltraviolet rays
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

7. 7. UPPSC Prelims 2022

   In the context of permissible noise level, match List-I with List-II:

   List-I	List-II
   A. Residential area	1. 50 dB
   B. Silent zone	2. 55 dB
   C. Industrial area	3. 65 dB
   D. Commercial area	4. 70 dB

   1. AA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
   2. BA-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
   3. CA-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
   4. DA-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
   Answer and explanation →

8. 8. 65th BPSC Prelims 2019

   Sound wave in air is

   1. Atransverse
   2. Blongitudinal
   3. Celectromagnetic
   4. Dpolarized
   5. ENone of the above / More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

9. 9. 65th BPSC Prelims 2019

   What is measured in hertz?

   1. AFrequency
   2. BEnergy
   3. CHeat
   4. DQuality
   5. ENone of the above / More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

10. 10. UPPSC Prelims 2018

    Sound will have the highest velocity in

    1. AVacuum
    2. BAir
    3. CWater
    4. DSteel
    Answer and explanation →

11. 11. UPPSC Prelims 2018

    Which of the following represents the decibel level of rustling of tree leaves in normal circumstances?

    1. A10 dB
    2. B20 dB
    3. C60 dB
    4. D100 dB
    Answer and explanation →

12. 12. UPPSC Prelims 2017

    An artificial satellite can be tracked very precisely from the earth by using

    1. ADoppler effect
    2. BRadar
    3. CSonar
    4. DPulsar
    Answer and explanation →

13. 13. UPPSC Prelims 2017

    Television viewers using dish antenna to receive satellite signals do not receive signals in rain because:

    • 1. of the small size antenna.
    • 2. rain droplets absorb the energy of radio waves.
    • 3. rain droplets disperse the energy of radio waves from their original direction.

    Which of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 1 and 2
    3. COnly 2 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation →

14. 14. UPPSC Prelims 2014

    Sound waves do not travel in ____________.

    1. ASolids
    2. BLiquids
    3. CGases
    4. DVacuum
    Answer and explanation →

15. 15. UPPSC Prelims 2012

    Ultrasonics are sound waves of frequency

    1. AGreater than 20,000 Hz
    2. BLess than 10,000 Hz
    3. CEqual to 1000 Hz
    4. DNone of these
    Answer and explanation →

16. 16. 45th BPSC Prelims 2001

    What is the distance between two successive crests or successive troughs called?

    1. AAmplitude
    2. BWavelength
    3. CFrequency
    4. DNone of the above
    Answer and explanation →