Question

In a sitar wire, the vibrations are:

• A. Progressive longitudinal
• B. Stationary longitudinal
• C. Progressive transverse
• D. Stationary transverse

Hint:

Both ends of the wire are fixed, and plucking moves the string sideways, not along its length.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: A sitar wire is fixed at both ends. When it is plucked, a wave travels along the wire and reflects back from each fixed end.

Step 2: The wave moving one way and the reflected wave moving the other way overlap and combine. This combination sets up a wave pattern that does not travel forward, with fixed points called nodes and points of maximum swing called antinodes. A wave pattern of this kind is called a stationary or standing wave, not a progressive wave.

Step 3: Now look at the direction the wire itself moves. The string moves up and down, at right angles to its own length. Motion perpendicular to the length of the wire is called transverse motion. Sound in air is longitudinal, but a stretched string always vibrates transversely.

Step 4: Putting both parts together, the vibration in a sitar wire is stationary because of the fixed ends, and transverse because the string moves sideways, not along its length.

Answer: Stationary transverse, option D.