Question

Assertion: When two vibrating tuning forks having frequencies $256\text{Hz}$ and $212\text{Hz}$ are held near each other then beats cannot be heard.
Reason: The principle of superposition is valid only if the frequencies of the oscillators are nearly equal.

• A. Assertion and reason both are correct.
• B. Assertion and reason both are wrong
• C. Assertion is correct while reason is wrong
• D. Assertion is wrong while reason is correct.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Assertion is correct while reason is wrong

The principle of superposition is valid for all waves with any frequency difference.
However, for beats to be heard the beat frequency should be less than $10\text{Hz}$.
But here,
$f_b=|f_1-f_2|=256-212=44\text{Hz}>10\text{Hz}$
Therefore, the beats cannot be recognized by the human ear.
Hence, Assertion is correct while reason is wrong.