I. EXPERIMENT 1.
10: STANDING WAVES ON STRINGS
A. Abstract
Waves on a string under tension and …xed at both ends result in well-de…ned modes of
vibration with a spectrum of frequencies given by the formula below
B. Formulas
v
fn = n ; n = 1; 2; 3; : : : (1)
s 2L
T
v= (2)
where fn is the frequency of the nth standing wave mode on the string of length L, linear
mass density , and under tension T , and v is the wave speed on the string.
C. Description and Background
FIG. 1. Standing wave set-up.
The …gure above shows the experimental set-up. An electro-mechanical device vibrates
the end of a string of length, L, under tension. The tension is created by a weight, T = M g,
hanging over a pulley. The frequency of vibration is adjusted until an identi…able mode of
standing wave is realized. In the …gure, the mode has n = 4 anti-nodes (locations of large
amplitude). In the experiment, this parameter will be …xed.
1
A sample segment of length, `, and mass, m, is used to determine the linear mass density
of the string, = m=`. By combining Eqs. (1) and (2), one can derive the following relation
between fn2 and M
n2 g
fn2 = M (3)
4 L2
In the experiment, the hanging mass is varied, and the frequency associated with n = 4
anti-nodes is determined experimentally. The data collected can then be analyzed. If the
procedure is repeated numerous times, a linear regression analysis can be done and the slope,
&, of the best …t line to fn2 vs. M will equal
n2 g 4g
&= = (4)
4 L2 L2
Because of the presence of g in this equation, it provides an indirect method of determining
the acceleration due to gravity.
2
D. Procedure
1. Measure the length, `, and mass, m, of a sample piece of string from the experiment.
2. Measure the length of the string (from vibrator to pulley), L, used to support the
standing waves.
3. Attach a weight to the end of the string that hangs over the pulley.and record its mass,
M , in the measurement table.
4. Adjust the frequency of the sine wave generator so that a standing wave is set up with
n = 4 anti-nodes. Record this frequency (fn ) in the measurement table.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 four more times with other weights.
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E. Measurements
sample string mass, m [ gram ]
sample string length, ` [ cm ]
length of string under tension, L = [ cm ]
Trial M [gram] f4 [Hz]
1
2
3
4
5
4
F. Instructions
1. Calculate the linear mass density of the string sample, .
2. Use the data and the equation for g implied by (4),
L2 f42
g=
4M
to complete the Plotting Table.
3. Use the Excel …le provided, StandingWavesLabPlot, to plot f42 vs.M (include the
point (0; 0) in the plot), and submit the plot as part of your work.
4. Use the slope, &, of the regression line to determine the acceleration due to gravity,
gslope .
5. Based on the results in the table, what is g?
6. Determine the associated standard error, g.
7. What is the percent di¤erence between g and gslope ?
8. During the semester, you have performed four experiments that either determined the
acceleration due to gravity or whose results could have been used to determine it: The
sphere drop, the inclined air-track and glider, the pendulum, and now standing waves
on a string. Compare these four methods and make a case for which one is optimal if
you conclude there is such a one.
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G. Calculations
Plotting Table
M [ kg ] f42 [ Hz 2 ] g [ m=s2 ]
0 0 N/A
= m=` [ kg=m ]
f42 vs. M : slope, & [ Hz 2 =kg ]
gslope [ m=s2 ]
g [ m=s2 ]
g [ m=s2 ]
%-Di¤ (g; gslope )
Answer to 8 above:
