In: Physics
1. A thin taut string of mass 5.00 g is fixed at both ends and stretched such that it has two adjacent harmonics of 525 Hz and 630 Hz. The speed of a traveling wave on the string is 168 m/s.
a.Determine which harmonic corresponds to the 630 Hz frequency.
b.Find the linear mass density of this string.
c.Find the tension in the string.
(a) Wavelength of harmonic of 525 Hz = ( 168 / 525 ) m = 0.32 m.
Wavelength of harmonic of 630 Hz = ( 168 / 630 ) m ~ 0.267 m.
Hence, difference in wavelength = ( 0.32 - 0.267 ) m = 0.053 m.
We know, difference between two successive wavelengths for a string fixed at both ends = / 2,
where, = Actual wavelength, in m.
Hence, / 2 = 0.053, or, = ( 0.053 x 2 ) m = 0.106 m.
Also, we know, the nth harmonic has a wavelength n / 2, for a string fixed at both ends.
So, wavelength of harmonic of 630 Hz :
n / 2 = 0.267
or, n = 2 x 0.267 / 0.106
or, n = 5, taking the closest integer.
Hence, the 630 Hz frequency sound corresponds to the 5th harmonic.
(b) Wavelength of fundamental frequency = / 2 = Length of the string, L, in m
Hence, L = 0.106 m = 10.6 cm.
Mass of the string = 5 g.
So, linear mass density of the string : m = 5 g / 10.6 cm ~ 0.47 g / cm.
(c) The speed of a traveling wave on the string is v = 168 m/s.
Hence, tension T in the string is given by : v = ( T / m )
or, T = mv2 = ( 0.47 x 1682 ) N ~ 1.33 x 104 N.