UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

Faculty of Engineering & Computing

Laboratory Report 6: WAVES IN A STRING

Course Name: Engineering Physics 1

Date of Submission: 22/10/2020

Instructor: Dr K. Barrett

Name: Kevonie Lawes - 2001105

Amanda Senior – 2003804

INTRODUCTION: This experiment explores a phenomenon called Waves. A wave is a

propagation of oscillations through a medium without any displacement of the medium. A

travelling wave or a progressive wave is a wave that causes a transfer of energy from one

point in the medium to another point in the medium without the actual transfer of matter

between the points. The formula for a travelling wave is y = A sin ⁡( ωt ± kx ). This equation

shows that displacement is y along the spring at a time t. It can also be said that y as a

function at t at a place x, in a string. A is the amplitude of the wave; ω is the angular

frequency and k is the wave vector. The aim is to scientifically check the equation for a wave

velocity dependency on the medium's properties by oscillating an extended string.

APPARATUS:

As stated in the hand-out entitled “Lab 6: Waves in a string”, received on October 19, 2020

PROCEDURE:

As stated in the hand-out entitled “Lab 6: Waves in a string”, received on October 19, 2020
RESULTS:

Table 1: Displaying the mass, wavelength, wavelength squared and the tension due to a wave

oscillation in a string

Mass/kg Wavelength/m Wavelength Squared/m2 Tension/N

0.1005 0.254 0.064516 0.9859
0.1500 0.323 0.104329 1.4715
0.2000 0.416 0.173056 1.9620
0.2500 0.467 0.218089 2.4525
0.3011 0.522 0.272484 2.9538
0.3500 0.568 0.322624 3.4335

Constant Frequency= (54 ± 5) Hz

Mass of String= (4.33 ± 0.20) x 10-³kg

Length of String= (1.26 ± 0.22) m

Table 2: Displaying the frequency, wavelength, wavelength squared, frequency squared,

inverse frequency squared, and the inverse wavelength squared due to a wave oscillation in a

string

Frequency/H Wavelength/m Frequency Wavelength Inverse Inverse

z Squared/Hz2 Squared/m2 frequency wavelength

 squared squared
18.6 1.11 345.96 1.232 0.00289 0.812
24.3 0.966 590.49 0.933 0.00169 1.072
30.5 0.773 930.25 0.598 0.00107 1.674
36.9 0.659 1361.61 0.434 0.00073 2.303
42.1 0.564 1772.41 0.318 0.00056 3.144
48.7 0.482 2371.69 0.232 0.00042 4.304

Constant Mass= (200 ± 5) g

Symbols:


λ(wavelength)- can be defined as the distance between two successive crests or

troughs of a wave.

m(mass)- the measure of the quantity of matter that a body or an object contains


f(frequency)- is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time.

0.4

0.35
0.32
f(x) = 0.11 x − 0.04
0.3
Wavelength squared/m2

0.25

0.22
0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0.6000 1.1000 1.6000 2.1000 2.6000 3.1000 3.6000

Tension/N

Figure 1: Displaying the relationship between the Wavelength squared and the Tension
 2500
f(x) = 571.79 x − 39.45

2000
1772.41
Frequency Squared/Hz2

1500

1000

590.49
500

0
0.400 0.900 1.400 1.900 2.400 2.900 3.400 3.900 4.400 4.900

Inverse Wavelength Squared

Figure 2: Displaying the relationship between the Frequency squared and the Inverse of the

wavelength squared.

From the formula

1
I. λ 2= ∗FT
μf2

Transpose formula in y = mx + c

2 1
Therefore λ = 2
∗FT + 0
μf

From the formula above we were able to plot figure 1 of λ2 against FT.

FT
II. ∗1
μ
f 2= 2
λ

Transpose formula in the form y= mx + c

 FT
∗1
Therefore 2 μ
f = 2 +0
λ

1
From the formula above we were able to plot figure 2 of f 2 against
λ2


To Calculate the wavelength squared

λ 2=λ∗λ

λ 2=0.254 m∗0.254 m

λ 2=0.064516 (to 3s.f.)

λ 2=0.0645 m2

Calculation is repeated to get the values of each wavelength square


To Calculate the Tension

F T =mg

Where g is 9. 81N.kg-1

F T =0.1005 kg∗9.81 N . kg−1

F T =0.985905 (to 4s.f.)

F T =0.9859 N

Calculation is repeated to get the values of each tension.


To Calculate the Inverse wavelength squared

1 1
=
λ 1.232
2

1
=¿0.812
λ2

Calculation is repeated to get the values of each inverse wavelength squared

For Graph 1

1. Gradient, m

1
Gradient=
μf2

y 2− y 1 0.322624 m2−0.218089 m2
Gradient= =
x 2−x 1 3.433 N−2.4525 N

y 2− y 1 0.104535m 2
Gradient= =
x 2−x 1 0.981 N

m2
Gradient=0.1066
N

2. Mass per unit length, µ:

Using the formula from gradient, m

1
Gradient=
μf2

where Gradient, m is 0.1066; recall the constant frequency 54Hz

Transpose for µ:

1
Therefore μ=
mf2

1
μ= 2
0.1066∗(54 )

μ=3.217∗10−3kg/m
 3. Error in Gradient, m

∆ (∆ y ) ∆ (∆ x )
∆ m=±m( + )
∆y ∆x

For Δy and Δx you use the smallest division on the graph.

For the y and x values it is the change in gradient calculation stated above.

m=gradient calculated above.

∆ y ∆x
∆ m=±m( + )
y x

0.01 0.1
∆ m=±0.1066 ( + )
0.104535 0.981

∆ m=±0.1066∗0.1976

m2
∆ m=±0.02
N

4. Error in Mass per Unit, µ

1
SINCE μ=
mf2

Recall constant frequency= (54 ± 5) Hz

∆μ ∆m 2∆f
=± +
μ m f

∆m 2∆f
∆ μ=± μ ( + )
m f

0.02 2(5)
∆ μ=±3.217∗10−3 ( + )
0.1066 54
 ∆ μ=±3.217∗10−3∗0.3728

∆ μ=±1.199∗10−3 kg /m

5. Percentage Relative Error of the mass per unit length

True value of mass per unit length:

mass
μ=
length

Recall: Mass of string= 4.33 x10-³kg, Length of string= 1.26 m

Therefore

4.33∗10−3 kg
μ=
1.26 m

μ=3.44∗10−3 kg/m

SO:

Relative Percentage Error=± |True−Estimated

True |×100 %
3.44∗10−3−3.217∗10−3
Relative Percentage Error=± | 3.44∗10−3 |×100 %

Relative Percentage Error=± 6.48 %

For Graph 2
1.
Gradient, z:

FT
Gradient=
μ
 y 2− y 1 1772.41 Hz2−590.49 Hz2
Gradient= =
x 2−x 1 3.144−1.072

y 2− y 1 1181.92 Hz 2
Gradient= =
x 2−x 1 2.072

Hz2
Gradient=570.42
m −2

2.
Mass per unit length, µ:

Using the formula from gradient, z

FT
Gradient=
μ

Where gradient, z is 570.42; recall the constant mass of 200g to calculate the force. Convert g

to kg 200/1000 = 0.20kg.

.: F=mg where g is given above

F=0.20 kg∗9.81 N . kg−1

F=1.962 N Transpose formula for µ

FT
μ=
gradient , z

1.962
μ=
570.42

μ=3.44∗10−3kg/m

3.
Error in Gradient, z

∆ (∆ y ) ∆ (∆ x )
∆ z=± z ( + )
∆y ∆x
For Δy and Δx you use the smallest division on the graph.

For the y and x values it is the change in gradient calculation stated above.

z=gradient calculated above.

∆y ∆x
∆ z=± z ( + )
y x

100.0 0.1
∆ z=± 570.42( + )
1181.92 2.072

∆ z=± 570.42∗0.1329

Hz 2
∆ z=± 75.8
m−2

4.
Error in Mass per Unit, µ

FT
SINCE μ=
gradient , z

∆μ ∆ z ∆ FT
=± +
μ z FT

To calculate mu, we must first calculate the Δ F T

∆ FT ∆ z
.: =
FT z

FT ∗∆ z
∆ F T =±
z

1.962∗75.8
∆ F T =±
570.42

∆ F T =±0.26 N

Therefore
 ∆ z ∆ FT
∆ μ=± μ ( + )
z FT

75.8 0.26
∆ μ=±3.44∗10−3 ( + )
570.42 1.962

∆ μ=±3.44∗10−3∗0.2654

∆ μ=± 9.13∗10−4

∆ μ=± 0.000913 kg /m

5.
Percentage Relative Error of the mass per unit length

Recall the true value of mass per unit length:

μ=3.44∗10−3 kg/m

Therefore

Relative Percentage Error=± |True−Estimated

True |×100 %
3.44∗10−3−3.44∗10−3
Relative Percentage Error=± | 3.44∗10
−3 |×100 %

Relative Percentage Error=± 0 %

DISCUSSION: In this experiment an oscillating string was under investigation. Two

scenarios were presented for this lab; one where the frequency was constant and the other
where the mass was constant. Graphs were plotted respectively for the conditions. For graph

one it was the wavelength squared against the mass suspended on the string. As Tension

increased the wavelength squared increased as well, which indicates proportionality. The

2 1
equation λ = ∗FT explains the linear relationship between the tension and wavelength
μf2

squared. Few aberrations were seen after the calculations were done. The gradient was

calculated, and its significance is the inverse of the frequency squared multiplied by the mass

per unit length. The small deviations that was found in its error would be as a result from air

resistance not being negligible. This value would then influence the fractional error for the

mass per unit length. Its percentage relative error for when the frequency was constant is

± 6.48 %. Graph two illustrates that as the inverse of the wavelength squared increased the

FT
∗1
frequency squared did as well. The equation 2 μ explains that the frequency squared
f = 2
λ

dependent on the inverse of the wavelength squared. Anomalies were noted in the

calculations. The gradient’s significance was for it to be added into the formula and the mass

per unit was 3.44∗10−3 kg /m. Its fractional error was ± 75.8, this value shows that an external

force was acting on the experiment, possibly between the experimenter and the system used.

Regarding the percentage error being ± 0 % indicates that the values for the mass per unit

length are the same.

Conclusion: It can be inferred that the speed of a wave is dependent on the properties of the

gradient which causes it to oscillate with the characteristics of a travelling wave.