NORMAL MODES AND AC MAINS FREQUENCY (W1)

AIM:

To determine the frequency of AC mains supply using normal modes of vibration using a sonometer
wire.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:

Figure 1

THEORY:

 The frequency n of the fundamental mode of vibration of a stretched string, fixed at two ends is

given by, …………..…………….. (1)

 Here l is the length of the vibrating string .T is the tension in the wire and m is its mass per unit
length.
  If an alternating current is passed in the coil of the electromagnet, the magnetization produced
in the core is proportional to the instantaneous value of the current .lf the electromagnet is held
close to the middle of the sonometer wire, the wire will be attracted twice during its cycle to the
electromagnet. The attractive force experienced by the wire will be proportional to the
magnetization produced in the core of the magnet.
 Consider a wire under tension F and with linear density . If transverse disturbance, of
wavelength λ and frequency f is made to propagate in the wire, then the speed of propagation
(v) is
 Then the frequency …………………………. (2)
 When the current reverses standing waves form and modes of vibrations set up
 Hence
Where n is integer and l is the length of the wire.
Therefore from equation … (2) we have ……………. (3)
 For n=1 we have the fundamental mode or the first harmonic called fundamental frequency
with n= 2 being the second harmonic also called the first overtone.
 Wave speed v is the same for all frequencies.

PROCEDURE:

FUNDERMENTAL MODE OF VIBRATION

1. The scale pan was loaded with masses in the range 0,5-2,0 kg
2. Obtained two values of l by relocating the position of the large constant amplitude.
3. Repeated procedures one and two as the scale pan was unloaded.

SECOND HARMONIC MODE OF VIBRATION

1. The procedure above was repeated with different masses in the range 0,3 -0,6kg
2. The diameter of the copper wire was taken in five different positions.
3. Two separate graphs were plotted for each vibration mode of vs F, hence deducing values for
the AC mains frequency (f•)

PRECAUTIONS

 Pulley should be as frictionless as possible.

 Edges of the wedge should be sharp.
 Tip of the electromagnetic pole should be close to the middle of the sonometer wire.
 Circuit should be switched off for a few minutes after taking every observation.
 The magnet should be always placed at the antinode to obtain optimum results.
 Took note of any of the connecting wires were damaged so as to avoid short circuiting .
  Took readings directly to eliminate parallax error.

RESULTS:

Table 1 : fundamental mode of vibration

Mass/(kg) l(2)/m l(2)/m l(average)/m /( ) F/N(=mg)

0.5 0.39 0.32 0.36 0.13 4.91
1.0 0.45 0.42 0.44 0.19 9.81
1.5 0.51 0.52 0.52 0.27 14.72
2.0 0.59 0.62 0.61 0.37 19.62

Table 2: Second harmonic

Mass/(kg) l(1)/m I(2)/m I(average)/m /( ) F/(N)=mg

0.3 0.28 0.25 0.27 0.07 2.94
0.4 0.33 0.32 0.33 0.11 3.92
0.5 0.39 0.36 0.38 0.14 4.91
0.6 0.42 0.38 0.40 0.16 5.89

ANALYSIS:

Linear equation used is,

Diameter of Copper wire =0.91mm

Where F is the force, f the frequency, is linear density, and l is the length of Copper.

 Fundamental frequency
 Gradient= 0.061kg/m , frequency=1/2(0.0179)
 frequency =1/(4.0,061.0,0171)^1/2=15Hz
 first harmonic frequency
Frequency=1/ (4.0, 3049.0,061)^1/2=4Hz

Source of errors:

 Friction of the pulley is the main source of error in the experiment; due to this, the value of
tension acting on the wire is less than that actually applied.
  AC frequency may not be stable.

DISCUSSION

 The frequency of alternating current is almost equal to the frequency of the vibrating wire.
 Sonometer wire is made of soft copper wire for better results.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 The above experiment can be performed using an electromagnet, passing AC current through
the magnet hence vibration on the sonometer wire.
 In this case, the frequency of the sonometer is twice that of the main current.
 Iron or Constantine wire could have been used in the experiment for better results.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

 The practical is mainly applied in the music industry, in the calibration of the guitars to suit a
certain sound for a given Frequency.
 Quantitative bone ultrasound, comparing references from different database to a certain
population.
 Human trabecular bone thus the effects of frequency dependent attenuation and dispersion on
sound speed measurements.
 Applicable to thermionic valve measurements of the damping of vibration of steel.

CONCLUSION

 Some points are not evenly scattered about the line of best fit may be due to the unprecisely
avoidance of the errors mentioned in the PRECAUTIONS.
 The mass of the wire increased the force F.
 The frequency calculated differs from the expected 50Hz, since we were using a much lower
value for AC current during the experiment.
 However, the experiment was a success as the lab objectives were met.

REFFERENCE

 Experiments lab manual part 1 (w1)

 E.M. Pugh and G.H Wesley Analysis of Physical Measurements (Addison Wesley ,1966).
 Salvatore, B., 1952. Sonometer for testing musical ear. U.S. Patent 2,604,806
 Tison, T., Heussaff, A., Massa, F., Turpin, I. and Nunes, R.F., 2014. Improvement in the
predictivity of squeal simulations: Uncertainty and robustness. Journal of Sound and
Vibration, 333(15), pp.3394-3412.
 Chambers, F.M., 1924. LXIV. Application of a thermionic valve to the measurement of the
damping of vibrations of a steel wire. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical
Magazine and Journal of Science, 48(286), pp.636-645.
 Graph 1: of against F for Fundamental Frequency (table 1)

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25
l^2/(m^2)

0.2
l^(m^2)
Linear (l^(m^2))

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
F/N
 Graph 2 of against F Second harmonic (table 2)

0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12

0.1
l^2/(m^2)

0.08 l^(m^2)
Linear (l^(m^2))

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

-0.02
F(N)