Experiment No.

2
Object:To find the frequency of a given tuning fork with the help of a sonometer.
Apparatus used: A sonometer, a set of tuning forks of known frequency, 0.5 kg weight
hanger, some 0.5 kg slotted weights, Rubber pad, Paper rider.

Formula Used:

ν=
1 T
√
2l m
ν = Frequency of the tuning fork
T= Tension in the string
m= mass per unit length of the wire [ π d 2 ⍴/4]
d= diameter of the wire
⍴= density of the material of the wire
l= resonant length

Observations:
Pitch of the screw gauge (p) = 1 mm
Number of divisions over circular scale(n) = 100
Least count (p/n) = 0.01mm
Zero error = -(100-98) x0.01=-0.02 mm
Mean Zero Error =0.02 mm
Zero error correction=0.02 mm

Table for the measurement of diameter of the wire:

S.No. Main Scale Reading ( a ) Circular Scale Reading (b) (mm) Observed Diameter
(mm) (d= a + b)
Division (n) Value mm
(n x L.C )
1. 0 39 0.39 0.39

2. 0 40 0.40 0.40

3. 0 39 0.39 0.39

4. 0 40 0.40 0.40

5. 0 40 0.40 0.40

Mean observed diameter = 0.40 mm

Corrected diameter = 0.40+ 0.02 = 0.42 mm

Table for the measurement of the frequency

S.No. Load (m) Tension Resonating Resonating Mean Frequency
Kg (mg) N length for length for Resonating (ν)
increasing decreasing Length Hz
load (l1) load (l2)
L= (l1 + l2)/2

1. 0.5 4.9 13.5 13.8 13.6 247.6

2. 1.0 9.8 18.7 19.0 18.8 248.5
3. 1.5 14.7 22.7 22.6 22.4 248.3
4. 2.0 19.6 25.5 25.8 25.6 249.6
5. 2.5 24.5 28.0 28.0 28.0 252.1

Mean Frequency =249.2 Hz

Calculations :( show on the left side page)

Mass per unit length = π d 2 ⍴/4 = (3.14 x (0.42 x 10-3 x7.85 x 10 3 )/ 4
=1.08 x 10 3 kg m-1

ν=
√
1 T
2l m

=
1
√ 4.9
2 X 13.6 X 10−2 1.08 X 10−3
= 247.6 Hz

Result:Mean frequency of tuning fork is found to be 249.2Hz.

Precautions and Sources of Error:
1. The wire used as a string should have uniform area of cross section.
2. The pulley should be frictionless so as to avoid any error in the observation of Tension.
3. After Completing the experiment weights should be removed from the hanger. Never leave
the wire in a stretched condition.
4. The edges of the wedges should not be sharp.