ransverse wave propagation along a stretched string

1aeal string is perfectly elastic. uniform and flexible cord having very large length
in
comparison
An direction perpendicularto its
eter. When a string stretched between two points is plucked in a
fact that tension in the string tends
gn, ransverse vibrations are set up in the string. This is due to the and goes to the other extreme
O Onng it back to its mean position but due to inertia the string overshoots
In this way, transverse vibrations are set up in the string.
Wave equation for transverse vibrations along a string
we shall now derive the wave equation for the transverse vibrations of a string fixed between two
rigid supports and stretched under a tension T along X-axis. In displaced position, consider an
infinitesimal stringelement AB of length dr between the coordinates.x and x +dr as shown in fig. (2).

B2
String
T
o X - - dx-
-X
K--- X+ d x - -

Fig.(2)
Let y be its displacement at time t. Let 6, and 6, be the angles which the tension makes with X-axis.
The components of tension T in horizontal and vertical directions at A and B
are as follows
Component of tension T at A in the horizontal direction is T cos while in vertical direction is
T sin 0. Similarly, component of tension T at B in horizontal direction is T
cos 0, while in vertical
direction is T sin . Here, T cos , and 7 cos 2 are nearly equal and
vertical force F, in the upward direction is given by
balance each other. The resultant
F, =T sin e2 -T sin 0, =T [sin 02 -

sin 6,] .(1)

Since the displacement AB is small and hence and 6, are also small. Hence
Hence b
sin, tan B, - and sin tan 2
Ox )x+ dx

..(2)

Using Taylor's series we expand y i.e.,

dx )x +dx

*Taylor's series expansion of f(x + Ax) is given by

fx + Ax)= f(x) + f'(x) Ar + f"a) a

2!
 Vibrating Strings 461

we have
Neglecting higher powers,

ay
.-)
ox )x +d
.(3)

from eq. (3) in eq. (2), we get

Substituting the value of
ox x +dx

)
.4)
O ox
The
the wire. Then the mass of the element AB will be m dx.
Let m be the mass per unit length of
be
in the upward direction will
force

Fy= masS x acceleration (

=(m dx)
.(5)

is the acceleration on AB.

where

Comparing eqs. (4) and (5),

we get

(er2

6)

The differential equation of a wave motion is given by

(7)

(r2

From eqs. (6) and (7), we get v =

m
.(8)

This gives the velocity of transverse wave along the string

Therefore, the velocity of transverse vibrations of a stretched string depends.
) directly on the square root of tension T.
(i) inversely on the square root of linear mass density m.