Required Practical 1 – Stationary Waves

Investigation into the variation of the frequency of stationary

waves on a string with length, tension and mass per unit
length on the string.

Aim- To use the laws of vibration of a fixed string to measure

the speed of a wave on a stretched string.

Method-
• Set up the apparatus.
• Adjust the position of the bridge so that I is 1.000m
measured using the metre ruler.
• Increase the frequency of the signal generator from zero
until the string resonates at its fundamental frequency.
Record how you ascertained this was the fundamental
frequency.
Read the frequency f, on the signal generator dial and record
in a suitable table.
• Repeat the procedure with I = 0.900, 0.800, 0.700, 0.600
and 0.500m.
• Repeat the above steps and calculate a mean value for f for
each length.
• Take measurements to calculate the mass per unit length of
the string, recording your values

Risk Assessment
 Hazard Risk Mitigation
String If metal wire is Using a rubber
used as the string, string instead of
there is the risk of metal wire and
it snapping. wearing goggles to
protect the eyes if
using a metal wire.
Masses Falling onto the Stand well away
floor from the masses
as there’s the risk
of them falling on
the floor and also
put some
cushioning on the
floor to break their
fall.

Results Table
Length(m) Frequency(Hz) Tension(N) Mass per
unit length
1.00 19.50 0.980 6.44x10^-4
0.900 22.50 0.980 5.97x10^-4
0.800 29.90 0.980 4.28x10^-4
0.700 34.00 0.980 4.32x10^-4
0.600 40.50 0.980 4.15x10^-4
0.500 48.00 0.980 4.25x10^-4
Mean mass per unit length = 4.90x10^-4
 60

50
f(x) = 28.5810231494713 x − 7.8992426407545
40
Frequency in hertz

30

20

10

0
0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2
Reciprocal of Length in metre^-1

Speed of Wave = 2 x Gradient

2 x 28.581 = 57.162 m/s
V= (tension/mass per unit length)^1/2
V= (0.980/4.9x10^-4)^1/2
V= 44.721 m/s

The two values calculated for the speed of the wave are not
the exact same but similar to each other and precision might
be lost due to different uncertainties which would’ve occured
while taking measurements.