To study the laws of vibration of stretched string

using sonometer
What you understand by the word “Wave” ?

A wave can be described as a disturbance that travels through a medium from one location
to another location. The particle might be moved upwards or downwards, forwards or
backwards; but once moved, it is returned to its original equilibrium or rest position.
 How many types of the wave on the basis of direction of propagation?
1). Longitudinal waves: 2). Transverse waves:
Particles vibrate along the direction Particles vibrate perpendicularly to
Of propagation. The direction of propagation.
 How many types of the wave on the basis of medium?
1). Mechanical waves: 2). Electromagnetic waves:
Require medium for their propagation Don’t require medium for their
propagation
 We are concern about sound waves here.
Sound is a mechanical wave that results from the back and forth vibration of the
particles of the medium through which the sound wave is moving. ... The motion of the
particles is parallel (and anti-parallel) to the direction of the energy transport. This is
what characterizes sound waves in air as longitudinal waves.
The result of such longitudinal vibrations is the
creation of compressions and rarefactions within
the air.
 Why does sound bend around the corner of a
building while light does not?

Since the wavelength of visible light is on the order of

0.5 microns, or 0.0005 mm, light will only diffract
when going through very narrow
openings. Sound waves, on the other hand, have a
wavelength on the order of 1 meter and diffract very
easily. This allows sound waves to bend around
corners

What is range of ultrasonic and

Infrasonic sound waves?

Below 20 Hz Above 20000 Hz

 Size of tuning fork?
Tine means the length of the tuning fork.
longer tines = Lower frequency tuning forks
Shorter tines = higher frequency tuning forks.
(shorter the tuning fork, the faster it vibrates = higher the pitch it will be.
What happen when tuning
fork vibrates?

hollow rectangular box is

called sound box.
Tuning fork vibrates near the Wooden box.

What happened with Air

inside the wooden box?
larger mass of air vibrates
 Waves will start moving from one end to
What happened next?
The other fixed end & after reflection
There is a metal string on the wooden box. Returns back and superimpose.

Transverse waves will be

In above animation, the fixed end is flexible So
produced in this metal
there is no phase shift, but in our case the Fixed end
string.
of metal string is “hard” enough, so There will be a
phase shift of 180 degree.
Which type of waves will be formed in the metal? Stationary waves

waves produced by vibrating string get amplified due to resonance.

When the natural frequency of the tuning fork
becomes equal to the natural frequency of the
air molecules, the amplitude of the vibration
becomes maximum, so resonance occurs.

This is another example of resonance

 For fundamental mode or first harmonic
The simplest normal mode, where the string vibrates in one loop, is labeled n = 1 and is
called the fundamental mode or the first harmonic.
”OR”
lowest frequency of a periodic waveform

L = ‫גּ‬/2 (where “L” is the length between to moveable bridges

‫ = גּ‬2L
We can increase no. of modes by increasing frequency
Now come to the practical work
(The speed “V” of the waves in the string depends upon
the tension “F” of the string and “m”, the
mass per unit length of the string)

For 1st mode

We have to prove

Law of length Law of tension Law of linear density

 Law of length

Observation

If we decrease frequency(n) , we have

to Increasing length between two
bridges
But their product will remain constant.
use the same wire to keep the linear
Density (m) constant.
Do not change “load” too.
Do it same until the paper rider is
falling down from the string
Repeat the experiment with
different tuning forks
 Law of tension

We will not change the length (L) between to bridges

and linear mass density (m),
by not change the material of wire.

Observations

We will use different tuning forks and

Weights to change the frequency (n) and
Tension (T) in the string.
 Law of linear density
We will not change the length (L) between to bridges by not
Moving the bridges,
and tension (T) in the string by not changing the weights.

Observation

We will use different tuning forks to

Change frequency (n) and wires of
Different material like copper, iron etc
To change the linear density (m).