Experiment 8: Standing Waves in a String

INTRODUCTION

The basic appearance of waves can be illustrated through standing waves in a string.
This type of wave is significant considering that majority of vibrations of objects (such as
the tuning fork or the guitar strings) are standing waves. The goal of this experiment is to
understand the resonance modes of a stretched string.

OBJECTIVES

After performing this experiment, you should be able to

• determine wave speed and wavelength of standing waves based on measured

parameters (tension in string, linear mass density of string, length of string),
• verify the relationship between the wavelength and the tension of string, and
• determine the frequency of the vibrating body (an electrically driven vibrator).

EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS NEEDED

http://ophysics.com/

THEORY

Standing Waves. Standing waves are generated by the interference of two wave trains of
the same frequency, the same amplitude, and the same wavelength traveling in the
opposite directions through the same medium (string). Standing waves can be illustrated
in a stretched string by having a train of waves set up by some vibrating body. The two
wave trains are the incident/oncoming wave and the reflected wave. The incident wave travels
from the vibrator to the end of the string (near the pulley) while the reflected wave is the
wave traveling from the end of the string to the vibrator. As shown in Figure 1 below, the
two waves interfere constructively, resulting in standing waves. The waves continue to
reflect at the ends of the string to preserve the standing wave pattern.

Figure 1. Standing Waves in a String

pg. 1
 A stretched string has many modes of vibration. It may vibrate as a single
segment/loop, or two or three or more segments/loops. A single loop has a length equal
to one-half of the wavelength of the waves produced. The ends of a loop are called nodes,
which are the locations along the string where there is no motion of the string, though
there is a periodic variation of tension at these points. The antinodes are those points
where the motion of the string is the greatest and where the tension remains constant. The
fixed ends of the string are nodes. Resonance exists between the electrically driven
vibrator and the string when standing waves are produced. At resonance, the frequency
of the vibrator is the same as the frequency of that particular mode of vibration of the
string. Corresponding to this frequency, there is a particular wavelength  such that the
speed v of the wave on the string is given by

𝑣 = 𝜆𝑓 (1)

where f is the frequency of the wave.

For a wave travelling along a stretched string, it can be shown that the speed of the
wave is given is dependent on the tension T of the string and mass of the string per unit
of length or linear mass density µ, given by

𝑇
𝑣=√ (2)
𝜇

where the tension T in the string is equal to the gravitational force (weight w) of the added
masses attached below the string.

The linear mass density can be calculated from the mass m of the string and the actual
length l of the string, given by

𝑚
𝜇= (3)
𝑙

For standing waves the distance L between the fixed supports of the string is an
integral multiple of half the wavelength:
𝜆
𝐿=𝑛
2
where n = 1, 2, 3,…

For the basic or fundamental mode of vibration n = 1, so λ = 2L. For the second mode,
called the second harmonic, n = 2, λ = L. For the third mode or harmonic n = 3, λ = 2L/3,
and so on.

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These modes of vibration n are shown in Figure 2 below.
L
𝑛=1

𝑛=2

𝑛=3

𝑛=4

Figure 2. Modes of vibration in a string

If the distance L or the length of string is given then the wavelength λ is given by

2𝐿
𝜆= (4)
𝑛

Substituting Eq. (4) in Eq. (1), the speed of the wave is given by

2𝐿
𝑣 = ( )𝑓
𝑛

Thus, the frequency of the wave is given by

𝑛𝑣
𝑓= (5)
2𝐿

Combining Eq. (1) and (5) results in the working equation of this experiment

𝑛 𝑇
𝑓= √ (6)
2𝐿 𝜇

From Eq. (1) the wavelength is given by

1 𝑇
𝜆= √ (7)
𝑓 𝜇

The relation between the wavelength and the tension applies to each mode of
vibration of the string.

pg. 3
PROCEDURE

1. Open http://ophysics.com/f.html. Go to the heading Waves and click on Standing

Waves on String.
2. Accustom yourself with the simulation before you start your measurements. Adjust
the various slider settings of the Vibration Frequency f, Linear Density , and
Tension T. Count the number of loops on the string.
3. For the experiment proper, adjust the following sliders to their initial values:

Vibration Frequency: 𝑓 = 90.15 Hz

kg
Linear Density: 𝜇 = 1.72  10−3 m
Tension: 𝑇 = 100 N

4. Count the number of loops on the string. Record the number of loops formed and
corresponding tension in the string in the Worksheet. Calculate the square root of
tension √𝑇 . Calculate the wavelength 𝜆 of this trial using Eq. (4).
5. Repeat procedure 4 by adjusting the tension until the string vibrates in 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
loops. In each case adjust the tension to produce loops of maximum width.
6. Plot the square root of the tension √𝑇 against the wavelength λ.
7. Determine the slope of the graph. According to Eq. (7), λ and √𝑇 are proportional
1
with proportionality constant ( ). This constant is the slope of the curve. Obtain
𝑓 √𝜇
this slope and calculate from it the frequency f, which represents the average
frequency of all calculations.

REFERENCES

Wilson, J. (1994) Physics laboratory experiments. D. C. Heath and Company, Mass., USA.

Katz, D. (2016) Physics for scientists and Engineers, Vol. 1 Boston M.A. Cengage
Learning.

pg. 4
Name____________________________ Date Performed____________________
Subject___________________________ Schedule__________________________

Experiment 8 Standing Waves in a String

Worksheet
kg
Linear Density: 𝜇 = 1.72  10−3
m
Length of string: 𝐿 = 4.0 m

Table 1 Tension and Wavelength for a given number of loops

Number of Tension Square Root of Tension Wavelength using Eq. (4)
Loops T √𝑇 𝜆

n (N) (√N) (m)

3
4
5
6
7
8

Graph here:

pg. 5
Calculations and Questions:

1. What is the slope of the curve? Calculate the frequency based on the slope. Show
your calculation below.

2. Compare the calculated frequency in Question 1 with the true value of f provided in
http://ophysics.com/w8.html. Calculate the percentage error.

3. Calculate the speed of the wave in the string using Eq. 2 for each different number of
loops. Fill up the table below.

Table 2 Wave speed for a given number of loops

Number of loops Speed of the wave
n v (m/s)
3
4
5
6
7
8
g
4. A copper wire 1.00 m long and weighing 0.610 vibrates in 2 loops when under
cm
tension produced by a mass of 0.250 kg.
(NOTE: Use g = 9.80 m/s2. Write all final answers to 3 significant figures.) Calculate
the following:

a) tension in the string

b) speed of the wave

c) wavelength

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