Vibrations and Waves

H10VIB/H10VIJ

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM FOUNDATION YEAR IN ENGINEERING & COMPUTER STUDIES VIBRATIONS AND WAVES B/J LABORATORY 1: The Sonometer
NOTE, THIS LAB MUST BE HANDED IN TO THE BOXES OUTSIDE THE STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICE, ESLC. YOU MUST FIRST DOWNLOAD A FRONTSHEET AND ATTACH IT TO YOUR LAB WRITE-UP. GO TO: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~ee/portal THIS LAB MUST ALSO BE SUBMITTED THROUGH TURNITIN (IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT) VIA THE VIBRATIONS AND WAVES MODULE IN WEBCT. Theory The velocity of waves on a stretched wire depends on the tension, T, of the wire and on its mass per unit length, . Theory gives the formula
v = T = f

(1)

f = frequency (Hz) = wavelength (m) In this experiment this relationship is tested by creating standing waves of known frequency on the wire. The length of wire is related to the wavelength so that it is possible to determine the velocity of the wave, v. The tension T can also be varied. Therefore the relation given above can be tested, but NOT in this experiment.

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Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the experimental apparatus. Procedure Part 1

Ensure the wire is under tension by adjusting the machine head on the side of the sonometer. ONCE YOU HAVE SET THE TENSION, DO NOT ALTER IT AGAIN DURING THE REST OF THE EXPERIMENT. Place the triangular wire supports as far away from each other as possible. Slide the pickup head midway between the supports and connect it to the oscilloscope. Pluck the wire. You should be able to hear a note from the vibrations. From the trace obtained ESTIMATE the fundamental frequency of the wire (note your oscilloscope does not have a storage facility, so you will have to adjust the time base until you can see a couple of full waves and guess the distance between the peaks convert this into a time using the horizontal time base setting and hence estimate the frequency) Distance between peaks = divisions

Time base setting =

seconds per division

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Hence time for one cycle =

seconds

Therefore, estimation of fundamental frequency =

Comment on the waveform observed. (i.e. anything unusual about the waveform? Look carefully at its shape.)

Part 2 Measure the distance between the two triangular wire supports (L). Slide one of the electromagnetic units under the steel wire on the sonometer and adjust the height of the head to about 1 mm below the wire. Connect the unit to the 4 output of the signal generator. Starting with a frequency of about 100 Hz gradually increase the frequency. At various frequencies the wire will vibrate audibly. To aid the location of the resonant frequencies use the second electromagnetic head. Place this under the wire and connect it to the oscilloscope. There should be a signal on the oscilloscope screen which is largest at resonance. Use the signal from the pickup head on the oscilloscope to determine the frequency (the dial on the signal generator may not be accurate) Another method for establishing resonance is occurring is to use a small piece of paper folded over (called a jockey) that is placed on the wire on a suspected antinode (point of maximum vibration). When the wire starts to resonate the jockey will jump off the wire. This can be quite sensitive to vibrations. 1. Increase the frequency to locate a resonance position (the wire will vibrate audibly when a resonance position has been located). Estimate the accuracy with which you can measure the resonant frequency. Determine the number of nodes (minimum output from the pickup) on the wire by either using your eye to see the nodes and anti-nodes or use the pickup head as a search coil to locate the positions of minimum wire resonance.

2.

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If this number is m, then you have the nth harmonic where n= m + 1. In the diagram below m = 4, so n = 5 and we have the fifth harmonic.

Figure 2. Illustration of the number of nodes. 3. Increase the frequency until the next resonance position has been located. Determine the number of nodes using the pickup head as a search coil. Continue until you have reached a frequency of around 1.5 kHz.

4.

Theory for Part 2 of the experiment. If the frequency of the nth harmonic is fn, then the fundamental frequency f1 is given by f1 = fn/n (2)

Plot a graph of fn versus n. Evaluate the slope of the graph and relate it to a physical quantity. Part 3 Vary the length of the wire, L, and locate the fundamental frequency. (Note, you may not be able to find the fundamental frequency, but you can find a resonance position and can use the pickup head to find the number of nodes and hence the harmonic resonance frequency. Using this information you should be able to establish the fundamental frequency of the wire at the given length. Note also, it may take a while, a few minutes, for the wire to settle down into one of the resonant frequencies. You can also hear this, when a clear tone emerges. Also, as the velocity of the waves doesnt change, you should be able to calculate what your new fundamental frequency should be for a new L, so look for this frequency or multiples of it.) Repeat this for 6 different lengths between the triangular wire supports. Plot L against l/f1 and hence determine the speed at which waves move along the wire. Discussion points 1. 2. Check the theory against your results and comment on any discrepancies. In part 1 you should have notice something about the waveform produced by

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plucking the wire. Discuss the terms quality (or timbre) and pitch with reference to musical instruments and suggest why a violin playing a given note sounds different to a cello or a trumpet etc. 3. 4. Discuss any problems that you experienced whilst performing the experiment. Give two reasons why was it difficult to obtain any harmonics higher than the 8th harmonic with the given apparatus? What errors have you introduced into the experiment? How large are they (i.e. you will need to perform a numerical error analysis on the data). Are there any connections between any (or all) parts of the experiment? For example, how did the frequency in part 1 relate to frequencies in parts 2 and 3? What relates everything together? What would you have to do to change the link?

5.

6.

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