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Pravin Upadhyay Lab-1: Waves on a string Lab Partners: Anvesh, and Dilip.

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Objective: The main objective of this lab is to understand the behavior of standing waves and find the linear mass density of the string. Also, different parameters like tension in the string, the frequency of the oscillation, the length of the string, and the number of antinodes of the standing waves on the string are studied and its relationships are used to find the linear mass density of the string. Theory: The theory of this lab is based on the fact that a stretched string when plucked will vibrate at its fundamental frequency creating anti-node at the middle of the string and nodes at each end of the string. Standing waves forms when the string is driven at this fundamental frequency by an external force. Standing waves can also be formed if the string is driven at any integer multiple of the fundamental frequency known as harmonics. Wavelength ( can be defined in terms of length of the stretched string (L), and the antinodes of the string (n) as ------Eq.1 The value of n can be 1, 2, 3, 4 Velocity of the wave (v) traveling in the string can be related to tension in the string (T), and its linear mass density (), as: () ----- Eq. 2 For calculating the linear mass density of the string in this lab we need to establish relationship between frequency, tension, number of antinodes, and wave velocity. Here, the velocity of the wave is given by, ---- Eq. 3 Relating Eq. 1 and Eq. 3 -------Eq.4 Now relating Eq.2 and Eq.4 we get (4 ( ---------Eq.5

Eq.5 has constant frequency and length of the string and varied tension which gives a linear graph which slope is 4 and this slope is useful in our forward calculations.

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Rearranging above Eq in terms of f, we get, ( ) ----- Eq.6

Here, length of string and tension is constant with varied frequency. Linear graph is obtained and its slope gives us direction for forward calculations. Procedure: In this experiment, we find the linear mass density of the string in three ways. First by measuring the density directly, then by varying the tension of the string by keeping frequency and length constant, and finally by varying the frequency while keeping the length and tension constant. Setup: a. String vibrator is attached to the vertical stand and string is attached at one end by the vibrator and pulley on the other end which has a hanger to attach weight so as to induce vibration in the string. b. Measure the length of the string from the string driver to the top of the pulley. Procedure A: Direct calculation of the linear mass density Measure the mass and the length of the string. The ratio of mass to length gives us the linear mass density of that string. Procedure B: Varying tension at constant frequency to find linear mass density Adjust the string vibrator at constant frequency of 60Hz. The attached mass on the pulley is varied five times to get five harmonics. The mass and the anti nodes are recorded as precisely as possible. Then the following calculations are made Constant frequency, f = 60Hz Constant length, L=1.62m
n 1 2 3 4 5 Hanging Mass (kg) 1.65 0.550 0.250 0.120 0.08 Tension(n) 16.1865 5.3955 2.4525 1.1772 0.7848 1/n2 1 .25 .11 .062 .04

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Table1: Data for mass, tension, n and 1/n2 Procedure C: For this part of the lab, frequency is varied with help of vibrator and a constant mass of 500 grams is kept for the rest of the procedure. For calculation, necessary data are recorded and Eq. 6 is used in the procedure C. Tension (T) = 5.396N (kept constant) Length (L) = 1.62m (kept constant)
Constant length l = 1.62m

n 1 2 3 4 5 6

f(Hz) 38.8 65.5 96.7 128 164.3 194

Table 2: Data recorded for different harmonics and their frequency

Analysis: Procedure A analysis: Linear mass density, Procedure B analysis: For this part, the tension Vs 1/n2 graph is plotted by keeping the frequency and the length of the string constant as in Table 1. The graph is linear and on equating the slope gives the linear mass density of the string.

Tension Vs 1/n^2
20 15 Tension (N) 10 5 0 0 0.5 1/n^2 1 1.5 y = 15.797x + 0.5804 R = 0.9931 Linear (Series1)

Fig: Tension Vs 1/n2

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From Eq. 5 we can say, Linear Mass Density =

(4 ,
Percentage error = (
969

4
1

15 79 4 (1 62 (6
%

41782

= 56.88128 % Procedure C analysis: For this part, based on the data from Table 2 a graph of frequency Vs n is plotted and the slope of the linear graph thus obtained gives the linear mass density. Calculation and the graph is shown below.

Frequency (Hz) Vs n
250 200 150 Frequency 100 50 0 0 5 n 10 y = 31.534x + 4.18 R = 0.9984 Frequency (Hz) Vs n Linear (Frequency (Hz) Vs n)

Fig. 1-2: frequency VS n Linear Mass Density = =

5 396
( (

= 0.000517 kg/m Percentage error = ( = 46.64 % Discussion: The experiment was performed successfully. However, there was high percentage of error for both the procedure B and procedure C. It may be because exact accuracy is hard to be achieved in lab settings due to human error. However, procedure A gives the linear mass density accurately because of its direct calculation nature. Conclusion: Less error was observed while frequency was varied keeping length and tension constant. During the second procedure hanging masses created some problem. Overall, the lab was successful in understanding the nature of standing wave of a string. 1 %