Rachael Davis Michael Effe Konstantinos Filippakos

PHYS 1501Q-023L
November 11, 2014
Lab 10
Abstract
Three experiments are conducted in this lab. The first experiment finds the relationship between
frequency and length, the second experiment finds the relationship between frequency and
force of tension, and the third experiment finds the relationship between frequency and N.
These experiments are graphed against the theoretical models and upper and lower tolerances
as well as error bars are included. It is found that the experimental data closely follows the
theoretical model and that frequency increases with a decrease in length, increases with an
increase in force of tension, and increases with an increase with number of nodes.
Introduction
Waves on a string, sound waves, and water waves are examples of mechanical waves,
which are comprised of a medium that oscillates or waves. Mechanical waves transfer energy
from one location within a medium to another. Both traveling and standing waves have

oscillations in time at a frequency f, angular frequency =2 f , or time period

T=

1
f . The

2
k
=
wavelength is defined as
. The phase velocity is defined as the rate of when the
traveling wave moves to the right. Only the standing wave will be considered and the solution to

the wave equation must be constrained to have fixed points or nodes a distance L away from
one another. When two counter-propagating traveling wave functions are added together we
end up with a standing wave function. When looking at a harmonic wave form diagram, there
are always at least two fixed points or nodes separated by a distance L. The horizontal positions
where the waves amplitude is at a maximum once every period T are called antinodes. As the
number of nodes increases, the effective wavelength that fits between the outer most nodes

becomes smaller by the relation

n =

2L v
=
n f n , where n=1,2,3, etc. A mathematical

relationship that relates the harmonic to the number of nodes that exist at that harmonic is
nodes=x+1, where x is number of full periods of a wavelength.
Theory
At one end of the apparatus, a speaker is attached to a string that oscillates at a driving

frequency

f D .and driving amplitude

A D . On the opposite end, the string is held under

tension by a counterweight with mass m. The driving frequency and driving amplitude can be

FT

controlled by the PASCO program. Using the equation v = k , where

equation for the frequency f as a function of ,

m
l , the

FT , and can be calculated,

f=

FT

Writing f as a function of L and n,

FT , f n= n mg . Because
2L

n , the frequency is f n= n F T . Substituting mass for

2L

y stand ( x ,t )=2 Asin ( kx ) cos ( t) , if

x=0 ,

y stand ( 0 , t )=0 because if x=0, the sine function of zero if zero no matter what value k

and at any time

is

t . Within the f n model, the assumptions that are made are gravity staying

constant, and staying constant since it is dependent on mass and the length of the string
which arent changing. The resonant frequency would decrease if the length becomes large.
Also the period will become larger as well. If the tension becomes large the frequency
increases.

Procedure
For experiment 1: Assemble the apparatus so that one loop of the string is through the Signal
Generator/Frequency Sensor eye hole and is looped also around the standing rod that holds the
sensor, as well as over the pulley opposite the sensor. Hang a beginning mass on the loop
hanging over the pulley, and the apparatus is ready for experimentation. Note that the force of
tension of the string is the mass hanging at the end multiplied by gravity (9.81m/s^s). The total
length that is used in the equations is the length of the string from one knot to the other, added
to the length of the loop at the ends times 2, added to the little outstretch string from the loop.
Begin experimentation by placing the blocks and weights to create an anchor point, an initial

length to be measured out of five. Find the frequency that creates a sine wave with a node
number of choosing using PASCO. Repeat this step with four other lengths.
For experiment 2: In this part, force is changing, so mass is changed. Set up the apparatus at a
selected length as mention before, an anchor point of choice. Five trials of changing the weight
should then be conducted, with the length kept the same. Resonance frequency are then found
and recorded when the sine wave produced has again a number of nodes of choosing.
For experiment 3: In this part, the number of nodes is changing. The length of the string is kept
the same, which is user selected, and the weight/force of tension is kept the same, which is also
user selected. Find the resonance frequency when a sine wave is formed with each amount of
experimental nodes that are desired, in most cases, 5 trials ranging from n=1 to n=5.

Analysis
The above graphs include both vertical and horizontal error bars for the experimental data
however in some cases the error is small enough to not be visible behind the marker of the data
point. These graphs also include upper and lower bounds for the tolerances of the data. The
tolerance used was 5% for each of the experiments. By ensuring the experimental data falls
within a reasonable tolerance, we can test the accuracy of our model and verify our results. The
experimental data is linear and follows very closely to the theoretical data, and our tolerance as

aforementioned is extremely small indicating the accuracy of our experimental results. There
are really no systematic errors in our data.
Conclusion
There were certain parts of the apparatus that could be changed to reduce our sources of error
and improve our results. One piece was the anchor from which the string was attached on the
side of the frequency generator. There is an uncertainty of 1 cm, which could be reduced
significantly if it was attached by an eye-hole hook or anything that is more finite. There could
also be a better way to anchor the string down at the other end because the weight we used to
do that would occasionally shift and not clamp the string at the appropriate length. This would
reduce the uncertainty associated with the length. A step in the procedure that could be adjusted
would be to have two group members measure the length in order to verify the accuracy of
these measurements. As the tension of the string is increased, the oscillation is increased
causing higher notes. In the case of brass instruments, the volume node and length of period is
changed based on the frequency forced through the instrument. The most reliable experiment
was the second experiment because it was the only experiment where we did not adjust the
loop length because the uncertainty associated with the length was the greatest.