A.

Jaafar Zaidi
Waves
November 5, 2013
Abu Jaafar Zaidi
Lab Partners: Jacob Gholson, Shruti Kansara, and Ashley Roudebush
1. Overview: Wave motion is the motion produced by a disturbance, such as a particle,
propagating through space and time. In the study of wave motion, sinusoidal waves are
waves that can be represented in physicality by a sine or cosine function. Characteristics of
such waves include the amplitude (A), which is the magnitude of maximum change in
position from equilibrium; wavelength ( ), which is the distance between crests;
frequency (f), which us how many times a wave passes through a point per second; period
(T), which is the inverse of frequency; and wave speed (v). As will occur in this lab, a string
fixed at both ends can produce a standing wave, with the stationary points being nodes and
the points moving most being antinodes. At its natural frequencies, a given string can have
relatively larger amplitudes, and this series is called the harmonic series, starting with the
fundamental frequency. The harmonic number (n) signifies the number in the harmonic
series. This lab will use a wave motor and an arm to generate standing waves in a string. It
will show that measured frequency, experimentally derived from measured frequency and
wavelength, is equal to calculated frequency, which is derived from string mass, length, and
wavelength.
2. Materials:

CPO Ring Stand (1)

CPO timer unit (1; 1 wire)
CPO screws (2)
String (1.19 cm, 3.00-g)
Force measuring tool (1)
Frequency Meter (1; 1 wire)
Meter Stick (1)
Ruler (1)
Arm (1)
Wave Motor (1)
Transformer (1)
Access to electrical outlet

3. Diagram of Lab Setup

Arm
Frequency
Meter

String

Timer Unit
Ring Stand

A. Jaafar Zaidi
Wave Motor

4. Hypothesis: If the tension in the string is increased and the length of the string is decreased,
then the frequency will increase.
5. Assigned Roles of Group Members:
Jaafar Zaidi: Recorder
Jake Gholson: Measurer
Shruti Kansara: Executer
Ashley Roudebush: Assembler
6. Procedure:
i.
Measure the mass of the string and find its length.
ii.
Attach the wave motor to the ring stand by screwing its arm into the bottom hole of
the stand.
iii.
Screw the arm into the highest hole on the stand.
iv. Plug the wave motors wire into the frequency meter, which in turn us to be wired to
the timer unit.
v. Connect the timer unit to the transformer and plug the transformer into the outlet.
vi.
Loop one end of the string into the small hole in the wave motor.
vii.
Stretch the string upward and, using the force-measuring tool, pull it up to the point
where the tension is 1 N.
viii.
Measure the length of the string at this tension and its mass using a proportion.
ix.
Tie the string to the top arm at this length.
x.
Manipulate the knob on the frequency meter to find the first harmonic of the string,
which is where the string produces one antinode. Record in the data table.
xi.
Measure the wavelength and amplitude of the string. Record in the data table.
xii.
Repeat steps viiixi for the second harmonic.
xiii.
Repeat steps viiixi for the third harmonic.
xiv. Untie the string from the top arm.
xv. Repeat steps viiviii for 2 N of force.
xvi.
Repeat steps ixxiii at this position.
xvii.
Untie the string from the top arm.
xviii.
Repeat steps viiviii for 3 N of force.
xix.
Repeat steps ixxiii at this position.
xx.
Unscrew the top arm from the stand and screw it back in 20 cm below.
xxi.
Repeat steps viixix at this position.
xxii.
Unscrew the top arm from the stand and screw it back in 20 cm below.
xxiii.
Repeat steps viixix at this position.

A. Jaafar Zaidi

7. Data Table:
Ex
p
1

FT

fmeas

vmeas

string

vcalc

fcalc

#antinodes

#nodes

1N

1m

10.2 Hz

2.0 m

20.4

.00204

22.1

11.05 Hz

.035 m

% error
f
-7.69%

1N

1m

20.7 Hz

1.0 m

20.7

.00204

22.1

22.1 Hz

.025 m

-6.33%

1N

1m

30.6 Hz

0.7 m

21.4

.00204

22.1

31.6 Hz

.015 m

-3.16%

2N

1m

17.5 Hz

2.0 m

35.0

.00151

36.4

18.2 Hz

.023 m

-3.85%

2N

1m

35.7 Hz

1.0 m

35.7

.00151

36.4

36.4 Hz

.014 m

-1.92%

2N

1m

53.9 Hz

0.62 m

33.4

.00151

36.4

58.7 Hz

.010 m

-8.18%

3N

1m

24.2 Hz

2.0 m

48.4

.00116

50.9

25.5 Hz

.018 m

-5.10%

3N

1m

48.9 Hz

1.0 m

48.9

.00116

50.9

50.9 Hz

.009 m

-3.93%

3N

1m

73.4 Hz

0.39 m

28.6

.00116

50.9

130.5 Hz

.008 m

-43.75%

10

1N

.8 m

13.9 Hz

1.6 m

22.2

.00214

21.6

13.5 Hz

.032 m

2.96%

11

1N

.8 m

28.0 Hz

0.8 m

22.4

.00214

21.6

27.0 Hz

.019 m

3.70%

12

1N

.8 m

42.7 Hz

0.43 m

18.4

.00214

21.6

50.2 Hz

.011 m

-14.94%

13

2N

.8 m

23.4 Hz

1.6 m

37.4

.00415

37.1

23.2 Hz

.024 m

0.86%

14

2N

.8 m

46.4 Hz

0.8 m

37.1

.00415

37.1

46.4 Hz

.011 m

0%

15

2N

.8 m

69.7 Hz

0.28 m

19.5

.00415

37.1

132.5 Hz

.007 m

-47.4%

m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s

kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m

m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s

A. Jaafar Zaidi
m
s

kg
m

m
s

16

3N

.8 m

28.8 Hz

1.6 m

46.1

.00123

49.4

30.9 Hz

.009 m

-6.80%

17

3N

.8 m

58.18 Hz

0.8 m

46.5

.00123

49.4

61.75 Hz

.010 m

-5.91%

18

3N

.8 m

87.58 Hz

0.32 m

28.0

.00123

49.4

154.4 Hz

.007 m

-43.33%

19

1N

.6 m

13.88 Hz

1.2 m

16.6

.00230

20.9

17.4 Hz

.034 m

-20.69%

20

1N

.6 m

27.48 Hz

0.6 m

16.4

.00230

20.9

34.8 Hz

.015 m

-21.26%

21

1N

.6 m

41.88 Hz

0.365 m

15.3

.00230

20.9

57.3 Hz

.013 m

-27.05%

22

2N

.6 m

33.88 Hz

1.2 m

40.6

.00140

37.8

31.5 Hz

.017 m

7.30%

23

2N

.6 m

66.78 Hz

0.6 m

40.0

.00140

37.8

63.0 Hz

.011 m

5.87%

24

2N

.6 m

3 101.18 Hz

0.395 m

39.9

.00140

37.8

95.7 Hz

.007 m

5.64%

25

3N

.6 m

28.98 Hz

1.2 m

34.7

.00160

43.3

36.1 Hz

.022 m

-19.94%

26

3N

.6 m

58.18 Hz

0.6 m

34.9

.00160

43.3

72.7 Hz

.010 m

-19.53%

27

3N

.6 m

88.18 Hz

0.41 m

36.1

.00160

43.4

105.6 Hz

.006 m

-16.57%

m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s

kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m
kg
m

8. Applied Equations and Variables:

Equations:
v =f
m
=
L
F
v=

m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s
m
s

A. Jaafar Zaidi
v

f n=n f 1
1
f=
T
m .003
=
L 1.19
expact
error =
100
act

f=

Variables:
f frequency in hertz
v velocity in meters per second
linear mass density in kilograms per meter
wavelength in meters
L string length in meters; 1.19 m for the string
m mass in kilograms; 0.003 kg for the string
n harmonic number
FT tension in newtons
A amplitude in meters
Known variables (experimentally derived): f meas , v meas ,
FT
Unknown variables (calculated): , f calc , v calc
9. Calculations

, A, m, L,

A. Jaafar Zaidi

A. Jaafar Zaidi

10. Graphs:

Frequency versus Wavelength (1 m)

2.0 m, n=1

1.0 m, n=1

0.7 m, n=1

2.0 m, n=2

0.62 m, n=2

2.0 m, n=3

1.0 m, n=3

0.39 m, n=3

1.0 m, n=2

Amplitude versus Measured Frequency (1 m)

0.02
0.02
T=1

0.01
T=2

T=3

0.01

0.01
0.01

n=1

n=2

n=3

Frequency (Hz)

A. Jaafar Zaidi

Fundamental Frequency versus String Length

40
35
T=1 meas

30
T=2 meas
25

T=3 meas

T=1 calc

T=2 calc

T=3 calc

Frequency (Hz) 20
15
10
5
0

11. Questions and Answers:

i.
As the length of the string is decreased, the frequency increases. This fact can be seen
by analyzing the data changes from lengths of 1 m to 0.8 m to 0.6 m. For example,
the string length is shortened from Experiment 9 to Experiment 18, and from
Experiment 18 to Experiment 27. The frequency values, in contrast, increase across
these experiments.
ii.
As the tension in the string is increased, the frequency also increases. At each length
of the string (1 m, 0.8 m, 0.6 m), as the tension in the string was increased from 1 N
to 2 N and then to 3 N, the frequency increased in value. One can also derive this
relationship from the applied equations for frequency.
12. Conclusion and Analysis:
i.
According to the data table, an increase in the strings tension and a decrease in the
strings length cause an increase in frequency. The graph relating fundamental
frequency to string length backs this claim. In contrast, the same parameters cause a
decrease in the strings amplitude, as the graphs and data table show.
ii.
The conclusions derived from the lab are in accordance with the hypothesis that
tension increases and length decreases result in frequency increases.
iii.
Experimental error could have resulted from incorrect or inaccurate measurements
when measuring amplitude, wavelength, and length. Such error can be avoided by
ensuring measurements are accurate and by having multiple persons measure.
Another cause of error may have been locating harmonics incorrectly. This and other
causes of error can be avoided by performing multiple trials to ensure that the results
are accurate, consistent, and precise.