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Practical 13 Melde’s experiment (vibration generator)

Purpose Safety

The aim of this experiment is to
investigate the standing waves on a
stretched elastic cord. It forms the
basis of all musical notes produced
on a stringed instrument.
To protect the signal generator do not turn the voltage
up too high.
If you are using a stroboscope, avoid frequencies
between 15–20Hz. If you have photoepilepsy avoid
exposure to flickering stroboscope light.

You will need:

• Vibration generator • Leads
• Elastic cord (white) • Bench pulley
• Set of slotted masses (10 x 10 g) • G clamp to hold the vibration generator steady (this may not be
• Signal generator (1 – 20 Hz range) needed for small tensions and a heavy vibration generator).

Experimental instructions
Set up the apparatus as shown in the
figure with the vibration generator
connected to a signal generator. The
L
length (L) of the cord should be about
70 cm and the mass (m) on the end a
few tens of grams.

The idea is to obtain resonance

conditions and hence standing waves
for the cord in two experiments:
m
(a) varying the length of the cord
keeping the mass constant
(b) varying the mass on the cord
keeping the length constant. Figure 1: Apparatus to demonstrate standing waves

For each value of tension and length adjust the frequency

of the vibration generator until the cord oscillates in its /2

fundamental mode – that is one ‘loop’ (see figure 2). In

this condition the length of the cord between the vibration
generator and the bench pulley is half a wavelength.

The frequencies will probably be in the range 0.5–10 Hz. Figure 2: The fundamental mode

Analysis and conclusions

Plot two graphs:
(i) frequency against 1–L and (ii) frequency against T (= mg).

Investigate two other harmonics to give standing waves as

shown in figure 3. Identify the node and antinode positions. Figure 3: Simple standing waves

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