Standing Waves

Wave Speed

1) Set the tension to "medium" setting, and the ending (upper right corner) to "no end".

Damping should be ''none". Choose "oscillate" for wave generation.

2) (1 pt) What is the formula that relates wave speed to frequency and wave speed? Specify below.

3) (5 pt) For three different values of frequency, measure the wavelength and calculate the wavespeed.

Record all values in the table below. Specify the units for each variable in provided parentheses.

Frequency ( )

Wavelength ( )

Wave speed ( )

4) Does wave speed depend on frequency? Explain based on your results above.

5) (5 pt) Set the tension to "high" setting, repeat step (3).

Frequency ( )

Wavelength ( )

Wave speed ( )

6) (2 pt) Does wave speed depend on tension? How? Explain comparing your results from steps (3) and (5).

7) (3 pt) How is wave speed related to tension exactly?

Explain by referring to the formula we saw in class. Is it compatible with your answer to step (6)?

Standing Waves

8) Keep the tension at high setting, and set ending to "fixed end". We will first create standing waves with both ends fixed.

9) (2 pt) On a sheet of paper, draw a diagram showing the standing wave with the longest wavelength possible.

Label the node(s) and antinode(s) clearly. Show the wavelength on the sketch.

10) (2 pt) What is the wavelength equal to? Explain your reasoning clearly below.

11) (3 pt) Using your answers to steps (5) and (10), calculate the frequency necessary to create this standing wave. Show your calculations below.

12) Set the amplitude equal to 0.05 m. We want to use a small amplitude from the oscillator,

because the resulting amplitude will grow significantly at frequencies corresponding to standing waves.

13) (3 pt) Bring the frequency value to the one you calculated at step (11) and see if you get a standing wave as expected.

It may take a few oscillations for the wave to settle. Use the arrows to fine tune the frequency to get the maximum amplitude.

Have your instructor check your work at this point. If you can't obtain the expected standing wave, ask your instructor for help.

14) (4 pt) Calculate the next two frequencies and corresponding wavelengths. Show your calculations below.

15) (4 pt) On the same sheet of paper, draw the standing wave diagrams corresponding to the frequencies in step (14). Label both diagrams as described above.

16) (6 pt) Adjust the frequency settings to obtain the standing waves you sketched in step (15) and have your instructor check your results.

17) (Extra credit - 5 pt) Find the longest wavelength standing wave for the flexible end arrangement.

Show your calculations below, add the corresponding sketch to your diagrams, and have your instructor check the simulation result.

18) Go to Canvas > Assignments > Laboratory > Lab 3. Submit this file, and your hand-drawn diagrams.