Required Practical 8: Waves in a Solid

• What should you be able to describe by the end of the video?

  How to measure the wavelength, frequency, and speed of waves in a solid.
• What is the purpose of the apparatus used in the experiment?

  • To measure the features of waves in a solid
  • It consists of a string, a vibration generator, and a hanging mass
• What is the effect called that leads to the formation of standing waves?

  Resonance
• Why is it difficult to see the vibrations of the string?

  Because they are extremely small and rapid.
• How do you measure the wavelength of a standing wave?

  • Measure the total length of the standing wave
  • Divide by the number of half wavelengths
  • Multiply by 2
• What is the formula for calculating wave speed?

  Wave speed = frequency × wavelength
• If the frequency is 10 Hertz and the wavelength is 0.215 meters, what is the wave speed?

  2.15 meters per second
• What happens to the standing wave when the frequency is increased?

  The standing wave changes to have more half wavelengths.
• How do you calculate the wavelength when there are three half wavelengths present?

  • Total length = 0.215 meters
  • Divide total length by 3
  • Multiply by 2
• If the frequency used to create a wave is 15 Hertz and the calculated wavelength is 0.143 meters, what is the wave speed?

  2.15 meters per second
• What does the wave speed depend on in the context of the string?

  The tautness of the string and the mass per centimeter.
• What is the method to calculate the wavelength from a standing wave?

  • Divide the total length by the number of half wavelengths
  • Multiply by 2