required practical waves in a solid

• Apparatus used to measure wavelength, frequency and speed of waves in a solid


  • String with one end attached to a vibration generator, other end has a hanging mass to keep the string taut
  • Vibration generator is attached to a signal generator to change the frequency of vibration
• Measuring wavelength of standing wave on string

  1. Measure total length of standing wave

  2. Divide total length by number of half wavelengths

  3. Multiply by 2 to get wavelength
• Standing wave


  Wave pattern formed due to resonance effect
• Increasing frequency of vibration generator

  Changes standing wave pattern, increases number of half wavelengths
• Calculating wave speed


  Use wave equation: wave speed = frequency x wavelength
• Wave speed does not depend on frequency or wavelength, but on tautness of string and mass per unit length
• Calculating wavelength from standing wave patterns


  • Examples shown of different standing wave patterns and how to calculate wavelength