AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2

Section: , Group:

LAB REPORT ON

Meld’s Experiment

Supervised By

Submitted By:

Date of Submission: .
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS: Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3-5
2. Apparatus 6
3. Procedure 6-7
4. Experimental Data 7
5. Analysis and Calculation 8
6. Result 8
7. Discussion 9
8. References 9

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 1. Theory

A string is a wire or fiber with a uniform diameter and that is completely flexible. The speed
of a wave in a flexible stretched string is determined by the string's tension and mass per unit
length.
The transverse progressive waves travel towards each end of the wire when it is clamped to a
rigid support. Transverse stationary waves are formed in the wire by the superposition of
incident and reflected waves. Because the wire's ends are clamped, there is a node at each end
and an anti-node in the middle. Nodes are points in the medium that have no displacements,
and antinodes are points in the medium that vibrate with the greatest amplitude.

Longitudinal mode of vibration:

The tuning fork is positioned such that the prongs' vibrations are parallel to the length of the
string in this configuration. The time it takes for the tuning fork to complete one vibration
and for the string to complete half of its oscillation. The frequency of the fork is double that
of the string in this mode.
The frequency of an electrically maintained tuning fork vibrating in longitudinal mode is
calculated using the formula below

n= …………………. (1)

Transverse mode of vibration:

The vibrations of the tuning fork prongs are perpendicular to the length of the string in this
configuration. When the tuning fork completes one vibration, the string completes one
vibration as well. The string's frequency is equal to the tuning fork's frequency in this mode.
The frequency of an electrically maintained tuning fork vibrating in the transverse mode is
calculated using the formula below

n= ……………….… (2)
2

Where l = loop length of the thread,

T = tension applied to the wire=Mg,
M= total mass loaded on thread, m =
mass per unit length of the thread.

We can compute the frequency of an electrically maintained tuning fork in two separate
modes of vibration using equations (1) and (2).
In transverse mode, the string moves up and down with the tuning fork, once up and once
down every tuning fork vibration cycle.
However, for transverse waves on the string, one cycle of up and down vibration equals two
cycles of string tension rise and reduction. Both the maximum up and maximum down

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positions of the loops have the most tension. Because the string tension rises and drops once
per tuning fork vibration in longitudinal mode, it takes one tuning fork vibration to move the
string loop to its maximum up position and one to bring it to its maximum down position.
The tuning fork frequency is half that of the string frequency, as there are two tuning fork
vibrations for each up and down string vibration.

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 2. Apparatus

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 (i) Electrically maintained tuning fork,
(ii) Hanger/pan and weight,
(iii)Weights
(iv) Thread
(v) Meter scale and (vi) wooden clamps

3. Procedure

a) The primary of the step-down transformer was connected to A.C mains, and
the secondary were connected to the given point of electrically maintained
tuning fork.
b) One end of the thread was tightened to the prong of tuning fork, and the other
end was tightened to a scale pan. The scale pan was then hanged with the
pulley.
c) The electrically maintained tuning fork was arranged in a traverse situation
and a mass of 5gm was loaded on the pan. Screw S was then rotated due to
which vibration in tuning fork started.
d) The tuning fork was adjusted towards or away from the pulley to adjust the
length so that loops could be formed. When stable loops are formed in
horizontal plane, the length threads for one and two loops were measured.
e) Mass on the scale pan was increased and then step 4 was repeated again.
f) The electrically maintained tuning fork was then arranged in longitudinal
situation and a mass of 5gm was loaded on its pan. The tuning fork is then
excited to start vibration.
g) The tuning fork was adjusted towards or away from the pulley to adjust the
length so that loops could be formed. When stable loops are formed in traverse
plane. This gives the value L for one or two loops.
h) The mass on scale pan is increased and then step 7 is repeated again.
i) For each case of load, the length of thread per loop is found.
j) 1Mass of 10m length of thread and mass of scale pan was measured. Value of
mT/10 gave mass per unit length of thread.
k) Frequency of tuning fork for transverse and longitudinal case was calculated
using M, m and l/p.

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 4. Experimental Data Table

(A) Mass of the scale pan, w = 23.4 gm

(B) Length of the sample thread, L = 240 cm
Mass of the thread, M = 0.8 gm
Mass per unit length of the thread, m = M/L = 0.0033 gm/cm

Table 1: Transverse position

Lengt Frequency of Frequency

No. of loops between the

Distance between the
𝑻
Total no of loops between

𝒘𝟏)𝒈 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒆𝒔
Load on the scale pan
No. ofobservation

Tension T = Wg = ( w +

h of a = the string of the

𝒍𝟐
the fixed ends

pins (G) segme string

𝒏′ =
(𝒘𝟏) gm

pins (N)
nt const
𝒏=𝒏′
𝑮 𝟏
√( ) × ( ) Vibration
𝒍= 𝒎
per sec
𝑵
𝑻
𝟒𝒍𝟐
1 5 0 22955.4 116 5 23.2 42.65 56.84 56.84

2 4 5 27860.4 98.5 4 24.63 45.93 59.06 59.06

3 3 10 32765.4 80 3 26.67 39.17 59.01 59.01

4 2 20 42575.4 63 2 31.5 42.91 57.01 57.01

5. Observation

Calculation:

Frequency of the string

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Observations 1: 𝑛1′ Hz

Observations Hz

Observations Hz

Observations Hz

Mean = 𝑛 ′ +𝑛′ +𝑛′ +𝑛′ = =57.98 Hz

6. Result

Mean frequency in the Transverse position = 57.98 Hz

7. Precautions

a) The string ought to be uniform and inextensible.

b) Friction in the pulley ought to be little. Else, it makes the strain be not
exactly the genuine applied pressure.

c) The circles in focal piece of string ought to be meant estimation. The hubs
at pulley and tip of prong ought to be disregarded as they have some
movement.

d) The longitudinal and cross over plans ought to be right in any case the
length estimated will not be right.

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 8. Discussions

a) The fork should be set into vibration only a single stroke of the hammer and
not by success strokes.
b) The vertical portion of the string between the pulley. and the scale pan, should
be as short as possible. Otherwise, the mass of this portion of the string should
be added to T to get the correct tension t of the string.
c) The total number of loops may be increased or decreased by decreasing or
increasing the load on the scale pan, when the length of the string is fixed. For
a given load the same can be done simply by increasing or decreasing the
length of the string.
d) As the nodes at the two ends of the string are not distinct, the pins should be
placed not below these two nodes but below the two nodes which are next to
the two extreme nodes.
e) The string should be of as uniform a linear density as possible, otherwise it
will not divide into equal segments. Ordinarily the length of a fishing line
which is sufficiently uniform may be used with advantage.

9. References

(i) Practical Physics by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmed

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