PHYS-2200 Midterm1 Fall 2021

Oct 20, 2021

Total points = 100. Please upload your answers to Blackboard by 12:30pm.

1. (20 points) A violin string vibrates at 440 Hz when unfingered. At what frequency will
it vibrate if it is fingered one-third of the way down from the end? (That is, only two-
thirds of the string vibrates as a standing wave.)

2. (40 points) We have reviewed 14.87 (on Monday) where a rod is connected to a
spring. Let’s change their positions, so that the spring is vertical. One end of the
horizontal rod is attached to the end of the spring, as shown in the figure. If the rod
oscillates up and down slightly (small displacement), is this a harmonic oscillation? If so,
what is the angular frequency and period of oscillation? If not, explain the reason.
3. (40 points)
About the Fourier series
∞ ∞
𝑓(𝑥) = % 𝐴𝑚 cos(𝑚𝑥) + % 𝐵𝑚 sin(𝑚𝑥)
m=0 m=1

for the function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 ' , if −𝜋 < 𝑥 < 𝜋 (extended periodically over the real line).
) !"#
(This integral may be useful ∫ 𝑥 ( = (*+
+ 𝑐 )

(a) (8 points) Calculate 𝐴,

(b) (8 points) Without calculating the integral, which coefficients are 0?
(c) (12 points) Plot the first 3 (based on m values in ascending order) Fourier
components in the interval of (−𝜋, 𝜋). These components should have non-zero
coefficients. The coefficients do not need to be reflected by the amplitudes of your plots.
(d) (12 points) Consider function 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑥) + sin (𝑥). Plot the first 3 Fourier
components of 𝑔(𝑥) in the interval of (−𝜋, 𝜋).