Sonometer

Aim
To study the relation between frequency and length of a given wire under constant
tension using sonometer.
Materials required
A sonometer, a set of tuning forks of known frequency, 0.5 kg weight hanger, some
0.5kg slotted weights, rubber pad, paper rider.
Formula
F ∝ 1/l where F- frequency and l- resonance length
Procedure
To find the relation frequency and length
• Place the sonometer on the table.
• Make sure that the pulley is frictionless. If you feel any friction, oil them.
• Stretch the wire by placing a suitable maximum load on the weight hanger.
• Move the wooden bridges outward, so that the length of wire between the
bridges is maximum.
• Take a tuning fork of known frequency. Make it vibrate by strike its prong with
a rubber pad. Bring it near the ear.
• Pluck the sonometer wire and leave it to vibrate.
• Compare the sounds produced by tuning fork and sonometer wire. (Sound
which has low pitch has less frequency).
• Gently adjust the bridges for decreasing the length of wire, till the two sounds
appear alike.
• Put an inverted v shaped paper rider on the middle of the wire.
• Vibrate the tuning fork and touch the lower end of its handle with sonometer
board. The wire vibrates due to resonance and the paper ride falls.
• Measure the length of the wire between the bridges using a meter scale. It is
the resonant length and record it in the length decreasing column.
• Now, bring the bridges closer and then slowly increase the length of the wire
till the paper rider falls.
 • Measure the length of wire and record it in length increasing column.
• Repeat the above steps with forks of other frequencies and find resonant
length each time.

Observation
To find the relation between frequency and length constant tension on the
wire. T=______kg

S. NO Frequency of Resonant length of wire 1/l (cm-1)

tuning fork used
f(Hz) Length Length Mean
increasing decreasing l= (l1 + l2)
l2 (cm) l2 (cm) 2
1. 480 45 45.2 45.1 0.022

2. 512 42.4 42.2 42.3 0.026

3. 320 67.5 67.7 67.6 0.014
Rough graph:

Result
The frequency v/s reciprocal of length graph is a straight line, which indicates that,
frequency inversely proportional to resonant length.