EXPERIMENT NO.

108 Transverse Waves: Frequency of Vibration

INTRODUCTION

Transverse wave assumes a sinusoidal wave pattern. This waveform is visually represented by a
standing wave, which is a result of superposition of two traveling waves: the incident and the reflected
waves. In this experiment, the standing waves are set up in a stretched guitar string by the oscillations
of an electrically-driven string vibrator.

By using different sizes of the strings, the dependency of frequency to the linear mass density
will be determined. Parameters like tension, number of segments formed shall also be identified.

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the relationship between tension on a string and the frequency of vibration.

2. To determine the relationship between length of a string and the frequency of vibration.

MATERIALS

1 pc string vibrator 1 pc mass hanger

1 pc sine wave generator 1 pc extension cord
2 pcs iron stand with clamp 1 pc meterstick
1 pc pulley 5 pcs guitar strings
1 set weights

THEORY
If a string, under tension, is connected to a harmonic oscillator, standing waves are produced by
the interference of two traveling waves. The waves travel down the string to the other end and back
that results to an alternating sections of nodes and antinodes. The node (N) and the antinode (A) refer
to the regions of no vibration and maximum vibration,
Lo respectively. The distance between two adjacent
nodes is called a segment.
at ToThe length of two segments is the wavelength of the waves. See Figure 1.

at T
L

The change in length ΔL is the differenceFigure

of the
1 final length from its initial length as in equation
1.

ΔL=L−L o 
Figure 1 (eqn. 1)
 Changing the tension in the string, the length of the string, the diameter of the string,
and the linear density of the string will have an effect on its frequency of vibration.

The relationship between the velocity, frequency and wavelength is given by equation
1, known as the general wave equation:

v=f λ (eqn. 1)

For a transverse wave, the velocity of propagation is a function of the tension and the
linear mass density of the medium:

v=
√ T
μ (eqn. 2)

The frequency of vibration, after combining the two equations, is

f=
1
λ √ T
μ
The wavelength λ , must be expressed in terms of other measurable quantities like the
number of segments formed ( n ) and the length of vibrating string ( L ). The length of one
segment is equal to one half wavelength and the length of vibrating string is divided into
equal number of segments.

Thus, the frequency of vibration is

f=
n
2L √ T
μ (eqn. 3)

Linear mass density μ is mass per unit length of the medium.

PROCEDURE

A. Setting-up the Equipment

1. Mount the sine wave generator and the string vibrator on an iron stand. See figure 2.

2. Connect the string vibrator to the output jacks of the sine wave generator with a pair of
banana patch cords, polarity is not important.

3. Connect the power supply to the power input of the instrument.

4. Take note of the following control buttons:

For Amplitude – You can adjust the amplitude of the output signal using the amplitude
knob.

For Frequency – The frequency of vibration can be set by adjusting the frequency
knobs. The LED display indicates the frequency to up to 0.1 Hz accuracy.

Figure 2. Sine Wave Generator

 B. Frequency of Vibration and Tension

1. Select a guitar string. Take note of its linear mass density.

2. Tie one end of the guitar string to the stylus of the string vibrator and pass it over the
pulley. At the end of the guitar string, attach a mass hanger. See figure 3.

3. Add weight on the mass hanger. Turn the string vibrator on and adjust the frequency
knob until the vibrating string forms at least 2 complete segments.

4. Slowly adjust the amplitude knob to make certain that the segment formation is
clearly defined.

5. Record the data in Table 1 and solve for the experimental value of frequency of
vibration using equation 3.

6. Compute the percent error using the frequency of sine wave generator as actual value
of frequency.

7. Repeat steps 2 to 6, this time increasing the mass added on the hanger.

C. Frequency of Vibration and Linear Mass Density

1. Repeat Part B of the experiment using different sizes of the guitar string. Keep in
mind, in this part of the experiment, the tension on the string must be kept constant.

2. Fill out Table 2.

8. ompute for the average experimental value of frequency of vibration and solve for the percentage error.

SETUP

Figure 3
 EXPERIMENT NO. 108 : TRANSVERSE WAVE: FREQUENCY OF VIBRATION

Name Group No.

Course/Year Seat No.
Subject/Section Date

DIAMETER OF WIRE Linear Mass Density

0.010 in 0.0039 g/cm
0.014 in 0.0078 g/cm
0.017 in 0.0112 g/cm
0.020 in 0.0150 g/cm
0.022 in 0.0184 g/cm

TABLE 1. Frequency of Vibration and Tension

diameter of wire = in
linear mass density of wire, μ = g/cm
frequency of
frequency of vibration, Percentage
tension, T number of
length of vibration (computed) Error
TRIAL (mass added + segments,

√
n string, L (experimental)
n T
mass of pan)
f=
2L μ
1 dynes cm Hz Hz %

2 dynes cm Hz Hz %

3 dynes cm Hz Hz %

4 dynes cm Hz Hz %

5 dynes cm Hz Hz %
 EXPERIMENT NO. 108 : TRANSVERSE WAVE: FREQUENCY OF VIBRATION

Name Group No.

Course/Year Seat No.
Subject/Section Date

TABLE 2. Frequency of Vibration and Linear Mass Density

Tension: dynes

frequency of
frequency of vibration, Percentage
number of
Linear Mass length of vibration (computed) Error
TRIAL segments,

√
Density  n string, L (experimental)
n T
f=
2L μ
1 g/cm cm Hz Hz %

2 g/cm cm Hz Hz %

3 g/cm cm Hz Hz %

4 g/cm cm Hz Hz %

5 g/cm cm Hz Hz %

Approved by:

Instructor Date