SONOMETER – VERIFICATION OF LAWS OF STRETCHED STRINGS

SONOMETER – VERIFICATION OF LAWS OF STRETCHED STRINGS

DESCRIPTION: A Sonometer consists of a hollow rectangular wooden box of more than

one meter length

The box has a hook at one end and a pulley at the other end.

One end of a string made of any metal (brass/ copper/ steel etc., ) is fixed at the hook and
the other end passes over the pulley. A weight hanger is attached to the free end of the
string.

Two adjustable wooden bridges are put over the board, so that the length of vibrating
segment of the string can be adjusted.

USE: The effect of length, tension, and kind of material ( mass per unit length ) on the
Frequency of vibrating string can be observed.

PRODUCTION OF TRANSVERSE WAVES IN STRETCHED STRINGS

If a string which is stretched between two fixed points is plucked at its center, vibrations
are produced and they move in opposite directions along the string. Because of this, a
transverse wave travels along the string and as the string is fixed between the two points,
standing waves are generated.

Nodes and Antinodes are formed.

If a string of length L having mass per unit length m is stretched with a tension T, the
fundamental frequency of vibration f is given by;

𝟏 𝑻
𝝂= √
𝟐𝑳 𝑴
L is the resonating length.

From the above expression, three laws of transverse vibration of string can be derived

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 SONOMETER – VERIFICATION OF LAWS OF STRETCHED STRINGS

THE THREE LAWS OF TRANSVERSE VIBRATIONS OF A STRETCHED STRING

Law of length: The fundamental frequency is directly proportional to the resonating length
(L) of the string if, T and M are kept constant

ν ∝ 1/L

Law of Tension: The fundamental frequency is directly proportional to the square root of
the tension if, L and M are kept constant

ν ∝ √T
Law of Mass: The fundamental frequency is inversely proportional to the square root of
the mass per unit length if, L and T are kept constant.

ν ∝ 1/√M

EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF THE THREE LAWS

Law of length ( ν ∝ 1/L): Different tuning forks of different frequencies, are taken and the

resonating length for each of them keeping tension applied and the material of the wire as
constant is measured.

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 SONOMETER – VERIFICATION OF LAWS OF STRETCHED STRINGS

The product of frequency and resonating length of one tuning fork is found equal to the
product of frequency and resonating length of another tuning fork. This verifies the law of
length.

Law of tension ( ν α √T ): The tension in the wire is varied by changing the weights in the
weight hanger. For changing tension in the wire, resonating length L of the wire is
measured.

The same tuning fork is used for all the varying tensions which means frequency remains
constant. As we are not changing the wire, M also remains constant.

It is found that √T/L is constant . This indirectly verifies Law of Tension

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 SONOMETER – VERIFICATION OF LAWS OF STRETCHED STRINGS

Law of mass (ν ∝ 1/√μ): This law is also verified indirectly.

Wires of different material such as brass, copper, steel are taken and using the same tuning
fork, and keeping the tension constant, resonating length is measured for each of the wire
separately. It is found that L√M is constant. This verifies Law of Mass

Relation between frequency and length

From the law of length, ν x l = constant

A graph between ν and 1/L will be a straight line.

Relation between length and tension

𝑻
From the equation for frequency, √ 𝒍 = constant

A graph between T and l will be a straight line.

From the equation for frequency, 𝑳 𝒙 √𝑴 = constant

A graph between 1/ L and √𝑴 will be a straight line.

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