Waves on a String
BlackBoard Notes

======================= Photo - Click for a Larger Version =============================

Fall 2025: Make sure graph lines are color coded as shown below (orange on top, blue on the bottom)

======================= First Board Section =============================

• What is the wave speed of a standing wave on a string?
  • Note to Jeff: Ignore figure number!
  • Drawing hint: draw left side block, then wave and then right side block

• For any wave: (Note to Jeff: Yes, you need Eqn. numbers!)
  • v = f · λ     {Eqn. 1}
• For waves on a string:
  •     {Eqn. 2} where T ≡ String Tension, μ ≡ linear density of the string ("mu")

======================= Second Board Section =============================

• Drawing hint for Jeff: Draw internal buttons, etc. first, then draw the outer rectangle of the waveform generator

• Turn the Frequency knob slowly!
• Relationship between wavelength and string length, L {n = number of antinodes}:
  • 

======================= Third Board Section =============================

• Plot f vs. 1/λ in Excel
  • Two different tensions (click for larger view):

• What is the wave speed? From {Eqn. 1} (show how these match up):
  • f = v (1/λ)
  • y = slope (x) + b

======================= Fourth Board Section =============================

• What is the linear density of the string?
  • Calculate using sample string (on side bench)
    • 
    • Note: ℓ ≠ L!
  • Calculate wave speed using {Eqn. 2}, compare to Excel results (for each tension!)

• (If needed, after Miller retires) Lab Evaluations - on front table

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