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EP05 Tuning Fork Frequency Measurement With Stand Method

The document describes an experiment to measure the frequency of a tuning fork using standing waves on a stretched string. Key points: 1) Standing waves are formed by the interference of an original wave and reflected wave on a fixed string. Nodes are points of no displacement and antinodes have maximum displacement. 2) The string will resonate at specific frequencies where the wavelength satisfies λ = 2l/n, where l is the string length and n is an integer. 3) Procedures include measuring the string length and mass, attaching the string to the tuning fork, adjusting for a steady standing wave, and measuring the length of several waves to calculate frequency.

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Kw Chan
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186 views

EP05 Tuning Fork Frequency Measurement With Stand Method

The document describes an experiment to measure the frequency of a tuning fork using standing waves on a stretched string. Key points: 1) Standing waves are formed by the interference of an original wave and reflected wave on a fixed string. Nodes are points of no displacement and antinodes have maximum displacement. 2) The string will resonate at specific frequencies where the wavelength satisfies λ = 2l/n, where l is the string length and n is an integer. 3) Procedures include measuring the string length and mass, attaching the string to the tuning fork, adjusting for a steady standing wave, and measuring the length of several waves to calculate frequency.

Uploaded by

Kw Chan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EP05 Measurement of Tuning Fork Frequency

OBJECTIVE

1. To familiarize the student with the general properties of standing wave.

2. To measure the frequency of a tuning fork with standing waves.

THEORY

Standing Waves on a stretched string


A simple sine wave traveling along a taut string can be described by the equation
y1 = y m sin 2π ( x / λ − t / T ) . If the string is fixed at one end, the wave will be reflected
back when it strikes that end. The reflected wave will then interfere with the original
wave. The reflected wave can be described by the equation y 2 = y m sin 2π ( x / λ + t / T ) .
Assuming the amplitudes of these waves are small enough so that the elastic limit of the
string is not exceeded, the resultant waveform will be just the sum of the two waves:

y = y1 + y 2 = y m sin 2π ( x / λ − t / T ) + y m sin 2π ( x / λ + t / T )

Using the trigonometric identity:


A+ B B− A
sin A + sin B = 2 sin cos
2 2

the equation becomes:


y = 2 y m sin( 2πx / λ ) cos(2πt / T )

This equation has some interesting characteristic. At a fixed time to, the shape of
the string is a sine wave with a maximum amplitude of 2 y m cos(2πt o / T ) . At a fixed
position on the string xo, the string is undergoing simple harmonic motion, with an
amplitude 2 y m sin(2πxo / λ ) . Therefore, at points of the string where x0 = λ/4, 3λ/4, 5λ/4,
7λ/4, etc., the amplitude of the oscillations will be a maximum. At points of the string
where = λ/2, λ, 3λ/2, 2λ, etc., the amplitude of the oscillations will be zero.

This wavelength is called a standing wave because there is no propagation of the


waveform along the string. A time exposure of the standing wave would show a pattern
something like the one in Figure 1. This pattern is called the envelope of the standing
wave. Each point of the string oscillates up and down with its amplitude determined by
the envelope. The points of maximum amplitude are called antinodes. The points of zero
amplitude are called nodes.

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Figure 1. The Envelope of a standing wave

Resonance
The analysis above assumes that the standing wave is formed by the superposition
of an original wave and one reflected wave. In fact, if the string is fixed at both ends,
each wave will be reflected every time it reached either end of the string. In general, the
multiply reflected waves will not all be in phase, and the amplitude of the wave pattern
will be small. However, at certain frequencies of oscillation, all the reflected waves are in
phase, resulting in a very high amplitude standing wave. These frequencies are called
resonant frequencies.

In general, resonance occurs when the wavelength (L) satisfies the condition:

λ = 2l / n; n = 1,2,3,4... (1)

Another way of stating this same relationship is to say that the length of the string
is equal to an integral number of half wavelengths. This means that the standing wave is
such that a node of the wave pattern exists naturally at each fixed end of the string.

Velocity of Wave Propagation


Assuming a perfectly flexible, perfectly elastic string, the velocity of wave
propagation (V) on a stretched string depends on two variables: the mass per unit length
or linear density of the string (μ) and the tension of the string (T). The relationship is
given by the equation:
T
V = (2)
μ
Frequency
The relationship among the velocity of wave propagation (V) 、 wavelength(λ)
and the frequency (ν) of wave is expressed :
V=λν (3)
Using Eqs.(1)、（2）and (3) ,we obtain:

⎛n⎞ T (4)
ν =⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2l ⎠ μ

substituting T=Mg and µ =m/L into E q.(4) ,we obtain

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⎛ n ⎞ MgL
ν =⎜ ⎟ (5)
⎝ 2l ⎠ m
where L = length of string
l = length of n stand waves
n = number of antinodes
m = mass of string
M = mass of balancing weight.
PROCEDURE
(1) Measure the length and mass of the string using a meter and an electrical balance.
(2) Fix one end of the string to either arm of the tuning fork with a screw on it, make the string stride over
the fixed pulley and suspend a hook at the other end of the string. Put proper weight on the hook.
(3) Adjust the fixed pulley knob so that the string is horizontal and tangent.
(4) Turn on the tuning fork power supply, adjust the screw on one side of the tuning fork until spark be
created and the tuning fork will vibrate, at the same time, the string will vibrate, then lock the screw.
(5) Adjust the distance between the fixed pulley and the tuning fork until a steady stand wave with a larger
amplitude is formed.
(6) Measure the length of several stand waves except the first one counting from the tuning fork with a
meter. The length should be measured 3 times. Record the number of the stand waves, the mass of
weights and the length of several stand waves in table.
(7) Change the mass of weight, then repeat procedure (5) and (6).

PRE-QUESTIONS
in the lab, which quantities need be measured? Use what devices to measure them?

DATA RECORDING AND PROCESSING

the standard frequency of the tuning fork νs=


length of string L =
mass of string m =

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Item
The length of The mass of the
Frequency of
Group several stand The number of weight and the
the tuning fork:
wave: l stand wave:n hook: M
ν(s-1)
(m) (Kg)

1
2
3
4
5
average
1
2
3
4
5
average

Calculate the uncertainty Uν using the following equation:


Uν Ul 2 1 UM 2 1 U L 2 1 Um 2
= ( ) + ( ) + ( ) + ( )
ν l 4 M 4 L 4 m

the result is :

QUESTION
you need measure the length of several standing wave 5 times, and every time you must move the tuning
fork and adjust it until it is steady over again, then measure it, why?

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