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14.4.1 - Speed of a Transverse Wave on Stretched String

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Understanding Wave Speed

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're discussing the speed of a transverse wave on a stretched string. Can anyone tell me what factors might affect this speed?

Student 1
Student 1

Could it be the tension in the string?

Teacher
Teacher

That's correct! The tension in the string plays a significant role. In fact, the greater the tension, the faster the wave will travel. How about the mass of the string?

Student 2
Student 2

I think the mass per unit length or linear mass density would matter too!

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The linear mass density affects the inertia of the string, and more mass means the wave will move slower. Therefore, we can relate the speed of the wave to these two factors.

Student 3
Student 3

How do we mathematically express that relationship?

Teacher
Teacher

Great question! We express it with the formula: v = sqrt(T/μ). This shows that the wave speed increases with tension and decreases with increased mass density.

Student 4
Student 4

So, if we increase tension and keep mass the same, the wave speed goes up?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Remember, the specific relationship we derived indicates that the speed is independent of frequency and wavelength. Good job summarizing that!

Dimensional Analysis

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let's talk about how we derive the speed formula through dimensional analysis. Who can tell me the dimensions of tension?

Student 1
Student 1

I believe it's [MLT^(-2)], like force, right?

Teacher
Teacher

That's right! And what about linear mass density?

Student 2
Student 2

[ML^(-1)]

Teacher
Teacher

Perfect! By combining these dimensions, we can ascertain dimensions of speed. Can anyone express that?

Student 3
Student 3

We would divide [MLT^(-2)] by [ML^(-1)], which gives us [LT^(-1)].

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent! This means our expression for speed holds up dimensionally. So, the wave speed indeed depends on tension and linear mass density.

Student 4
Student 4

Why is the constant C set to 1?

Teacher
Teacher

C equals 1 based on further precise derivations found in advanced studies. Yet, for us, understanding the relationship is most critical.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section outlines the relationship between the speed of a transverse wave on a stretched string and its tension and mass density.

Standard

In this section, we examine how the speed of a transverse wave on a stretched string is determined by the tension in the string and its linear mass density. Using dimensional analysis, the section illustrates the derivation of the wave speed formula, highlighting that it depends solely on the properties of the medium, not on the wave frequency or wavelength.

Detailed

Speed of a Transverse Wave on Stretched String

The speed of mechanical waves in a medium is influenced by various restoring and inertial properties. Specifically, for a transverse wave traveling along a stretched string, the wave speed (
v) is fundamentally linked to two key parameters: the tension (T) within the string and its linear mass density (). The wave speed can be generally denoted by:

$$
v = C \frac{T}{\mu}
$$
Where C is a constant ultimately found to be equal to 1 upon deeper analysis.

Key Points

  • Tension (T): This is the force applied along the string, acting as the restoring force when the string is disturbed. As tension increases, the wave speed increases.
  • Linear Mass Density (\mu): This is defined as the mass per unit length of the string, calculated as \mu = \frac{m}{L} where m is the mass of the string and L is its length. The greater the mass density, the slower the wave travels.

The relation fundamentally implies that the speed of the wave does not depend on its frequency () or its wavelength () but strictly on medium properties related to tension and mass density. This reflects the core principles surrounding wave propagation in elastic mediums.

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Audio Book

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Determining Speed of Wave Propagation

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The speed of a mechanical wave is determined by the restoring force setup in the medium when it is disturbed and the inertial properties (mass density) of the medium. The speed is expected to be directly related to the former and inversely to the latter. For waves on a string, the restoring force is provided by the tension T in the string. The inertial property will in this case be linear mass density µ, which is mass m of the string divided by its length L.

Detailed Explanation

To determine how fast a wave travels along a string, we consider two important factors: the restoring force due to tension in the string and the inertial properties which depend on how much mass is on a unit length of the string. Higher tension means the string can transmit the wave faster, while more mass (higher linear mass density) slows it down. Therefore, the speed of the wave is influenced by both the tension and the mass per unit length of the string.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a tightrope walker on a high wire. The tighter the wire (more tension), the easier it is for the vibrations to travel along it. If the rope is heavy and loose, any movements made by the walker would take longer to transmit vibrations along the rope.

Dimensional Analysis and the Speed Formula

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Using Newton’s Laws of Motion, an exact formula for the wave speed on a string can be derived, but this derivation is outside the scope of this book. We shall, therefore, use dimensional analysis. We already know that dimensional analysis alone can never yield the exact formula. The overall dimensionless constant is always left undetermined by dimensional analysis.

Detailed Explanation

Dimensional analysis is a method used to derive relationships between physical quantities based on their dimensions. Here, we analyze the dimensions of tension and mass density to arrive at a relation for wave speed. We derive that the speed of the wave depends on the square root of the tension divided by the mass density, which will eventually lead us to the formula for wave speed on a string.

Examples & Analogies

Think of it like determining the all-important recipe for a cake. You know that the amount of flour (representing mass) and sugar (representing tension) will affect how fast the cake rises (akin to wave speed). Each ingredient has a specific role, just like tension and mass density do when calculating wave speed.

Final Formula for Wave Speed

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Thus if T and µ are assumed to be the only relevant physical quantities, v = C T/µ (14.13) where C is the undetermined constant of dimensional analysis. In the exact formula, it turns out, C=1. The speed of transverse waves on a stretched string is given by v = √(T/µ) (14.14). Note the important point that the speed v depends only on the properties of the medium T and µ (T is a property of the stretched string arising due to an external force).

Detailed Explanation

From our dimensional analysis, we conclude that the speed of a transverse wave on a string is determined using the formula: the square root of tension divided by linear mass density. This highlights that while tension increases speed, greater mass density decreases it. Understanding this relationship is crucial in applications like musical instruments, where the properties of strings affect sound production.

Examples & Analogies

Consider tuning a guitar. When you tighten the strings (increase the tension), the sound becomes higher in pitch because the wave speed increases. Conversely, changing to thicker strings (increasing the linear mass density) makes it harder and slower for vibrations to travel down the string, thus lowering the pitch.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Wave Speed (v): Capacity of a wave to propagate through a medium; influenced by tension and mass density.

  • Tension (T): Force that stretches the medium, affecting wave propagation speed.

  • Linear Mass Density (μ): Measures how mass is distributed along the string length; influences wave speed inversely.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • An example of a wave moving faster when the tension in a guitar string is increased, demonstrating the affect of tension on wave speed.

  • A scenario where the same string with a greater mass density results in slower wave propagation, illustrating mass density’s effect on speed.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Tension is high, speed will fly, mass in the way, slows the display.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a tightrope walker (tension) racing a heavy boulder (mass). The tighter the rope, the faster he goes; the heavier the boulder, the slower it rolls.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • To remember 'Speed of Wave: Tension and Density', think of 'Sturdy Turtle Wins' (Tension, Speed, Wins).

🎯 Super Acronyms

For remembering wave speed contributors, use acronym T-M

  • Tension and Mass Density.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Transverse Wave

    Definition:

    A wave where the oscillation of particles is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

  • Term: Tension (T)

    Definition:

    The force exerted along the length of a string that causes its particles to restore to equilibrium after disturbance.

  • Term: Linear Mass Density (μ)

    Definition:

    The mass of a string divided by its length; it affects the inertia of the string.

  • Term: Wave Speed (v)

    Definition:

    Speed at which a wave travels through a medium, determined by tension and mass density.