EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
Earn 100

The speed v of a transverse wave on a stretched wire is given by the expression vT

Where T is the tension in the wire.

A length of wire is stretched between two fixed point. The tension in the wire is T. The wire is gently plucked from the middle. A stationary wave, of fundamental frequency 210 Hz, is produced.

The tension in the wire is now increased to 1.4 T. The percentage uncertainty in new tension is 8.0%. The length of the wire is unchanged. Calculate the new value for the fundamental frequency when the wire is plucked in the middle. Your answer must include the absolute uncertainty written to an appropriate number of significant figures.

Important Questions on Stationary Waves

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
(a) Sketch a stationary wave pattern for the microwave experiment. Whether there is a node or an anti node at the reflecting sheet.
EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
(b) The separation of two adjacent points of high intensity is found to be 14 mm. Calculate the wavelength and frequency of the microwaves.
EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

(b) Explain why it is better to measure the distance across several nodes.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

For sound waves of frequency 2500 Hz, it is found that two nodes are separated by 20 cm, with three antinodes between them.

(b) Use the wave equation v=fλ to determine the speed of sound in air.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

A tuning fork that produces a note of 256Hz is placed above a tube that is nearly filled with water. The water level is lowered until resonance is first heard.

(a) Explain what is meant by the term resonance.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

(b) This diagram shows an experiment to measure the speed of a sound in a string. The frequency of the vibrator is adjusted until the stationary wave shown is formed.

Question Image

(ii) The frequency of the vibrator is 120Hz. Calculate the speed at which a progressive wave would travel along the string.

EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT
(c) The experiment is now repeated with the load on the string halved. In order to get a similar stationary wave the frequency has to be decreased to 30Hz. Explain, in terms of the speed of the wave in the string, why the frequency must be adjusted.
EASY
AS and A Level
IMPORTANT

This diagram shows a stationary wave, of frequency 400Hz, produced by a loudspeaker in a closed tube.

Question Image

(a) Describe the movement of the air particles at:

(i) A