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View Full Version : String tension, is this the correct formula?


ant0
Feb26-04, 02:52 PM
I read in a book that tension = 1/(pa'), where a' = alpha prime.

Is this the correct formula for string tension and if so what is p?

lethe
Feb26-04, 03:17 PM
Originally posted by ant0
I read in a book that tension = 1/(pa'), where a' = alpha prime.

Is this the correct formula for string tension and if so what is p?

in my book, it is

T=\frac{1}{2\pi\alpha'}

\pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, approximately 3.14. and if your source differs by a factor of 2 from mine, i wouldn't worry about it.

ant0
Feb26-04, 03:30 PM
ah, p must be pi then, would that make sense for a closed string then?