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skiboka33
Mar16-05, 02:31 AM
A rope of mass m and length L is suspended vertically. Show that a transverse wave pulse will travel the length of the tope in a time t = 2(L/g)^1/2.

stuck... i tried:

v = (T/u)^1/2 ; where T = m(X/L)g and u = m/L

the X is the distance from the bottom of the string...

so i got v= (xg)^1/2

t= (L-X)/ (xg)^1/2

which i can't simplify to t = 2(L/g)^1/2.

Where did I go wrong here? logic is making sense to me but im no getting the answer. thanks.

Doc Al
Mar16-05, 08:04 AM
You found v as of function of x correctly, but then just multiplied by the distance to find the time. Since v is not constant, you must integrate:
v = \frac{dx}{dt} = (xg)^{1/2}
t = \int_{0}^{L}\frac{dx}{(xg)^{1/2}}

a077456
Sep16-10, 05:33 PM
can you please expain why T = m(X/L)g? Thanks!